STATE
March 16, 2020
March 16, 2020
The Tennessee General Assembly announced that it will be working in a bipartisan manner to pass an expedited budget and several “essential bills” this week before adjourning the 111th Session at the end of the week until further notice. We are expected to return in late Spring or early Summer to take up outstanding legislative matters.
In addition to government operations related sunset bills, the following is a tentative list of legislation that may be taken up this week. HB 2821; HB 2820; HB 2819; HB 2822; HB2170; HB 2138; HB 2154; HB 1175; HB 2505; HB 2565; HB 2362; HB 2364; HB 2363; HB 2255; HB 2378; HB 1538; HB 2363; HB 2472; HB2565; HB 2129; HB 2640; SJR 0836.
March 16, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted School Nutrition Program waivers to the TN Department of Education (TDOE) to provide School Food Authorities (SFAs) flexibility to feed children utilizing non-congregate feeding sites. The state’s waiver approval permits SFAs to continue to use school sites to prepare food even during unexpected closures. The waiver also permits schools to use innovative methods to ensure children receive food, including grab-n-go, bus stop delivery, etc., to get food to kids without having kids come and sit in the cafeteria. In both cases, districts may serve meals to children under the age of 18, regardless of enrollment. The child must be present to receive the meal.
Please note that both of these waivers only apply to area-eligible zones (over 50% free and reduced-price meals). To address this, the TDOE has also prepared an application to submit to USDA to waive the requirements to only serve meals in area-eligible zones. At this time, the TDOE has been notified that this waiver approval would be contingent on a presidential declaration of a natural disaster. Because it is a state of National Emergency, some districts currently will not qualify for the distribution of food to all students. The TDOE is continuing to partner with these districts to identify alternative options to ensure nutrition supports are provided to students.
