(a)
The department shall, before July 1 of each year, prescribe an adjustment in the state meal contribution rates established pursuant to this section for the forthcoming fiscal year. The adjustments shall reflect the changes in the cost of operating a school breakfast and lunch program and shall be made commencing on July 1 of each year. The adjustment shall be the average of the separate indices of the “Food Away From Home Index” for Los Angeles and San Francisco as prepared by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
(b)
In giving effect to the cost-of-living provisions of this section, the department shall use the same month for computation of the percentage change in the
cost of living after July 1, 1975. The same month shall be used annually thereafter. The product of a percentage increase or decrease in the average index and the per meal reimbursement disbursement rate shall be adjusted by the amount of a cost-of-living change currently in effect pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(c)
For the 1990–91 fiscal year to the 2012–13 fiscal year, inclusive, the cost-of-living adjustment shall be equal to the percentage change determined pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 42238.1, as that section read on January 1, 2013. Commencing with the 2013–14 fiscal year, the cost-of-living adjustment shall be equal to the percentage determined pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02.