HB 827

Abstract

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; survey on campus food insecurity; report. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to (i) survey each public institution of higher education to determine how each such institution is addressing on-campus food insecurity, including specific methods, programs, sources of funding, expenditures, communications strategies, and staffing; (ii) compile and make available to each such institution a guidance document containing best practices for leveraging all available resources and opportunities, including public benefits programs and donation programs, to ensure that students do not face food insecurity on campus; and (iii) report its findings and any recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations no later than November 1, 2024.

Public institutions of higher education; Hunger-FreeCampus Grant Program established; report. Establishes the Hunger-FreeCampus Grant Program (the Program) to address student food insecurityat public institutions of higher education. The bill provides thatthe Program shall be managed by the State Council of Higher Educationfor Virginia and available for participation by public institutions of higher education; however, participation in the Program shallbe optional for such institutions. Under the bill, if a public institutionof higher education satisfies certain criteria set out in the bill,including creating initiatives on campus to address student foodinsecurity, it shall be designated as a "Hunger-Free Campus" andthe Council shall award a grant to such institution. A public institutionof higher education that receives a grant under the bill shall utilizethe funds to support on-campus efforts and initiatives to eliminatestudent food insecurity at such institution. The bill requires theCouncil to submit a report to the Chairmen of the Senate Committeeon Education and Health and the House Committee on Education no laterthan two years after the establishment of the Program.