Schools in New York will be barred from collecting unpaid debt for meals under a measure signed into law on Thursday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. 

The new law is meant to build on a broader effort to combat hunger in schools and prevent debt for school meals hindering low-income families. The law also addresses concerns over "meal shaming" in public schools and prevent children who have been unable to pay from being treated differently. 

"Taking families to court over unpaid school meals is cruel, draconian, and runs counter to a school's fundamental mission to ensure the wellbeing of every student," Cuomo said. "This legislation builds upon this administration's work to end lunch shaming in New York and makes it clear that no family in need should have to endure a burdensome and costly legal process over their children's nutritional health."

Lawsuits and other debt collection efforts in school districts for unpaid meals are rate, but advocates and lawmakers who support efforts to curtail it say such efforts can be counterproductive. In some instances, children and families would have to choose between going to court or going hungry. 

"New Yorkers recognize that no child should go to school and worry about being shamed or stigmatized because they can't afford lunch," said Sen. Rachel May. "Our laws are among the most progressive in the country in prohibiting meal shaming. But as we have seen in neighboring states, it is possible for meal shaming to walk out of the classroom and into the courtroom. This law will keep such lawsuits from making their way to New York."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, announced school meals through the National School Lunch Program will be provided free of charge to all students through June 2022 as part of efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"Across the country, families are being publicly shamed and sued by schools over unpaid debt caused by nothing more than their children eating a meal," said Assemblywoman Anna Kelles. "This law will prevent that in New York State. There are other ways to support our schools but shaming children is not one that we as New Yorkers can support. School is and should always be about education and growth."