1. (a) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall award grants of up to $7,000 per school site on a competitive basis to eligible schools, school districts, or entities approved by the State Board of Education for nonrecurring expenses incurred in initiating a school breakfast program under Section 16.

   Grants awarded under this Section shall be used for nonrecurring costs of initiating a breakfast after the bell program, including, but not limited to, the acquisition of equipment, training of staff in new capacities, outreach efforts to publicize new or expanded school breakfast programs, minor alterations to accommodate new equipment, computer point-of-service systems for food service, and the purchase of vehicles for transporting food to schools.

2. (b) In making grant awards under this Section, the State Board of Education shall give a preference to grant applicants that do all of the following:

   1. (1) Submit to the State Board of Education a plan to start or expand school breakfast programs in the school district or the educational service region, including a description of the following:

      1. (A) a description of each eligible school site's breakfast program under Section 16, including which school and school district stakeholders have been engaged in the development of the program, including but not limited to superintendent, principal, business manager, school food service personnel, school nurse, teachers, and janitorial staff;
      2. (B) a budget outlining the nonrecurring expenses needed to initiate a program at each school site; and
      3. (C) any public or private resources that have been assembled to carry out expansion of school breakfast programs during the school year.
   2. (2) Agree to operate a school breakfast program under Section 16 for a period of not less than 3 school years.
   3. (3) Have higher rates of free or reduced-price eligible students.

(Source: P.A. 103-588, eff. 6-5-24.)