Privacy Act of 1974: Notice of Computer Matching Agreement Between Food Nutrition Service (FNS) and State Agencies Administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), 4280 [2017-00596]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 4280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00596]



[[Page 4280]]

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 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Privacy Act of 1974: Notice of Computer Matching Agreement 
Between Food Nutrition Service (FNS) and State Agencies Administering 
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of proposed new Computer Matching Agreement.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the 
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100503), 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of 
Matching Programs (54 FR 25818 published June 19, 1989), and OMB 
Circular No. A130, revised November 28, 2000, the USDA, Food and 
Nutrition Service is publishing notice of its intent to conduct a 
computer matching program with the State agencies of all 50 States and 
the State agencies of the District of Columbia and the territories of 
Guam and the Virgin Islands administering the Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP). Under this matching program, FNS will 
provide records from the Electronic Disqualified Recipient System 
(eDRS) to State agencies to verify SNAP recipient (applicants and 
individuals being certified or recertified for eligibility) eligibility 
for SNAP benefits.

DATES: The effective date of this Computer Matching Agreement will 
begin 30 days from the publication date in the Federal Register or 30 
days from the date copies of the approved agreement and the notice of 
the matching program are sent to the Congressional committee of 
jurisdiction under subsections (0)(2)(B) and (r) of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, or 30 days from the date the approved agreement is sent to the 
Office of Management and Budget, whichever is later, provided no 
comments are received which result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: State Administration Branch, Program Accountability and 
Administration Division, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 818, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Duffield, (703) 605-4385.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

FNS Computer Matching Program Subject to the Privacy Act

    The purpose of this FNS Computer Matching Program is to provide and 
disclose information about individuals disqualified from the program to 
the State agency in order to allow the State agency to assist the State 
agency in determining eligibility status of individuals applying for or 
receiving program benefits and to assign the correct disqualification 
periods for individuals determined to be disqualified from the program.

Notice of Computer Matching Program

    The States will match SNAP recipient records with eDRS to verify 
the recipient's eligibility for SNAP benefits.

A. Participating Agencies

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture FNS and the State agencies of 
all 50 States, including the State agencies of the District of Colombia 
and the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The State agencies shall use eDRS to conduct matches as specified 
in 7 CFR 273.16 on initial program applications prior to certification 
and to ascertain the appropriate penalty to impose based on past 
disqualifications in a case under consideration.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The legal authority for conducting the matching program is the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended. Section 6(b) of the Act, 7 
U.S.C. 2015(b), prescribes mandatory periods of ineligibility for 
persons found on one or more occasions to have committed fraud, 
misrepresentation, or other violation of statute or regulation in 
connection with SNAP eligibility and use of benefits. Section 6(b)(4), 
prescribes regulations to ensure that appropriate State and Federal 
entities forward information concerning determinations rising out of 
such proscribed activity by a specific individual. The States agencies 
shall also use eDRS to conduct matches as specified in 7 CFR 273.16 on 
initial program application prior to certification.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered

    The State agency agrees to the following:
    1. To update eDRS at least monthly with information on individuals 
disqualified from the program. The specific data elements that will be 
reported on such individuals are full name, Social Security Number, 
date of birth, sex, State and locality in which the disqualification 
was either determined or implemented, disqualification number, 
disqualification length, decision date, disqualification start date, 
and a State case identification number if used. The State will also 
provide the title, organization, and phone number of the contacts which 
will verify the information submitted for each locality identified in 
the records it submits. This information is supplied with the initial 
eDRS record and is updated if the contact information changes or if 
additional localities are added.
    2. To obtain information from eDRS on the disqualification status 
of individuals against whom a disqualification period will be assessed 
in accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR 273.16.
    3. To determine the eligibility of individuals applying for program 
benefits or to verify the continuing eligibility of individuals already 
participating.
    FNS agrees to provide records from the eDRS to all State agencies.

E. Effective Dates of the Matching Program

    The effective date of this Computer Matching Agreement will begin 
30 days from the publication date in the Federal Register or 30 days 
from the date copies of the approved agreement and the notice of the 
matching program are sent to the Congressional committee of 
jurisdiction under subsections (0)(2)(B) and (r) of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, or 30 days from the date the approved agreement is sent to the 
Office of Management and Budget, whichever is later, provided no 
comments are received which result in a contrary determination.

F. Address for Receipt of Public Comments

    Individuals wishing to comment on this matching program should send 
comments to Jane Duffield, Chief, State Administration Branch, Program 
Accountability and Administration Division, Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program, Room 818, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, (703) 605-
4385, Jane.Duffield@fns.usda.gov.

    Dated: January 5, 2017.
Thomas J. Vilsack,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-00596 Filed 1-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P