HR 80 — A Resolution urging the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education to collaborate on conducting a Statewide study of school cafeteria services provided to every school district.

PRINTER'S NO.   682

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 80
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, SANCHEZ, KHAN, GIRAL, PIELLI,
        WAXMAN, NEILSON, HILL-EVANS, SCHLOSSBERG, M. MACKENZIE,
        FREEMAN, GALLAGHER, OTTEN, FIEDLER, STEELE, CERRATO AND
        GREEN, FEBRUARY 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 20, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Urging the Department of Agriculture and the Department of
 2      Education to collaborate on conducting a Statewide study of
 3      school cafeteria services provided to every school district.
 4      WHEREAS, Federal law requires that school kitchens be
 5   inspected twice per year; and
 6      WHEREAS, The Department of Agriculture conducts and regulates
 7   inspections for restaurants and schools and provides inspection
 8   reports on food safety on its website; and
 9      WHEREAS, A facility may have a few violations and still be
10   considered in compliance; and
11      WHEREAS, Additionally, the Department of Education's Food and
12   Nutrition Division assists school districts with resources to
13   provide students with quality meals; and
14      WHEREAS, Some school districts may struggle with serving
15   quality and healthy meal portions which has an impact on the
16   health and well-being of students; and
17      WHEREAS, It is imperative that each school district ensures
 1   that each student receives quality meals and portions necessary
 2   for their best academic performance; therefore be it
 3      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the
 4   Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education to
 5   collaborate on conducting a Statewide study of school cafeteria
 6   services provided to every school district; and be it further
 7      RESOLVED, That the study shall:
 8          (1)   set standards of assessment for school meal quality
 9      and quantity, including portion size and access to vegetarian
10      and vegan alternatives, based on grade or age level;
11          (2)   determine the nutritional and caloric content of
12      breakfast and lunch meals served at public schools in this
13      Commonwealth in comparison to school meal quality and
14      quantity standards;
15          (3)   evaluate the costs for each school district to
16      prepare meals and the costs charged to students for those
17      meals; and
18          (4)   make recommendations of legislation or legislative
19      action required to ensure that all school districts meet
20      school meal nutrition and quality standards;
21   and be it further
22      RESOLVED, That the Department of Agriculture and the
23   Department of Education issue a report with their findings and
24   recommendations to the General Assembly and post the study on
25   the departments' publicly accessible Internet websites within
26   one year of the adoption of this resolution.




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