School districts would be able to increase the eligibility standard for free meals under legislation from N.H. Sen. Donovan Fenton, D-Keene.

Fenton said in an interview Tuesday that it is important that his Senate Bill 517 would allow districts to increase the standard to 200% of the federal poverty level. Eligibility is now set at 130% of poverty for free meals, with reduced-price meals available to those earning up to 185% of the poverty level.

A family of four earning $64,300 would be at 200% of poverty level.

“Things are not getting less expensive,” Fenton said. “Things are getting more and more expensive, and that’s why it is so important that kids can learn and not worry about whether they are hungry or not.”

Increased costs under the proposal would be borne half by the state and half by any school district that opts in to the expanded program through a school board decision.

Fenton had a similar bill last year that passed the Senate on a voice vote but was rejected by the House on Jan. 7, 183-161.

Rep. Dan McGuire, R-Epsom, argued against that measure, saying it would “cost millions of dollars that we simply don’t have at this time.”

The fiscal note on SB 517 said potential state expenditures under the bill can’t be predicted because that would depend on how many school boards opted in.

At any rate, Donovan said the investment would be worth it and is small when compared to the overall cost of funding a school.

“This is a drop in the bucket,” he said. “If you look at some of these schools that are receiving taxpayer funds, this is tiny.”

“Kids do not learn if they are hungry. We don’t ask if a child deserves a textbook. Food is just as essential.”

Currently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture covers most of the costs of the free and reduced-price meals program based on the eligibility standards it sets. Under SB 517, the state and local school districts would cover the costs for expanding that eligibility.

The N.H. Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on SB 517 on Jan. 27.

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