PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE.

SEC. 306. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE. Section 7 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1776) is amended by striking subsection (g) and inserting the following:“(g) Professional Standards for School Food Service.—“(1) Criteria for school food service and state agency directors.—“(A) School food service directors.—“(i) In general.—The Secretary shall establish a program of required education, training, and certification for all school food service directors responsible for the management of a school food authority.“(ii) Requirements.—The program shall include—“(I) minimum educational requirements necessary to successfully manage the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program established by section 4 of this Act;“(II) minimum program training and certification criteria for school food service directors; and“(III) minimum periodic training criteria to maintain school food service director certification.“(B) School nutrition state agency directors.—The Secretary shall establish criteria and standards for States to use in the selection of State agency directors with responsibility for the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program established by section 4 of this Act.“(C) Training program partnership.—The Secretary may provide financial and other assistance to 1 or more professional food service management organizations—“(i) to establish and manage the program under this paragraph; and“(ii) to develop voluntary training and certification programs for other school food service workers.“(D) Required date of compliance.—“(i) School food service directors.—The Secretary shall establish a date by which all school food service directors whose local educational agencies are participating in the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program established by section 4 of this Act shall be required to comply with the education, training, and 124 STAT. 3244 certification criteria established in accordance with subparagraph (A).“(ii) School nutrition state agency directors.—The Secretary shall establish a date by which all State agencies shall be required to comply with criteria and standards established in accordance with subparagraph (B) for the selection of State agency directors with responsibility for the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the school breakfast program established by section 4 of this Act.“(2) Training and certification of food service personnel.—“(A) Training for individuals conducting or overseeing administrative procedures.—“(i) In general.—At least annually, each State shall provide training in administrative practices (including training in application, certification, verification, meal counting, and meal claiming procedures) to local educational agency and school food authority personnel and other appropriate personnel.“(ii) Federal role.—The Secretary shall—“(I) provide training and technical assistance described in clause (i) to the State; or“(II) at the option of the Secretary, directly provide training and technical assistance described in clause (i).“(iii) Required participation.—In accordance with procedures established by the Secretary, each local educational agency or school food authority shall ensure that an individual conducting or overseeing administrative procedures described in clause (i) receives training at least annually, unless determined otherwise by the Secretary.“(B) Training and certification of all local food service personnel.—“(i) In general.—The Secretary shall provide training designed to improve—“(I) the accuracy of approvals for free and reduced price meals; and“(II) the identification of reimbursable meals at the point of service.“(ii) Certification of local personnel.—In accordance with criteria established by the Secretary, local food service personnel shall complete annual training and receive annual certification—“(I) to ensure program compliance and integrity; and“(II) to demonstrate competence in the training provided under clause (i).“(iii) Training modules.—In addition to the topics described in clause (i), a training program carried out under this subparagraph shall include training modules on—“(I) nutrition;124 STAT. 3245“(II) health and food safety standards and methodologies; and“(III) any other appropriate topics, as determined by the Secretary.“(3) Funding.—“(A) In general.—Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this subsection, to remain available until expended—“(i) on October 1, 2010, $5,000,000; and“(ii) on each October 1 thereafter, $1,000,000.“(B) Receipt and acceptance.—The Secretary shall be entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out this subsection the funds transferred under subparagraph (A), without further appropriation.”.