National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates, 42470-42473 [2015-17600]
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42470
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Notices
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments should be sent to the
address in the preamble. All responses
to this notice will be summarized and
included in the request for OMB
approval. All comments will also
become a matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, DC, July 1, 2015.
Greg Pompelli,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015–17585 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–18–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
Information Collection; Measurement
Service (MS) Records
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Farm Service Agency, USDA.
Notice; request for comments.
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Farm Service Agency (FSA) is
requesting comments from all interested
individuals and organizations on an
extension of a currently approved
information collection associated with
the MS Records.
SUMMARY:
We will consider comments that
we receive by September 15, 2015.
DATES:
We invite you to submit
comments on this notice. In your
comments, include date, volume and
page number, the OMB Control Number,
and the title of the information
collection of this issue of the Federal
Register. You may submit comments by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments.
• Mail: Clay Lagasse, Common
Provisions Section, Production
Emergencies and Compliance Division,
USDA, FSA, Farm Programs, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Mail Stop
0517, Washington, DC 20250–0517.
You may also send comments to the
Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20503. Copies of the
information collection may be requested
by contacting Clay Lagasse at the above
address.
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ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lagasse, (202) 205–9893.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Clay
Description of Information Collection
Title: Measurement Service (MS)
Records.
OMB Control Number: 0560–0260.
Expiration Date: 12/31/2015.
Type of Request: Extension.
Abstract: When a producer requests a
measurement of acreage or production
from FSA, the producer uses the form
FSA–409 (Measurement Service (MS)
Record) to make the request, which
requires a measurement fee to be paid
to FSA.
The form is manual. The types of MS
being performed are currently at the
Land (Office or Field) and Commodity
Bin. Using the FSA–409 to make a
request, the producer provides FSA: the
farm serial number, program year, farm
location, contact person, and type of
service request (acreage or production).
The MS procedure is done in
accordance with 7 CFR part 718. FSA is
using the collected information to fulfill
producers’ measurement request and to
ensure that measurements are accurate.
A producer will use the FSA–409 to
request and receive certain MS
information from FSA and provide it to
FSA at the time of applying for certain
program benefits. The MS information
includes, but is not limited to,
measuring land and crop areas,
quantities of farm-stored commodities,
and appraising the yields of crops in the
field.
The formula used to calculate the
total burden hours is ‘‘the estimated
average time per response (including
travel time)’’ times ‘‘the total estimated
annual response.’’
Estimate of Annual Burden: Public
reporting burden for the collection of
information is estimated to average 15
minutes per response. The travel time,
which is included in the total annual
burden, is estimated to be 1 hour per
respondent.
Respondents: Producers.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
135,000.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual of Responses:
135,000.
Estimated Average Time per
Response: 1.25 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 168,750 hours.
We are requesting comments on all
aspects of this information collection to
help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility;
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(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
collection of information including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(3) Evaluate the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information technology;
and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
information collection on those who
respond through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All comments received in response to
this notice, including names and
addresses where provided, will be made
a matter of public record. Comments
will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval of the
information collection.
Val Dolcini,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 2015–17586 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
National School Lunch, Special Milk,
and School Breakfast Programs,
National Average Payments/Maximum
Reimbursement Rates
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This Notice announces the
annual adjustments to the ‘‘national
average payments,’’ the amount of
money the Federal Government
provides States for lunches, afterschool
snacks and breakfasts served to children
participating in the National School
Lunch and School Breakfast Programs;
to the ‘‘maximum reimbursement rates,’’
the maximum per lunch rate from
Federal funds that a State can provide
a school food authority for lunches
served to children participating in the
National School Lunch Program; and to
the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint
of milk served to non-needy children in
a school or institution which
participates in the Special Milk Program
for Children. The payments and rates
are prescribed on an annual basis each
July. The annual payments and rates
adjustments for the National School
Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
reflect changes in the Food Away From
Home series of the Consumer Price
Index for All Urban Consumers. The
annual rate adjustment for the Special
Milk Program reflects changes in the
SUMMARY:
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Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk
Products.
DATES: These rates are effective from
July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Hortin, Branch Chief, Program
Monitoring and Operational Support
Division, Child Nutrition Programs,
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA,
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 640,
Alexandria, VA 22302; or phone (703)
305–4375.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Special Milk Program for Children—
Pursuant to section 3 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42
U.S.C. 1772), the Department announces
the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint
of milk served to non-needy children in
a school or institution that participates
in the Special Milk Program for
Children. This rate is adjusted annually
to reflect changes in the Producer Price
Index for Fluid Milk Products,
published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the Department of Labor.
For the period July 1, 2015 through
June 30, 2016, the rate of reimbursement
for a half-pint of milk served to a nonneedy child in a school or institution
which participates in the Special Milk
Program is 20.00 cents. This reflects a
decrease of 3 cents from the School Year
(SY) 2014–15 level, based on the 12.89
percent decrease in the Producer Price
Index for Fluid Milk Products from May
2014 to May 2015 (from a level of 251.4
in May, as previously published in the
Federal Register to 219.0 in May 2015).
As a reminder, schools or institutions
with pricing programs that elect to serve
milk free to eligible children continue to
receive the average cost of a half-pint of
milk (the total cost of all milk purchased
during the claim period divided by the
total number of purchased half-pints)
for each half-pint served to an eligible
child.
National School Lunch and School
Breakfast Programs—Pursuant to
sections 11 and 17A of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act, (42
U.S.C. 1759a and 1766a), and section 4
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1773), the Department annually
announces the adjustments to the
National Average Payment Factors and
to the maximum Federal reimbursement
rates for lunches and afterschool snacks
served to children participating in the
National School Lunch Program and
breakfasts served to children
participating in the School Breakfast
Program. Adjustments are prescribed
each July 1, based on changes in the
Food Away From Home series of the
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Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers, published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the Department of
Labor. The changes in the national
average payment rates for schools and
residential child care institutions for the
period July 1, 2015 through June 30,
2016 reflect a 2.97 percent increase in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers during the 12-month period
May 2014 to May 2015 (from a level of
247.952 in May 2014, as previously
published in the Federal Register to
255.322 in May 2015). Adjustments to
the national average payment rates for
all lunches served under the National
School Lunch Program, breakfasts
served under the School Breakfast
Program, and afterschool snacks served
under the National School Lunch
Program are rounded down to the
nearest whole cent.
Lunch Payment Levels—Section 4 of
the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753) provides
general cash for food assistance
payments to States to assist schools in
purchasing food. The Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act provides
two different section 4 payment levels
for lunches served under the National
School Lunch Program. The lower
payment level applies to lunches served
by school food authorities in which less
than 60 percent of the lunches served in
the school lunch program during the
second preceding school year were
served free or at a reduced price. The
higher payment level applies to lunches
served by school food authorities in
which 60 percent or more of the lunches
served during the second preceding
school year were served free or at a
reduced price.
To supplement these section 4
payments, section 11 of the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1759 (a)) provides special cash
assistance payments to aid schools in
providing free and reduced price
lunches. The section 11 National
Average Payment Factor for each
reduced price lunch served is set at 40
cents less than the factor for each free
lunch.
As authorized under sections 8 and 11
of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1757 and
1759a), maximum reimbursement rates
for each type of lunch are prescribed by
the Department in this Notice. These
maximum rates are to ensure equitable
disbursement of Federal funds to school
food authorities.
Section 201 of the Healthy, HungerFree Kids Act of 2010—Section 201 of
the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of
2010 made significant changes to the
Richard B. Russell National School
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Lunch Act. On January 3, 2014, the final
rule entitled, ‘‘Certification of
Compliance With Meal Requirements
for the National School Lunch Program
Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids
Act of 2010’’ (79 FR 325), was published
and provides eligible school food
authorities with performance-based cash
reimbursement in addition to the
general and special cash assistance
described above. The final rule requires
that school food authorities be certified
by the State agency as being in
compliance with the updated meal
pattern and nutrition standard
requirements set forth in amendments to
7 CFR parts 210 and 220 on January 26,
2012, in the final rule entitled
‘‘Nutrition Standards in the National
School Lunch and School Breakfast
Programs’’ (77 FR 4088). Certified
school food authorities are eligible to
receive performance-based cash
assistance for each reimbursable lunch
served (an additional six cents per
lunch available beginning October 1,
2012, and adjusted annually thereafter).
Afterschool Snack Payments in
Afterschool Care Programs—Section
17A of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766a)
establishes National Average Payments
for free, reduced price and paid
afterschool snacks as part of the
National School Lunch Program.
Breakfast Payment Factors—Section 4
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42
U.S.C. 1773) establishes National
Average Payment Factors for free,
reduced price and paid breakfasts
served under the School Breakfast
Program and additional payments for
free and reduced price breakfasts served
in schools determined to be in ‘‘severe
need’’ because they serve a high
percentage of needy children.
Revised Payments
The following specific section 4,
section 11 and section 17A National
Average Payment Factors and maximum
reimbursement rates for lunch, the
afterschool snack rates, and the
breakfast rates are in effect from July 1,
2015 through June 30, 2016. Due to a
higher cost of living, the average
payments and maximum
reimbursements for Alaska and Hawaii
are higher than those for all other States.
The District of Columbia, Virgin Islands,
Puerto Rico and Guam use the figures
specified for the contiguous States.
National School Lunch Program
Payments
Section 4 National Average Payment
Factors—In school food authorities
which served less than 60 percent free
and reduced price lunches in School
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Year (SY) 2013–14, the payments for
meals served are: Contiguous States—
paid rate—29 cents (1 cent increase
from the SY 2014–15 level), free and
reduced price rate—29 cents (1 cent
increase), maximum rate—37 cents (1
cent increase); Alaska—paid rate—48
cents (2 cents increase), free and
reduced price rate—48 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate—58 cents (1
cent increase); Hawaii—paid rate—34
cents (1 cent increase), free and reduced
price rate—34 cents (1 cent increase),
maximum rate—42 cents (1 cent
increase).
In school food authorities which
served 60 percent or more free and
reduced price lunches in School Year
2013–14, payments are: Contiguous
States—paid rate—31 cents (1 cent
increase from the SY 2014–15 level),
free and reduced price rate—31 cents (1
cent increase), maximum rate—37 cents
(1 cent increase); Alaska—paid rate—50
cents (2 cents increase), free and
reduced price rate—50 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate—58 cents (1
cent increase); Hawaii—paid rate—36
cents (1 cent increase), free and reduced
price rate—36 cents (1 cent increase),
maximum rate—42 cents (1 cent
increase).
School food authorities certified to
receive the performance-based cash
assistance will receive an additional 6
cents (adjusted annually) added to the
above amounts as part of their section
4 payments.
Section 11 National Average Payment
Factors—Contiguous States—free
lunch—278 cents (8 cents increase from
the SY 2014–15 level), reduced price
lunch—238 cents (8 cents increase);
Alaska—free lunch—451 cents (13 cents
increase), reduced price lunch—411
cents (13 cents increase); Hawaii—free
lunch—326 cents (10 cents increase),
reduced price lunch—286 cents (10
cents increase).
Afterschool Snacks in Afterschool
Care Programs—The payments are:
Contiguous States—free snack—84 cents
(2 cents increase from the SY 2014–15
level), reduced price snack—42 cents (1
cent increase), paid snack—07 cents (no
change); Alaska—free snack –137 cents
(4 cents increase), reduced price
snack—68 cents (2 cents increase), paid
snack—12 cents (no change); Hawaii—
free snack—99 cents (3 cents increase),
reduced price snack—49 cents (1 cent
increase), paid snack—09 cents (1 cent
increase) .
School Breakfast Program Payments
For schools ‘‘not in severe need’’ the
payments are: Contiguous States—free
breakfast—166 cents (4 cents increase
from the SY 2014–15 level), reduced
price breakfast—136 cents (4 cents
increase), paid breakfast—29 cents (1
cent increase); Alaska—free breakfast—
266 cents (7 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast—236 cents (7 cents
increase), paid breakfast—43 cents (1
cent increase); Hawaii—free breakfast—
194 cents (6 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast—164 cents (6 cents
increase), paid breakfast—33 cents (1
cent increase).
For schools in ‘‘severe need’’ the
payments are: Contiguous States—free
breakfast—199 cents (6 cents increase
from the SY 2014–15 level), reduced
price breakfast—169 cents (6 cents
increase), paid breakfast—29 cents (1
cent increase); Alaska—free breakfast—
319 cents (9 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast—289 cents (9 cents
increase), paid breakfast—43 cents (1
cent increase); Hawaii—free breakfast—
232 cents (7 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast—202 cents (7 cents
increase), paid breakfast—33 cents (1
cent increase).
Payment Chart
The following chart illustrates the
lunch National Average Payment
Factors with the sections 4 and 11
already combined to indicate the per
lunch amount; the maximum lunch
reimbursement rates; the reimbursement
rates for afterschool snacks served in
afterschool care programs; the breakfast
National Average Payment Factors
including ‘‘severe need’’ schools; and
the milk reimbursement rate. All
amounts are expressed in dollars or
fractions thereof. The payment factors
and reimbursement rates used for the
District of Columbia, Virgin Islands,
Puerto Rico and Guam are those
specified for the contiguous States.
SCHOOL PROGRAMS—MEAL, SNACK AND MILK PAYMENTS TO STATES AND SCHOOL FOOD AUTHORITIES
[Expressed in dollars or fractions thereof]
[Effective from: July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016]
National school lunch program 1
Less than 60%
Less than 60%
+ 6 cents 2
0.29
2.67
3.07
0.35
2.73
3.13
0.31
2.69
3.09
0.48
4.59
4.99
0.54
4.65
5.05
0.34
3.20
3.60
0.40
3.26
3.66
Contiguous States:
Paid ...................................................
Reduced price ...................................
Free ...................................................
Alaska:
Paid ...................................................
Reduced price ...................................
Free ...................................................
Hawaii:
Paid ...................................................
Reduced price ...................................
Free ...................................................
Maximum rate
Maximum rate
+ 6 cents 2
0.37
2.75
3.15
0.37
2.84
3.24
0.43
2.90
3.30
0.50
4.61
5.01
0.56
4.67
5.07
0.58
4.83
5.23
0.64
4.89
5.29
0.36
3.22
3.62
0.42
3.28
3.68
0.42
3.38
3.78
0.48
3.44
3.84
60% or more
60% or more
+ 6 cents 2
Non-severe
need
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School breakfast program
CONTIGUOUS STATES:
Paid ...................................................................................................................................................................
Reduced price ..................................................................................................................................................
Free ..................................................................................................................................................................
ALASKA:
Paid ...................................................................................................................................................................
Reduced price ..................................................................................................................................................
Free ..................................................................................................................................................................
HAWAII:
Paid ...................................................................................................................................................................
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Severe need
0.29
1.36
1.66
0.29
1.69
1.99
0.43
2.36
2.66
0.43
2.89
3.19
0.33
0.33
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Notices
Non-severe
need
School breakfast program
Reduced price ..................................................................................................................................................
Free ..................................................................................................................................................................
Special milk Program
All milk
Severe need
1.64
1.94
Paid milk
Pricing programs without free option ......................................................................................
Pricing programs with free option ...........................................................................................
0.20
N/A
N/A
0.20
Nonpricing programs ...............................................................................................................
0.20
N/A
2.02
2.32
Free milk
N/A.
Average Cost Per
1⁄2 Pint of Milk.
N/A.
Afterschool Snacks Served in Afterschool Care Programs
CONTIGUOUS STATES:
Paid .........................................................................................................................................................................................
Reduced price ........................................................................................................................................................................
Free ........................................................................................................................................................................................
ALASKA:
Paid .........................................................................................................................................................................................
Reduced price ........................................................................................................................................................................
Free ........................................................................................................................................................................................
HAWAII:
Paid .........................................................................................................................................................................................
Reduced price ........................................................................................................................................................................
Free ........................................................................................................................................................................................
1 Payment
0.07
0.42
0.84
0.12
0.68
1.37
0.09
0.49
0.99
listed for Free and Reduced Price Lunches include both section 4 and section 11 funds.
cash reimbursement (adjusted annually for inflation).
2 Performance-based
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This action is not a rule as defined by
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.
601–612) and thus is exempt from the
provisions of that Act.
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507),
no new recordkeeping or reporting
requirements have been included that
are subject to approval from the Office
of Management and Budget.
This notice has been determined to be
not significant and was reviewed by the
Office of Management and Budget in
conformance with Executive Order
12866.
National School Lunch, School
Breakfast and Special Milk Programs are
listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance under No. 10.555, No. 10.553
and No. 10.556, respectively, and are
subject to the provisions of Executive
Order 12372, which requires
intergovernmental consultation with
State and local officials. (See 2 CFR
415.3–415.6).
Authority: Sections 4, 8, 11 and 17A of the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 1753, 1757,
1759a, 1766a) and sections 3 and 4(b) of the
Child Nutrition Act, as amended, (42 U.S.C.
1772 and 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)).
Dated: July 12, 2015.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–17600 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Food Distribution Program: Value of
Donated Foods From July 1, 2015
Through June 30, 2016
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
national average value of donated foods
or, where applicable, cash in lieu of
donated foods, to be provided in school
year 2016 (July 1, 2015 through June 30,
2016) for each lunch served by schools
participating in the National School
Lunch Program (NSLP), and for each
lunch and supper served by institutions
participating in the Child and Adult
Care Food Program (CACFP).
DATES: Effective date: July 1, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carolyn Smalkowski, Program Analyst,
Policy Branch, Food Distribution
Division, Food and Nutrition Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101
Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia
22302–1594; or telephone (703) 305–
2680.
SUMMARY:
These
programs are listed in the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance under Nos.
10.555 and 10.558 and are subject to the
provisions of Executive Order 12372,
which requires intergovernmental
consultation with State and local
officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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V, and final rule related notice
published at 48 FR 29114, June 24,
1983.)
This notice imposes no new reporting
or recordkeeping provisions that are
subject to Office of Management and
Budget review in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3507). This action is not a rule
as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601–612) and thus is
exempt from the provisions of that Act.
This notice was reviewed by the Office
of Management and Budget under
Executive Order 12866.
National Average Minimum Value of
Donated Foods for the Period July 1,
2015 Through June 30, 2016
This notice implements mandatory
provisions of sections 6(c) and
17(h)(1)(B) of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (the Act) (42
U.S.C. 1755(c) and 1766(h)(1)(B)).
Section 6(c)(1)(A) of the Act establishes
the national average value of donated
food assistance to be given to States for
each lunch served in the NSLP at 11.00
cents per meal. Pursuant to section
6(c)(1)(B), this amount is subject to
annual adjustments on July 1 of each
year to reflect changes in a three-month
average value of the Producer Price
Index for Foods Used in Schools and
Institutions for March, April, and May
each year (Price Index). Section
17(h)(1)(B) of the Act provides that the
same value of donated foods (or cash in
lieu of donated foods) for school
lunches shall also be established for
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42470-42473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17600]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast
Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Notice announces the annual adjustments to the ``national
average payments,'' the amount of money the Federal Government provides
States for lunches, afterschool snacks and breakfasts served to
children participating in the National School Lunch and School
Breakfast Programs; to the ``maximum reimbursement rates,'' the maximum
per lunch rate from Federal funds that a State can provide a school
food authority for lunches served to children participating in the
National School Lunch Program; and to the rate of reimbursement for a
half-pint of milk served to non-needy children in a school or
institution which participates in the Special Milk Program for
Children. The payments and rates are prescribed on an annual basis each
July. The annual payments and rates adjustments for the National School
Lunch and School Breakfast Programs reflect changes in the Food Away
From Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
The annual rate adjustment for the Special Milk Program reflects
changes in the
[[Page 42471]]
Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk Products.
DATES: These rates are effective from July 1, 2015 through June 30,
2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Hortin, Branch Chief, Program
Monitoring and Operational Support Division, Child Nutrition Programs,
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 640,
Alexandria, VA 22302; or phone (703) 305-4375.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Special Milk Program for Children--Pursuant to section 3 of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1772), the
Department announces the rate of reimbursement for a half-pint of milk
served to non-needy children in a school or institution that
participates in the Special Milk Program for Children. This rate is
adjusted annually to reflect changes in the Producer Price Index for
Fluid Milk Products, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
Department of Labor.
For the period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, the rate of
reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to a non-needy child in a
school or institution which participates in the Special Milk Program is
20.00 cents. This reflects a decrease of 3 cents from the School Year
(SY) 2014-15 level, based on the 12.89 percent decrease in the Producer
Price Index for Fluid Milk Products from May 2014 to May 2015 (from a
level of 251.4 in May, as previously published in the Federal Register
to 219.0 in May 2015).
As a reminder, schools or institutions with pricing programs that
elect to serve milk free to eligible children continue to receive the
average cost of a half-pint of milk (the total cost of all milk
purchased during the claim period divided by the total number of
purchased half-pints) for each half-pint served to an eligible child.
National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs--Pursuant to
sections 11 and 17A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act, (42 U.S.C. 1759a and 1766a), and section 4 of the Child Nutrition
Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773), the Department annually announces the
adjustments to the National Average Payment Factors and to the maximum
Federal reimbursement rates for lunches and afterschool snacks served
to children participating in the National School Lunch Program and
breakfasts served to children participating in the School Breakfast
Program. Adjustments are prescribed each July 1, based on changes in
the Food Away From Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
Department of Labor. The changes in the national average payment rates
for schools and residential child care institutions for the period July
1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 reflect a 2.97 percent increase in the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers during the 12-month period
May 2014 to May 2015 (from a level of 247.952 in May 2014, as
previously published in the Federal Register to 255.322 in May 2015).
Adjustments to the national average payment rates for all lunches
served under the National School Lunch Program, breakfasts served under
the School Breakfast Program, and afterschool snacks served under the
National School Lunch Program are rounded down to the nearest whole
cent.
Lunch Payment Levels--Section 4 of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753) provides general cash for food
assistance payments to States to assist schools in purchasing food. The
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act provides two different
section 4 payment levels for lunches served under the National School
Lunch Program. The lower payment level applies to lunches served by
school food authorities in which less than 60 percent of the lunches
served in the school lunch program during the second preceding school
year were served free or at a reduced price. The higher payment level
applies to lunches served by school food authorities in which 60
percent or more of the lunches served during the second preceding
school year were served free or at a reduced price.
To supplement these section 4 payments, section 11 of the Richard
B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1759 (a)) provides
special cash assistance payments to aid schools in providing free and
reduced price lunches. The section 11 National Average Payment Factor
for each reduced price lunch served is set at 40 cents less than the
factor for each free lunch.
As authorized under sections 8 and 11 of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1757 and 1759a), maximum
reimbursement rates for each type of lunch are prescribed by the
Department in this Notice. These maximum rates are to ensure equitable
disbursement of Federal funds to school food authorities.
Section 201 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010--Section
201 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 made significant
changes to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. On January
3, 2014, the final rule entitled, ``Certification of Compliance With
Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program Under the
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010'' (79 FR 325), was published and
provides eligible school food authorities with performance-based cash
reimbursement in addition to the general and special cash assistance
described above. The final rule requires that school food authorities
be certified by the State agency as being in compliance with the
updated meal pattern and nutrition standard requirements set forth in
amendments to 7 CFR parts 210 and 220 on January 26, 2012, in the final
rule entitled ``Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and
School Breakfast Programs'' (77 FR 4088). Certified school food
authorities are eligible to receive performance-based cash assistance
for each reimbursable lunch served (an additional six cents per lunch
available beginning October 1, 2012, and adjusted annually thereafter).
Afterschool Snack Payments in Afterschool Care Programs--Section
17A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1766a) establishes National Average Payments for free, reduced price
and paid afterschool snacks as part of the National School Lunch
Program.
Breakfast Payment Factors--Section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of
1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773) establishes National Average Payment Factors for
free, reduced price and paid breakfasts served under the School
Breakfast Program and additional payments for free and reduced price
breakfasts served in schools determined to be in ``severe need''
because they serve a high percentage of needy children.
Revised Payments
The following specific section 4, section 11 and section 17A
National Average Payment Factors and maximum reimbursement rates for
lunch, the afterschool snack rates, and the breakfast rates are in
effect from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. Due to a higher cost of
living, the average payments and maximum reimbursements for Alaska and
Hawaii are higher than those for all other States. The District of
Columbia, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam use the figures
specified for the contiguous States.
National School Lunch Program Payments
Section 4 National Average Payment Factors--In school food
authorities which served less than 60 percent free and reduced price
lunches in School
[[Page 42472]]
Year (SY) 2013-14, the payments for meals served are: Contiguous
States--paid rate--29 cents (1 cent increase from the SY 2014-15
level), free and reduced price rate--29 cents (1 cent increase),
maximum rate--37 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--paid rate--48 cents
(2 cents increase), free and reduced price rate--48 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate--58 cents (1 cent increase); Hawaii--paid
rate--34 cents (1 cent increase), free and reduced price rate--34 cents
(1 cent increase), maximum rate--42 cents (1 cent increase).
In school food authorities which served 60 percent or more free and
reduced price lunches in School Year 2013-14, payments are: Contiguous
States--paid rate--31 cents (1 cent increase from the SY 2014-15
level), free and reduced price rate--31 cents (1 cent increase),
maximum rate--37 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--paid rate--50 cents
(2 cents increase), free and reduced price rate--50 cents (2 cents
increase), maximum rate--58 cents (1 cent increase); Hawaii--paid
rate--36 cents (1 cent increase), free and reduced price rate--36 cents
(1 cent increase), maximum rate--42 cents (1 cent increase).
School food authorities certified to receive the performance-based
cash assistance will receive an additional 6 cents (adjusted annually)
added to the above amounts as part of their section 4 payments.
Section 11 National Average Payment Factors--Contiguous States--
free lunch--278 cents (8 cents increase from the SY 2014-15 level),
reduced price lunch--238 cents (8 cents increase); Alaska--free lunch--
451 cents (13 cents increase), reduced price lunch--411 cents (13 cents
increase); Hawaii--free lunch--326 cents (10 cents increase), reduced
price lunch--286 cents (10 cents increase).
Afterschool Snacks in Afterschool Care Programs--The payments are:
Contiguous States--free snack--84 cents (2 cents increase from the SY
2014-15 level), reduced price snack--42 cents (1 cent increase), paid
snack--07 cents (no change); Alaska--free snack -137 cents (4 cents
increase), reduced price snack--68 cents (2 cents increase), paid
snack--12 cents (no change); Hawaii--free snack--99 cents (3 cents
increase), reduced price snack--49 cents (1 cent increase), paid
snack--09 cents (1 cent increase) .
School Breakfast Program Payments
For schools ``not in severe need'' the payments are: Contiguous
States--free breakfast--166 cents (4 cents increase from the SY 2014-15
level), reduced price breakfast--136 cents (4 cents increase), paid
breakfast--29 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--free breakfast--266
cents (7 cents increase), reduced price breakfast--236 cents (7 cents
increase), paid breakfast--43 cents (1 cent increase); Hawaii--free
breakfast--194 cents (6 cents increase), reduced price breakfast--164
cents (6 cents increase), paid breakfast--33 cents (1 cent increase).
For schools in ``severe need'' the payments are: Contiguous
States--free breakfast--199 cents (6 cents increase from the SY 2014-15
level), reduced price breakfast--169 cents (6 cents increase), paid
breakfast--29 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--free breakfast--319
cents (9 cents increase), reduced price breakfast--289 cents (9 cents
increase), paid breakfast--43 cents (1 cent increase); Hawaii--free
breakfast--232 cents (7 cents increase), reduced price breakfast--202
cents (7 cents increase), paid breakfast--33 cents (1 cent increase).
Payment Chart
The following chart illustrates the lunch National Average Payment
Factors with the sections 4 and 11 already combined to indicate the per
lunch amount; the maximum lunch reimbursement rates; the reimbursement
rates for afterschool snacks served in afterschool care programs; the
breakfast National Average Payment Factors including ``severe need''
schools; and the milk reimbursement rate. All amounts are expressed in
dollars or fractions thereof. The payment factors and reimbursement
rates used for the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
and Guam are those specified for the contiguous States.
School Programs--Meal, Snack and Milk Payments to States and School Food Authorities
[Expressed in dollars or fractions thereof]
[Effective from: July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 60% 60% or more + Maximum rate +
National school lunch program \1\ Less than 60% + 6 cents \2\ 60% or more 6 cents \2\ Maximum rate 6 cents \2\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contiguous States:
Paid................................................ 0.29 0.35 0.31 0.37 0.37 0.43
Reduced price....................................... 2.67 2.73 2.69 2.75 2.84 2.90
Free................................................ 3.07 3.13 3.09 3.15 3.24 3.30
Alaska:
Paid................................................ 0.48 0.54 0.50 0.56 0.58 0.64
Reduced price....................................... 4.59 4.65 4.61 4.67 4.83 4.89
Free................................................ 4.99 5.05 5.01 5.07 5.23 5.29
Hawaii:
Paid................................................ 0.34 0.40 0.36 0.42 0.42 0.48
Reduced price....................................... 3.20 3.26 3.22 3.28 3.38 3.44
Free................................................ 3.60 3.66 3.62 3.68 3.78 3.84
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-severe
School breakfast program need Severe need
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTIGUOUS STATES:
Paid................................ 0.29 0.29
Reduced price....................... 1.36 1.69
Free................................ 1.66 1.99
ALASKA:
Paid................................ 0.43 0.43
Reduced price....................... 2.36 2.89
Free................................ 2.66 3.19
HAWAII:
Paid................................ 0.33 0.33
[[Page 42473]]
Reduced price....................... 1.64 2.02
Free................................ 1.94 2.32
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special milk Program All milk Paid milk Free milk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pricing programs without free option....... 0.20 N/A N/A.
Pricing programs with free option.......... N/A 0.20 Average Cost Per \1/2\ Pint of
Milk.
Nonpricing programs........................ 0.20 N/A N/A.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afterschool Snacks Served in Afterschool Care Programs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTIGUOUS STATES:
Paid............................................. 0.07
Reduced price.................................... 0.42
Free............................................. 0.84
ALASKA:
Paid............................................. 0.12
Reduced price.................................... 0.68
Free............................................. 1.37
HAWAII:
Paid............................................. 0.09
Reduced price.................................... 0.49
Free............................................. 0.99
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Payment listed for Free and Reduced Price Lunches include both
section 4 and section 11 funds.
\2\ Performance-based cash reimbursement (adjusted annually for
inflation).
This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of that
Act.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3507), no new recordkeeping or reporting requirements have been
included that are subject to approval from the Office of Management and
Budget.
This notice has been determined to be not significant and was
reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget in conformance with
Executive Order 12866.
National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk Programs
are listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No.
10.555, No. 10.553 and No. 10.556, respectively, and are subject to the
provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental
consultation with State and local officials. (See 2 CFR 415.3-415.6).
Authority: Sections 4, 8, 11 and 17A of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 1753, 1757, 1759a,
1766a) and sections 3 and 4(b) of the Child Nutrition Act, as
amended, (42 U.S.C. 1772 and 42 U.S.C. 1773(b)).
Dated: July 12, 2015.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17600 Filed 7-16-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
