Section 63 School Meals Nutrition Advisory Council

Section 1B of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as amended by section 25 of chapter 14 of the acts of 2025, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-
The board shall establish a school meal nutrition standards advisory council to advise the commissioner on nutrition standards for meals served in schools, including, but not limited to, the implementation of the recommendations of the school meal nutrition standards commission, established in section 77 of chapter 28 of the acts of 2023. The council shall: (i) provide ongoing guidance in the development of comprehensive and strengthened nutrition standards aligned with the most current public health guidance and evidence-based nutrition standards; (ii) provide ongoing feasibility assessments; and (iii) work with school food authorities and other stakeholders to reduce barriers to feasibility of implementation on issues, including, but not limited to, procurement, facilities and workforce training. The members of the council shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed, subject to appropriation, for necessary expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the council. The council shall consist of the following 11 members: 6 members appointed by the governor, who shall be school nutrition operators or registered dieticians representing geographically, racially and socio-economically diverse school districts; a representative from Project Bread &ndash The Walk for Hunger, Inc.; a representative from the School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts, Inc.; a representative from the Massachusetts Healthy School Lunch Coalition; a representative from Massachusetts Farm to School Project, LLC; and a representative from the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative. Members shall serve for a term of 3 years. Members serving on the council shall represent a reasonable statewide geographic balance. The council shall meet not less than 4 times per year. The council shall elect from among its members a chair to serve for a term of 3 years who may appoint other officers as necessary.