(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Military-connected student" means a student who is a dependent of: (i) An active duty uniformed services member; (ii) A member of a reserve component; or (iii) A member described in item (i) or (ii) of this paragraph who was killed in the line of duty. (3) "Program" means the Purple Star Schools Program. (b) (1) There is a Purple Star Schools Program. (2) The purpose of the Program is to recognize public schools that provide strong services and support for military-connected students and their families when, as a result of official orders, a military-connected student transfers schools. (c) (1) The Department shall administer the Program. (2) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the Department shall designate a public school as a Purple Star School if the school applies and meets the criteria adopted by the Department for a Purple Star School. (d) At a minimum, the Department's criteria for a Purple Star School shall require a public school to: (1) Designate a staff member as a uniformed services liaison, whose duties shall include: (i) Identifying military-connected students who are newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled at the school; (ii) Serving as the point of contact between the school and newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled military-connected students and their families; (iii) Determining appropriate school services available to newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled military-connected students; (iv) Assisting in coordinating school programs for newly enrolled or soon to be enrolled military-connected students; and (v) Generally aiding with a military-connected student's transition to a new school; (2) Establish on the school's website an easily accessible webpage that includes resources for military-connected students and their families, including information regarding: (i) Relocation to, enrollment at, registration at, and transferring records to the school; (ii) Academic planning, course sequences, and advanced classes available at the school; and (iii) Counseling and other support services available for military-connected students transitioning into the school; (3) Maintain a transition program led by students, if appropriate, that assists military-connected students enrolled at the school; and (4) Offer professional development for staff members on issues related to military-connected students transferring to new schools. (e) A public school may partner with the county board to fulfill the Department's criteria to qualify as a Purple Star School. (f) The Department shall adopt regulations to carry out this section. §7-130. IN EFFECT // EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2027 PER CHAPTER 205 OF 2022 // (a) In this section, "Program" means the Grant Program to Reduce and Compost School Waste. (b) There is a Grant Program to Reduce and Compost School Waste within the Department. (c) (1) The purpose of the Program is to award grants to county boards and public schools to develop and implement programs for reducing food waste and to establish composting of pre- and post-consumer waste. (2) A county board or a public school may apply for a grant under this section. (d) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department shall administer the Program. (2) (i) The Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education shall review grant applications and select grant awardees under the Program. (ii) The Department shall award grants to the applicants selected by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education. (e) A project is eligible for a grant if it is submitted by a county board or public school and will: (1) Educate students, staff, and parents on the connection between food waste, climate, environment, and hunger; (2) Support school infrastructure to measure food waste and reduction of food waste; (3) Train and educate students and staff on the implementation of food waste reduction and composting; and (4) Include at least one of the following activities: (i) Planning to transition the school to an offer versus serve model in cafeterias, which allows students to decline foods offered rather than serving food a student will not eat, in compliance with federal law, and trains students and staff on the model; (ii) Developing processes for surplus food to be served during after school activities or the following day, or to be taken home to student families; (iii) Contracting with a commercial composter or municipal or county agency to recycle in-school organic waste; (iv) Establishing on-site composting bins; (v) Replacing single-serve milk cartons with bulk milk dispensers; (vi) Establishing share tables based on guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service document number SP41 CACFP13 SFSP15-2016; (vii) Packaging and distributing surplus food to local food rescue organizations to support local communities; or (viii) Establishing any other program or activity that prevents and reduces food waste in a public school. (f) To carry out the purpose of the Program, grant awards shall be prioritized to the following programs or schools: (1) Programs that will be led by students; (2) Schools with high numbers of students who receive free and reduced price meals; (3) Programs that will contract with a small and minority- or veteran-owned business; and (4) Programs that will contract with businesses that pay employees a living wage, as defined in § 18-101 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. (g) A county board or public school that receives a grant through the Program annually shall report to the Department on program outcomes, including: (1) The amount of food waste prevented, diverted, and composted; and (2) Improvement in education of students and staff on environmental best practices related to food waste management. (h) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of the Environment to identify and apply for federal funding that may be used to support the Program. (i) On or before December 1, 2023, and each December 1 thereafter, the Department shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, on the Program. (j) The Department may adopt regulations necessary to implement this section.
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