Education (Breakfast and Lunch Programmes) Amendment Bill 2018

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to introduce fully state funded breakfast and lunch programmes in all decile 1 and 2 schools and other designated schools in New Zealand. The meals will be available to all enrolled students in these schools free of charge, and will be required to meet Ministry of Health nutritional guidelines.

2. Principal Act

1. This Act amends the Education Act 1989 (the principal Act).

3. Section 2 amended (Interpretation)

1. In section 2(1), after "Parts", insert "1A" in each place.

2. In section 2(1), insert in their appropriate alphabetical order:

breakfast and lunch programme means a breakfast and lunch programme established under Part 1A

decile rating, in relation to a school, means its decile rating as determined by the Ministry

designated school means a school designated by the Secretary under section 10A

4. New Part 1A inserted (Breakfast and lunch programmes in schools)

1. After section 10, insert:

Part 1A

Breakfast and lunch programmes in schools

10A. Secretary may designate school as eligible for funding

1. The Secretary may in their discretion at the request of the board of a school designate the school as eligible for funding under section 10B(2) for a breakfast and lunch programme at the schools, if-

a. the school is not a decile 1 or 2 school; and
b. they are satisfied that a significant number of the persons enroled at the school live-

(i) outside the school home zone; and

(ii) in areas where schools have decile 1 or 2 ratings.

10B. Board to provide breakfast and lunch at decile 1 and 2 schools and designated schools

1. The board of a decile 1 or 2 school or a designated school must provide a free breakfast and lunch to every person at the school on every day that the school is open for instruction.

2. The Minister must make grants, out of public money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, to the board to fund uts breakfast and lunch programme.

10C. Nutritional guidelines

1. The Ministry must-

a. ask the Ministry of Health to provide suitable guidelines for the breakfast and lunch programmes; and
b. notify boards of decile 1 an 2 schools and designated schools of the guidelines.

2. A board must follow the guidelines when providing a breakfast and lunch programme.

3. Nutritional guidelines must provide guidelines for special dietary concerns, which the board must also follow when providing a breakfast and lunch programme.

10D. Monitoring

1. In conjuction with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry must develop a plan for monitoring boards that provide breakfast and lunch programmes so as to determine whether the board is-

a. providing the meals every day that the school is open for instruction; and
b. following the nutritional guidelines.

2. The Ministry must implement the monitoring plan in respect of each decile 1 or 2 school and each designated school at least once every 12 months.

10E. Evaluation of opration of breakfast and lunch programmes

1. The Ministry must, not later than 3 years after the commencement of this Part,-

a. review the operation of this Part; and
b. consider the impacts of the breakfast and lunch programmes on school attendance, learning achievement, and health indicators; and
c. assess whether any changes are needed, including any amendements to this Act, to improve the effectiveness of the programmes; and
d. report the findings to the Minister.

2. The Minister must present a copy of the report to the House of Representatives as soon as practicable after receiving it.

Submitted by the Minister for Social Development (/u/imnofox Greens) on behalf of the Government.

The first reading of the bill can be found here.
The second reading of the bill can be found here.

Third reading debate will conclude at 8am, 26 February 2018.