(1) This section may be cited as the “Ms. Willie Ann Glenn Act.”
(2) Each school district shall develop a plan to sponsor or operate a summer nutrition program to operate sites in the school district as follows:(a) Within 5 miles of at least one school that serves any combination of grades kindergarten through 5 at which 50 percent or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals for the duration of 35 days between the end of the school year and the beginning of the next school year. School districts may exclude holidays and weekends.
(b) Within 10 miles of each school that serves any combination of grades kindergarten through 5 at which 50 percent or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, except as operated pursuant to paragraph (a).
(3)(a) A school district may be exempt from sponsoring a summer nutrition program pursuant to this section. A school district seeking such exemption must include the issue on an agenda at a regular or special school district meeting that is publicly noticed, provide residents an opportunity to participate in the discussion, and vote on whether to be exempt from this section. The school district shall notify the department within 10 days after it decides to become exempt from this section.
(b) Each year, the school district shall reconsider its decision to be exempt from the provisions of this section and shall vote on whether to continue the exemption from sponsoring a summer nutrition program. The school district shall notify the department within 10 days after each subsequent year’s decision to continue the exemption.
(c) If a school district elects to be exempt from sponsoring a summer nutrition program under this section, the school district may encourage not-for-profit entities to sponsor the program. If a not-for-profit entity chooses to sponsor the summer nutrition program but fails to perform with regard to the program, the school district and the department are not required to continue the program and shall be held harmless from any liability arising from the discontinuation of the summer nutrition program.
(4) The superintendent of schools may collaborate with municipal and county governmental agencies and private, not-for-profit leaders in implementing the plan. Although schools have proven to be the optimal site for a summer nutrition program, any not-for-profit entity may serve as a site or sponsor. By April 15 of each year, each school district with a summer nutrition program shall report to the department the district’s summer nutrition program sites in compliance with this section.
(5) The department shall provide to each school district by February 15 of each year a list of local organizations that have filed letters of intent to participate in the summer nutrition program in order that a school district may determine how many sites are needed to serve the children and where to place each site.
