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Bill

Bill

S 9565

Relates to establishing school-based food pantries in schools in the city school district of the city of New York

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamaal Bailey

Creates and operates school-based food pantries in NYC public schools to provide free nutritious food to students and families, prioritizing high-need schools.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 9565

Summary of Bill S. 9565-A (2025-2026) – New York City School-Based Food Pantries

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a program to create and operate school-based food pantries within schools in the City School District of New York (i.e., NYC public schools).
  • Aims to reduce hunger and food insecurity among students and families, with the goal of improving attendance, concentration, behavior, and overall academic performance.
  • Prioritizes schools in communities with the highest levels of economic need and poverty.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishment and location

    • Creates a NYC-wide program to establish and maintain school-based food pantries on school premises.
    • Pantries provide nutritious food at no charge to students and their parents/guardians for consumption outside regular school meals.

  • Priority assignment

    • The Chancellor must prioritize schools with greater economic need when selecting locations for pantries.
    • Indicators may include high free/reduced-price meal eligibility, homelessness/temporary housing, and other poverty measures.

  • Operations and schedule

    • Pantries operate during designated times on school days without interfering with instructional time.
    • Open to students and families at times reasonably accessible, including before or after school, at a minimum of two days per week during the regular school week.

  • Community partnerships and support

    • Encourages partnerships with local food pantries, food banks, and community organizations.
    • Allows written agreements for training volunteers, food safety, inventory and volunteer management, family outreach, and related support.
    • Chancellor may enter citywide or borough-wide agreements to coordinate donations, purchases, and deliveries of food and supplies.

  • Guidance and safeguards

    • The Chancellor must issue guidance addressing:
    • Dignity and confidentiality for students and families.
    • Food safety, storage, and handling standards aligned with health requirements.
    • Non-interference with instructional time and building safety.
    • Promotion of culturally appropriate and nutritious food options when feasible.
    • Preference for operation by volunteers.

  • Reporting requirements

    • Beginning with the second school year after enactment, the Chancellor must annually report to the Governor, the Senate, the Assembly, the Mayor, and the City Council.
    • Reports to include: number of schools with pantries, location details (borough/community district), estimated numbers served, and descriptions of partnerships with food organizations.

  • Effective date and rules

    • Takes effect 120 days after enactment.
    • Allows immediate rulemaking actions necessary to implement the act.

Who is affected

  • Students and their families in NYC public schools, particularly in high-need communities.
  • NYC school administrators and staff, who would partner with community organizations and oversee pantry operations.
  • Local food pantries, food banks, and community organizations that may partner with schools.
  • City policymakers who would receive annual accountability reports.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Introduced and referred to the New York City Education Committee.
  • Undergoes committee discharge, amendments, and re-referment in process, with Senate passage recorded on June 3, 2026.
  • Final implementation depends on enactment and the 120-day effective date post-law.

This bill would formalize school-based food pantries as a sustained mechanism to address food insecurity among NYC students and families, emphasizing dignity, safety, community partnerships, and ongoing oversight.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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