1. a. A public school operated by a school district that participates in the federal School Breakfast Program, or a nonpublic school participating in the federal School Breakfast Program, is encouraged to increase the number of students participating in the program by establishing a breakfast after the bell program that incorporates school breakfast into the first-period classroom or the first few minutes of the school day.

b. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education shall:

(1) make every effort to assist, guide, and support school districts, public schools, and nonpublic schools in planning, establishing, implementing, or modifying a breakfast after the bell program to increase the number of students, especially the number of students from low-income families and middle-income families, who are participating in each school breakfast program.

(2) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2022, c.104)

L.2014, c.66, s.1; amended 2022, c.104, s.8.