Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act

This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). It changes eligibility certification, reviews the serious deficiency process, adjusts meal reimbursement limits, updates inflation adjustments, and establishes an advisory committee on paperwork reduction.

Sec. 2, Eligibility certification criteria for proprietary child care centers: This section adds a new criterion requiring that the eligibility of proprietary child care centers be determined on an annual basis.

Sec. 3, Review of serious deficiency process: The Secretary must review and issue guidance on the serious deficiency process within one year. The review covers how serious deficiencies are determined, appealed, and mediated, including differentiating human error from intentional noncompliance and distinguishing state-specific from federal requirements. The Secretary cannot consider state-specific requirements in determining non-compliance. Guidance must streamline the program, reduce paperwork, and ensure fair administration, including a formal appeals process with an independent official.

Sec. 4, Authorization of reimbursements for additional meal or snack: This section changes the daily meal reimbursement limit. For most children, the limit is 2 meals and 1 supplement or 1 meal and 2 supplements. For child care lasting 8 or more hours between the first and fourth meal service periods, the limit is 3 meals and 1 supplement or 2 meals and 2 supplements. The Secretary must also conduct a study on the third meal reimbursement and report to Congress.

Sec. 5, Adjustments: This section changes the inflation adjustment index for reimbursements from the "Consumer Price Index for food at home" to the "Consumer Price Index for food away from home."

Sec. 6, Advisory Committee on Paperwork Reduction: The Secretary must establish an advisory committee within 180 days to examine reducing unnecessary paperwork for program participants. The committee includes at least 14 members representing various program stakeholders. Within two years, the Secretary must issue guidance based on the committee's recommendations to streamline paperwork, including allowing electronic signatures and records, and eliminating the enrollment form for meal claiming. A report to Congress must explain any unimplemented recommendations.