(a) Any local or regional board of education may establish and operate a school lunch program for public school children, may operate lunch services for its employees, may establish and operate a school breakfast program, as provided under federal laws governing said programs, or may establish and operate such other child feeding programs as it deems necessary. Charges for such lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding may be fixed by such boards and shall not exceed the cost of food, wages and other expenses directly incurred in providing such services. When such services are offered, a board shall provide free lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding to children whose economic needs require such action under the standards promulgated by said federal laws. Such board is authorized to purchase equipment and supplies that are necessary, to employ the necessary personnel, to utilize the services of volunteers and to receive and expend any funds and receive and use any equipment and supplies which may become available to carry out the provisions of this section. Any town board of education may vote to designate any volunteer organization within the town to provide a school lunch program, school breakfast program or other child feeding program in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2021, and each school year thereafter, a local or regional board of education shall include in any policy or procedure for the collection of unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding applicable to employees and third-party vendors of such school lunches, breakfasts or such feeding (1) a prohibition on publicly identifying or shaming a child for any such unpaid charges, including, but not limited to, delaying or refusing to serve a meal to such child, designating a specific meal option for such child or otherwise taking any disciplinary action against such child, (2) a declaration of the right for any child to purchase a meal, which meal may exclude any a la carte items or be limited to one meal for any school lunch, breakfast or other such feeding, and (3) a procedure for communicating with the parent or legal guardian of a child for the purpose of collecting such unpaid charges. Such communication shall include, but not be limited to, (A) information regarding local food pantries, (B) applications for the school district’s program for free or reduced priced meals and for the supplemental nutrition assistance program administered by the Department of Social Services, and (C) a link to the Internet web site maintained by the town for such school district listing any community services available to the residents of such town. In the event the unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding due from any parent or legal guardian are equal to or more than the cost of thirty meals, the local or regional board of education shall refer such parent or legal guardian to the local homeless education liaison designated by such board, pursuant to Subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 USC 11431 et seq., as amended from time to time.

(c) A local or regional board of education may accept gifts, donations or grants from any public or private sources for the purpose of paying off any unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts or other such feeding.