The fight against food insecurity remains a priority in the Assembly under the leadership of Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, and Assembly Democrats continued to make good on that promise by passing bill A3882 in the most recent voting session. Sponsored by Speaker Coughlin, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, and Assemblyman Dan Hutchison, the legislation would make it easier for families to access school meal assistance programs.
“We know that when students have access to nutritious meals, they’re better prepared to succeed in the classroom, and ensuring they can access those meals starts with making sure the applications are easy for families to find,” said Speaker Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “Parents and guardians already have so much going on, and they shouldn’t have to search through multiple webpages to find the programs that can help. Improving access to these applications is a small but meaningful step in our effort to address food insecurity and ensure no child has to go without a meal. In New Jersey, we proudly expanded free meal eligibility to over 70,000 more students beyond the federal eligibility threshold, but still not every family knows about or is taking advantage of these programs.”
Under the bill, public schools in New Jersey would be required to post a link to the subsidized school meals application in a prominent location on their school’s websites, making it easier for parents and guardians to locate and complete the form each year. The application is used to determine eligibility for the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program, both of which are supplemented by the State of New Jersey. Additionally, schools would be required to also post a link to at least one informational video produced by the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate regarding the school meals application.
“Every parent wants to make sure their child is healthy and ready to succeed in school, and school meal programs offer critical support to countless families across New Jersey who deserve that same opportunity,” said Assemblywoman Quijano (D-Union). “A simple change like making the application easier to find can help more parents get the support their children need each day.”
“For too many students, time in school may be their only reliable access to a stable, nutritious meal,” said Assemblyman Hutchison (D-Atlantic, Camden, Gloucester). “The school lunch and breakfast programs are an essential part of our state’s hunger fighting efforts, and we should be doing more to help make sure our youngest residents can focus on what really matters, their schoolwork, and being a kid.”
“School meals play a critical role in providing children with the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Lisa Pitz, Director of Hunger Free New Jersey. “Making the school meals application easier to find removes a barrier for parents and improves access to free school breakfast and lunch for more children. Hunger Free New Jersey commends Speaker Coughlin, Assemblywoman Quijano, and Assemblyman Hutchison for championing this legislation and for their continued commitment to expanding access to school meals and fighting against food insecurity in the Garden State.”
“OFSA celebrates the Assembly’s passing of A3882, which would make it easier for families to access school meal assistance programs. This legislation affirms the commitment of Speaker Coughlin, Asw. Quijano, Asm. Hutchison, and OFSA’s partners in the Legislature, to ensuring we are helping families to become more food secure by eliminating barriers to accessing benefits such as school meals,” said Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director, NJ Office of the Food Security Advocate. “This legislation also affirms New Jersey’s commitment to continuously becoming a state that meets families where they are by being responsive and attentive to their challenges and needs. OFSA is proud to be able to continue to work with Speaker Coughlin and the Legislature to make food security a reality for all New Jerseyans.”