(1) (a) For the 2002-03 budget year and each budget year thereafter, the general assembly may appropriate by separate line item an amount to assist school food authorities that are providing a school breakfast program through participation in programs authorized under the federal "Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1751 et seq., or the federal "Child Nutrition Act of 1966", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1771 et seq. The department of education shall develop procedures to appropriately allocate and disburse the funds among participating school food authorities.

• (b) Each school district that receives moneys pursuant to this section shall use such moneys to create, expand, or enhance the school breakfast program in each low-performing school of the receiving district with the goal of improving the academic performance of the students attending such schools.
• (c) A district charter school, an institute charter school, or a charter school collaborative that is a school food authority shall only be eligible to receive moneys pursuant to this section if it is a low-performing school. A district charter school or an institute charter school that is a school food authority that receives moneys pursuant to this section shall use such moneys to create, expand, or enhance its school breakfast program with the goal of improving the academic performance of the students attending the district charter school or the institute charter school.

(1) There is hereby created the start smart nutrition program to ensure that each student in Colorado public schools and facility schools has an opportunity to begin each day with a nutritious breakfast. (2) The department shall administer the program in accordance with the procedures developed by the department pursuant to section 22-82.7-106. (3) The objectives of the program are to:

• (a) Appropriate moneys from the state budget to eliminate the reduced price paid by Colorado students participating in the school breakfast program and to offset the costs incurred by facility schools in providing the school breakfast program to students who are receiving educational services from the facility schools;
• (b) Increase the number of Colorado students who consume a nutritious breakfast each day;
• (c) Decrease statewide health care costs by improving the health of school-age children;
• (d) Lessen students' risk of obesity by providing nutritious breakfast options;
• (e) Encourage charter schools, school districts, and facility schools to participate in the school breakfast program;
• (f) Increase students' consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, vitamins A and C, calcium, protein, fiber, and iron; and
• (g) Make breakfast more accessible to underprivileged students.

(1) There is hereby created the breakfast after the bell nutrition program. The purpose of the program is to offer a free breakfast to each student enrolled in a public school that has seventy percent or more students who are eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch under the school lunch program.

"Qualifying schools must offer a free, nutritious breakfast to all students after the first bell."