What changes does the new law bring for children with special needs

The Senate of Romania has approved the amendment of Law 272/2004, which states that the food allowance for children with special educational needs (SEN) will be replaced with hot meals or food packages. The vote was favorable, with 97 votes "for" and one abstention. According to the new regulation, educational institutions will provide food support, thus ensuring adequate nutrition during school activities.

Additionally, in cases where the child already benefits from a hot meal, the educational institution will be able to retain the value of the meal from the food allowance, transferring the remainder to the child's legal representative. The project, initiated by parliamentarians from PNL, PSD, and UDMR, aims to improve the quality of life and inclusion of children with SEN, ensuring their access to healthy nutrition.

The legislative proposal is set to be debated by the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision-making body.