California Code, Education Code - EDC § 49554

Any school district or county superintendent of schools which has had no food service employees since July 1, 1977, or has inadequate or no food preparation facilities as determined by the State Department of Education, and is, therefore, unable to provide a nutritionally adequate breakfast or lunch, or both, may contract for the preparation, delivery, and service of those meals. Any contract for the preparation, delivery, and service of meals shall not be deemed to establish food service positions for the purposes of Section 39902.

Prior to contracting for preparation, delivery, and service of such meals, a school district shall certify to the State Department of Education that no school district in the county nor the county superintendent of schools has the facilities and is willing to furnish those services.