HB 1890 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Pilot Grant Program.

PRINTER'S NO.   2355

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1890
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, HADDOCK, GUZMAN,
        BOROWSKI, FREEMAN, STEELE, HOHENSTEIN, HOWARD, CURRY, CEPEDA-
        FREYTIZ, D. WILLIAMS AND MERSKI, SEPTEMBER 29, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 29, 2025


                                       AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," establishing the Scratch Cooked Meals
 6      for Students Pilot Grant Program.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.     The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
11   article to read:
12                               ARTICLE XIV-C
13                     SCRATCH COOKED MEALS FOR STUDENTS
14                            PILOT GRANT PROGRAM
15   Section 1401-C.    Definitions.
16      The following words and phrases when used in this article
17   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18   context clearly indicates otherwise:
19      "Department."    The Department of Education of the
 1   Commonwealth.
 2      "Local education agency."        A school district, charter school,
 3   area career and technical school or intermediate unit.
 4      "Pilot program."        The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Pilot
 5   Grant Program established under section 1402-C.
 6      "Scratch cooking."        The preparation of food using ingredients
 7   that are unprocessed or minimally processed.
 8   Section 1402-C.        Pilot program.
 9      (a)   Establishment.--The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students
10   Pilot Grant Program is established in the department. The
11   department shall establish guidelines and procedures necessary
12   for the implementation and administration of the pilot program.
13      (b)   Expiration.--The pilot program shall expire four years
14   from the effective date of this subsection.
15      (c)   Grant awards.--A grant awarded under the pilot program
16   shall be made for a period of two school years.
17      (d)   Eligibility.--A local education agency may submit an
18   application to the department for a grant under the pilot
19   program. The application must include:
20            (1)   A needs assessment to evaluate equipment needs,
21      equipment utilization, procurement process and workforce
22      capabilities for the pilot program.
23            (2)   A strategic plan identifying:
24                  (i)    How the local education agency will use the
25            grant funding.
26                  (ii)    How project activities will be monitored and
27            evaluated.
28                  (iii)    All proposed costs with a clear explanation
29            about how the costs were determined.
30            (3)   Other information required by the department.

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 1      (e)     Eligible uses for grant awards.--Grants shall be used by
 2   a local education agency to promote scratch cooking, which may
 3   include:
 4            (1)   Promoting professional development and training
 5      related to preparing, procuring, advertising, serving and
 6      creating menus of meals made with scratch cooking.
 7            (2)   Purchasing cafeteria equipment or making
 8      infrastructure modifications necessary for scratch cooking.
 9            (3)   Hiring of staff or third-party entities needed for
10      additional food preparation necessary for scratch cooking.
11            (4)   Providing technical assistance, pupil engagement and
12      education related to scratch cooking such as taste tests,
13      recipe development and culinary education.
14            (5)   Investing in software and technology systems for
15      procurement to support scratch cooking.
16            (6)   Carrying out any additional activities to promote
17      scratch cooking that will help local education agencies meet
18      or exceed nutrition standards.
19      (f)     Priority.--In evaluating grant applications, the
20   department shall give priority to local education agencies that
21   serve the greatest proportion of students eligible for free or
22   reduced-price lunch.
23   Section 1403-C.    Reporting requirement.
24      (a)     Local education agency.--No later than 180 days after
25   the expiration of the pilot program, each local education agency
26   that received a grant shall submit a report to the department
27   that compares the change at the end of the grant period to the
28   school year immediately preceding the beginning of the grant
29   period, including:
30            (1)   Recipes prepared.

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 1            (2)   Nutrient analysis information.
 2            (3)   Invoices or bid lists identifying the cost of each
 3      ingredient or single item per meal served.
 4            (4)   The number of staff, type of staff and time required
 5      to prepare each meal.
 6            (5)   Salary and benefit rates for each food service
 7      employee involved in food preparation of selected meals.
 8            (6)   Production record and meal counts.
 9            (7)   Free and reduced-price meal eligibility and average
10      daily lunch participation.
11            (8)   Any other information required by the department.
12      (b)   Department.--No later than one year following the
13   expiration of the pilot program, the department shall submit a
14   report to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
15   Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
16   minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of
17   Representatives that includes at least the following
18   information:
19            (1)   The number of and amount of grants.
20            (2)   The names of and reports provided by participating
21      local education agencies.
22            (3)   Recommendations on the continuation or expansion of
23      the pilot program.
24            (4)   Any other information required by the department.
25      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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