§3138.4. Hunger-Free Campus; designation; grant program

            A.(1) The Board of Regents, referred to in this Section as the "board", shall establish a process for a postsecondary education institution to be designated as a "Hunger-Free Campus".

            (2) To be eligible to receive this designation, an institution shall do all of the following:

            (a) Establish a Hunger-Free Campus task force that meets a minimum of three times per academic year to set at least two goals with action plans and that includes, at minimum, two or more students enrolled at the institution, a representative from the office of student affairs, and a representative from the office of financial aid.

            (b) Notify, on an individual basis, students who receive need-based financial aid of their potential eligibility to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

            (c) Hold or participate in at least one anti-hunger awareness event per academic year.

            (d) If no campus food pantry or charitable food distribution exists on campus, assess the need to provide access to on-campus food distribution, to a local off-campus food pantry, or to an on-campus food pantry.

            B.(1) The board shall develop an application process for institutions seeking this designation.

            (2) The board shall review each application and award the initial designation to institutions meeting the requirements provided in Subsection A of this Section.

            (3) The designation shall apply for two years.

            (4) After receiving the initial designation, an institution may submit a renewal application to the board in accordance with timelines established by the board.

            (5) If the board determines that the institution meets the requirements specified in Subsection A of this Section based on its renewal application, the institution shall receive the designation for an additional two-year period. If the board determines that an institution does not meet the requirements, the board shall provide written notice to the institution, and the institution shall have forty-five days from receipt of the notice to correct or amend its renewal application. If the institution does not submit a corrected or amended application or if the corrected or amended application does not meet the requirements as determined by the board, the institution shall not receive the designation for that year.

            C.(1) The board shall establish a Hunger-Free Campus grant program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide grants to the following:

            (a) Public postsecondary education institutions designated as "Hunger-Free Campuses".

            (b) Nonpublic, not-for-profit postsecondary education institutions that disproportionately serve low-income students, as determined by the board, and that have been designated as "Hunger-Free Campuses".

            (2) The purpose of the grant funding shall be to assist postsecondary education institutions in raising awareness on resources available to address basic food needs, leveraging existing infrastructure, maximizing federal programs, and building strategic partnerships at the local, state, and national levels to address food insecurity among students.

            (3) The board shall create an application process for postsecondary institutions seeking grant funding.

            (4) To be eligible for grant funds, postsecondary education institutions shall meet the criteria provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and demonstrate progress or commitment to implementing at least one of the following anti-hunger initiatives:

            (a) The development of a student meal credit sharing program in which students can use either unused or donated meals from other students in prepaid meal programs.

            (b) The establishment of a campus emergency fund to support students with emergency expenses, including but not limited to those associated with food, shelter, utilities, and childcare.

            (c) The designation of one or more staff persons responsible for assisting food insecure students to access nutrition and other basic needs resources, including by assisting students with the SNAP application process.

            (d) The dissemination, at least once every three academic years, of an anonymous campus-wide survey assessing student food security.

            (e) The establishment of an on-campus food pantry.

            (5) The awarding of grants through the program is subject to the appropriation of funds by the legislature for this purpose.

            Acts 2022, No. 719, §1, eff. June 18, 2022.