(a) Every school in this State shall provide a federally reimbursable meal or snack to a student of that school who requests the meal or snack, regardless of whether the student has the ability to pay for the meal or snack or owes money for earlier meals or snacks. The school may not provide a student requesting a meal or snack under this subsection (a) an alternate meal or snack that is different from the other meals or snacks provided to students in that school and may not prohibit or prevent a student from accessing the school’s meal or snack services.
     (b) If a student owes money for meals or snacks that is in excess of the equivalent of the amount charged a student for 5 lunches, or a lower amount as determined by the student’s school district or private school, a school may reach out to the parent or guardian of the student to attempt collection of the owed money and to request that the parent or guardian apply for meal benefits in a federal or State child nutrition program. If the amount owed by a student for meals or snacks is owed and payable to a school district in an amount that is no less than $500 and the school district has made reasonable efforts to collect the debt from the student’s parent or guardian for at least one year, the school district may seek an offset under the State Comptroller Act.