{"data":{"id":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-6-18-715","jurisdiction":"us-ar","citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-715","heading":"Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act - Definition","body":"(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the \"Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act\". (b) As used in this section, \"school\" means a tax-supported kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) public school that participates in the United States Department of Agriculture National School Lunch Program. (c) A school shall not: (1) Provide a student requesting a meal or snack under this section a meal or snack that is different from the meal or snack being provided to other students in the school; or (2) Prevent a student from accessing the school's meal or snack services. (d) If a student owes money for a meal or snack that is in excess of the amount charged a student for five (5) lunches, or another amount as determined by the student's school district, a school may contact the parent or guardian of the student to: (1) Attempt collection of the owed money; and (2) Request that the parent or guardian apply for meal benefits in a federal or state child nutrition program. (e) If a student is unable to pay for a meal or snack or owes money for a meal or snack, a school shall not: (1) Require the student to wear a wristband; (2) Give the student a hand stamp; (3) Require the student to dispose of a meal or snack after the student is served the meal or snack; (4) Require the student to sit in a location separate from other students; (5) Publicly make known the name of the student; or (6) Perform any other action that may stigmatize the student. (f) (1) The Child Nutrition Unit shall: (A) Implement a system for reviewing the local practices of public school district food service programs to determine the support needed by public school districts; and (B) Provide model policies that public school districts may adopt. (2) The system of review established under subdivision (f)(1)(A) of this section shall address areas regarding without limitation: (A) Ideas, innovations, and best practices for providing meals to vulnerable populations that contribute to the health and well-being of public school students; (B) Resources and strategies for improving the nutritional quality and appeal of meals; (C) Tips for implementing best practices; (D) Methods for informing parents and legal guardians of a public school district's meal charge policies; and (E) Plans for recovering costs for meal charges. Added by Act 2019, No. 428,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019.\n\n(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the \"Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act\".\n\n(b) As used in this section, \"school\" means a tax-supported kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) public school that participates in the United States Department of Agriculture National School Lunch Program.\n\n(c) A school shall not: (1) Provide a student requesting a meal or snack under this section a meal or snack that is different from the meal or snack being provided to other students in the school; or (2) Prevent a student from accessing the school's meal or snack services.\n\n(1) Provide a student requesting a meal or snack under this section a meal or snack that is different from the meal or snack being provided to other students in the school; or\n\n(2) Prevent a student from accessing the school's meal or snack services.\n\n(d) If a student owes money for a meal or snack that is in excess of the amount charged a student for five (5) lunches, or another amount as determined by the student's school district, a school may contact the parent or guardian of the student to: (1) Attempt collection of the owed money; and (2) Request that the parent or guardian apply for meal benefits in a federal or state child nutrition program.\n\n(1) Attempt collection of the owed money; and\n\n(2) Request that the parent or guardian apply for meal benefits in a federal or state child nutrition program.\nnt's school district, a school may contact the parent or guardian of the student to: (1) Attempt collection of the owed money; and (2) Request that the parent or guardian apply for meal benefits in a federal or state child nutrition program.\n\n(1) Attempt collection of the owed money; and\n\n(2) Request that the parent or guardian apply for meal benefits in a federal or state child nutrition program.\n\n(e) If a student is unable to pay for a meal or snack or owes money for a meal or snack, a school shall not: (1) Require the student to wear a wristband; (2) Give the student a hand stamp; (3) Require the student to dispose of a meal or snack after the student is served the meal or snack; (4) Require the student to sit in a location separate from other students; (5) Publicly make known the name of the student; or (6) Perform any other action that may stigmatize the student.\n\n(1) Require the student to wear a wristband;\n\n(2) Give the student a hand stamp;\n\n(3) Require the student to dispose of a meal or snack after the student is served the meal or snack;\n\n(4) Require the student to sit in a location separate from other students;\n\n(5) Publicly make known the name of the student; or\n\n(6) Perform any other action that may stigmatize the student.\n\n(f) (1) The Child Nutrition Unit shall: (A) Implement a system for reviewing the local practices of public school district food service programs to determine the support needed by public school districts; and (B) Provide model policies that public school districts may adopt. (2) The system of review established under subdivision (f)(1)(A) of this section shall address areas regarding without limitation: (A) Ideas, innovations, and best practices for providing meals to vulnerable populations that contribute to the health and well-being of public school students; (B) Resources and strategies for improving the nutritional quality and appeal of meals; (C) Tips for implementing best practices; (D) Methods for informing parents and legal guardians of a public school district's meal charge policies; and (E) Plans for recovering costs for meal charges.\n\n(1) The Child Nutrition Unit shall: (A) Implement a system for reviewing the local practices of public school district food service programs to determine the support needed by public school districts; and (B) Provide model policies that public school districts may adopt.\n\n(A) Implement a system for reviewing the local practices of public school district food service programs to determine the support needed by public school districts; and\n\n(B) Provide model policies that public school districts may adopt.\n\n(2) The system of review established under subdivision (f)(1)(A) of this section shall address areas regarding without limitation: (A) Ideas, innovations, and best practices for providing meals to vulnerable populations that contribute to the health and well-being of public school students; (B) Resources and strategies for improving the nutritional quality and appeal of meals; (C) Tips for implementing best practices; (D) Methods for informing parents and legal guardians of a public school district's meal charge policies; and (E) Plans for recovering costs for meal charges.\n\n(A) Ideas, innovations, and best practices for providing meals to vulnerable populations that contribute to the health and well-being of public school students;\n\n(B) Resources and strategies for improving the nutritional quality and appeal of meals;\n\n(C) Tips for implementing best practices;\n\n(D) Methods for informing parents and legal guardians of a public school district's meal charge policies; and\n\n(E) Plans for recovering costs for meal charges.","path":["AR Code","Title 6","Chapter 18","Subchapter 7"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_ar_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:41Z","sha256":"cd1ef7655e3acd001f78385db7d8b3d15b3b53863491a10ff6c31f9f2dc5eaea","source_id":"us-ar","stale":false,"prev":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-6-18-714","next":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-6-18-716"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}