On Sept. 30, 2003, the President signed HJ Resolution 69, which continues appropriations for the child nutrition programs and extends several provisions that were to expire on September 30.
This final rule amends the reporting and recordkeeping requirements under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program relating to the verification of applications for free and reduced price meal benefits under the NSLP and the SBP.
From July to September 2002, FNS reviewed the free and reduced price eligibility determination process (i.e., application, verification, reapplication, meal ticket status) for each of 3,474 applications selected for verification in 14 large school food authorities in the 2001-02 school year. These SFAs enroll nearly one million children, among whom 45 percent were approved for free meals and 7 percent were approved for reduced price meals as of Oct. 31, 2001.
The FY 2003 U.S. Department of Agriculture appropriations legislation extended the free and reduced price provision for for-profit centers in the CACFP through Sept. 30, 2003. The intent of this provision was to extend the availability of program benefits offered to low-income children by expanding upon the eligibility requirements for proprietary centers.