Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Agricultural Act of 2014 Nondiscretionary Provisions, 53240-53243 [2015-21906]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Food and Nutrition Service

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53240-53243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21906]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

7 CFR Parts 271, 273, 274, and 275

RIN 0584-AE48


Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Agricultural 
Act of 2014 Nondiscretionary Provisions

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is amending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program (SNAP or Program) regulations to codify certain 
nondiscretionary provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the ``2014 
Farm Bill'').
    This final rule excludes medical marijuana from being treated as an 
allowable medical expense for the purposes of determining the excess 
medical expense deduction under SNAP. This rule also amends multiple 
SNAP regulations pursuant to nondiscretionary changes under the 2014 
Farm Bill related to Quality Control (QC). This rule updates the QC 
error tolerance threshold to no more than $37 for Fiscal Year (FY) 
2014. For FY 2015 and thereafter, the QC tolerance level will be set 
annually based on an adjustment in the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). In 
addition, this rule eliminates USDA's ability to waive any portion of a 
State's QC liability amount, except as provided in SNAP regulations 
that requires State agencies to use SNAP High Performance Bonus 
Payments only for SNAP administrative expenses including investments in 
technology, improvements in administration and distribution, and 
actions to prevent fraud, waste and abuse. Finally, this rule amends 
SNAP regulations pertaining to the use of SNAP benefits to pay for 
container deposit fees. The 2014 Farm Bill prohibits SNAP benefits from 
being used to pay for container deposit fees in excess of any State fee 
reimbursement required to purchase food in a returnable bottle or can.

DATES: This rule will become effective on November 2, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vicky T. Robinson, FNS, 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Room #418, Alexandria, VA 22302, 703-305-2476.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

General

    On February 7, 2014, the President signed the 2014 Farm Bill. 
Amendments exclude medical marijuana from allowable medical expense 
deductions for SNAP purposes, update the QC error tolerance threshold 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 and index this amount for FY 2015 and 
thereafter based on an adjustment in the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), 
eliminate the Department's ability to waive any portion of a State's QC 
Liability amount except as provided in SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 
275.23(f), ensure that State agencies may use High Performance Bonus 
Payments only for SNAP administrative expenses, and prohibit SNAP 
benefits from being used to pay for container deposit fees in excess of 
the State fee reimbursement.

Medical Marijuana

    USDA is amending SNAP regulations at 7 CFR part 273 in accordance 
with Section 4005 of the 2014 Farm Bill. Under Section 4005, USDA is 
instructed to promulgate regulations to explicitly prohibit States from 
utilizing the excess medical deduction to deduct medical marijuana 
costs from a household's income for SNAP purposes.
    Under the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq., 
marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance that has no currently 
accepted medical use and cannot be prescribed for medicinal purposes. 
21 U.S.C. 812(b)(1)(C). SNAP is a Federal program and must conform to 
Federal law regarding illegal substances. Therefore, marijuana and 
other Schedule I controlled substances are not allowable medical 
expenses under SNAP. USDA is incorporating this requirement into the 
regulations at new subsection 7 CFR 273.9(d)(3)(iii)(B).

Error Tolerance Threshold

    Section 16 (c)(1)(A)(ii)(I) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
was amended by Section 4019 of the 2014 Farm Bill to require that the 
Secretary set the tolerance level for excluding small errors for fiscal 
year 2014, at an amount not greater than $37. Until that point in time, 
the QC tolerance level was at $50, meaning only variances that exceed 
$50 were included in the calculation of the payment error rate. This 
threshold does not excuse a State from following correction or claims 
procedures for any over or under issuance that is under the tolerance 
level. Typically, changes that affect the QC review period are made 
effective the upcoming fiscal year so that State and Federal QC 
reviewers can prepare for the procedural and systematic changes 
required. However, since the QC review period for FY 2014 had already 
begun when the Act was signed, the Department was required to take 
immediate action at that point on announcement of a new threshold, and 
established the new $37 threshold through an implementing memorandum on 
March 21, 2014. This rule codifies what was put in place via that 
implementing memorandum.
    Section 4019 of the 2014 Farm Bill also requires USDA to adjust FY 
2014's threshold by the percentage by which the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) 
is adjusted under Section 3(u)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008. The Department uses three TFPs to establish benefit levels, one 
for the 48 contiguous States and District of Columbia, one for Alaska, 
and one for Hawaii. Although there are different TFPs used in SNAP 
benefit calculation, the Department is required to have one national 
performance measure for State payment error rates. For that reason, the 
Department has concluded that it has no discretion in using a single 
TFP-related adjustment mechanism for all States.
    For FY 2015, the Department adjusted the threshold amount by using 
the TFP for the 48 contiguous States and District of Columbia as the 
TFP baseline for all 53 State agencies, resulting in a tolerance level 
of $38 for FY 2015. In this final rule, the Department is establishing 
that the threshold will be adjusted each year by using the TFP for the 
48 contiguous States and District of Columbia. A policy memo will be 
issued to States notifying them of the adjustment to the threshold 
amount at the start of each QC review period.

Liability Amount Determinations

    After each fiscal year, in accordance with regulatory requirements, 
a determination is made for each State agency as to whether or not that 
FY's QC Error Rate would lead to the State being assessed a liability 
amount. State agencies assessed liabilities are given the opportunity 
to pay their liabilities in full or designate 50 percent of the 
liability amount as at-risk for repayment if a liability amount for an 
excessive payment error rate is established for the following FY. State 
agencies must then designate the other 50 percent of the liability 
amount to be used for new investment in approved activities to

[[Page 53241]]

improve the administration of SNAP. In addition, States have the right 
to appeal their QC Liability amount in order to provide justification 
for why they were otherwise unable to effectively administer the 
program for that fiscal year.
    Previously USDA had the authority to waive all or a portion of the 
liability, regardless of whether or not a State chose to appeal their 
QC Liability amount. While the Department has not utilized this 
authority with the current sanction system, the 2014 Farm Bill has 
provided that no portion of a State agency's liability amount is 
allowed to be waived by the Department, thereby negating existing 
regulatory provisions at Sec.  275.23(f). Therefore, to comply with 
this change, the Department is removing the regulatory language which 
allowed USDA such authority at Sec.  275.23(e)(1)(i) and moving the 
language at Sec.  275.23(e)(1)(ii), Sec.  275.23(e)(1)(iii), and Sec.  
275.23(e)(1)(iv) up to become Sec.  275.23(e)(1)(i) and Sec.  
275.23(e)(1)(ii), and Sec.  275.23(e)(1)(iii).

High Performance Bonuses

    Previously, although the Department encouraged States to invest 
performance bonus money into program improvements and preventing fraud, 
there were no restrictions on how States could spend the bonus money 
they received. However, section 4021 of the Act now requires State 
awardees to spend their bonus money exclusively on SNAP administrative 
expenses. Congress' intent, written in the Act, is for States to use 
this bonus money to ``carry out the program established under this Act 
(the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008), including investments in 
technology, improvements in administration and distribution; and 
actions to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.'' Therefore, USDA is adding 
regulatory language that prohibits the use of bonus payments for 
household benefits, including incentive payments, and requires States 
awarded SNAP High Performance Bonuses to inform the Department of their 
intended plans for said bonus payments prior to expenditure in order to 
verify they will be used in a manner with which they were intended.

Container Deposit Fees

    In accordance with Section 4001 of the 2014 Farm Bill, SNAP 
benefits may not be used to pay for container deposit fees in excess of 
the amount of any fee reimbursement established under State law. SNAP 
benefits may only be used to pay the amount required by the State and 
only for containers that meet the criteria covered in the State law. If 
an entity other than the State, such as the manufacturer, imposes a 
deposit fee in excess that must be paid to purchase a food product, the 
fee cannot be paid with SNAP benefits. Instead, the fee must be paid 
separately in cash or other form of payment. The prohibition applies 
regardless of whether the fee is included in the shelf price posted for 
the item.
    SNAP regulations already provide that clients who purchase, with 
SNAP benefits, products that have container deposits for the purpose of 
subsequently discarding the product and returning the container in 
exchange for a cash refund of the deposit may be disqualified from the 
Program for trafficking. This provision helps strengthen SNAP 
regulations to prevent fraud and abuse by limiting the ability of SNAP 
clients to use their benefits to pay for container deposit fees and, 
therefore, reducing the amount of the cash refund they would be able to 
obtain when returning the container.
    Currently the following ten States have some type of State 
container deposit fee requirement: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, 
Iowa, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont. 
State law establishes the deposit amount and the types and sizes of 
containers covered by the law. When purchasing a container with a State 
deposit requirement, the consumer pays the deposit to the retailer and 
receives a refund when an empty container is returned to a retailer or 
redemption center.
    If a SNAP eligible product has a State deposit fee associated with 
it, the product remains eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. In 
addition, the State deposit fee may be paid with SNAP benefits; 
however, any additional deposit fee amount in excess of the State 
deposit fee must be paid in cash or another form of payment other than 
SNAP benefits.
    In order to codify this provision of the 2014 Farm Bill, the 
Department is modifying the definition of ``Eligible Foods'' at 7 CFR 
271.2 to exclude any deposit fees in excess of the amount of the State 
deposit fee, regardless of whether the fee is included in the shelf 
price of the food or food product.
    USDA is also amending SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 274.7, so that 
program benefits may not be used to pay for deposit fees in excess of 
the amount of the State fee reimbursement required to purchase any 
SNAP-eligible food item contained in a returnable bottle or can.

II. Procedural Matters

Issuance of a Final Rule

    The Department has determined that this rule is appropriate for 
final rulemaking because we believe these amendments to be 
noncontroversial and because these provisions are nondiscretionary as 
they are required by the Act.

Regulatory Impact Analysis

    This final rule has been designated as not significant by OMB.

Executive Order 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant and was 
not reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 
conformance with Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) requires Agencies 
to analyze the impact of rulemaking on small entities and consider 
alternatives that would minimize any significant impacts on a 
substantial number of small entities. Pursuant to that review, it has 
been certified that this final rule would not have a significant impact 
on a substantial number of small entities.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local and Tribal 
governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, the 
Department generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost 
benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``Federal 
mandates'' that may result in expenditures by State, local or Tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or the private sector, of $100 million 
or more in any one year. When such a statement is needed for a rule, 
Section 205 of the UMRA generally requires the Department to identify 
and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt 
the most cost

[[Page 53242]]

effective or least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives 
of the rule.
    This final rule does not contain Federal mandates (under the 
regulatory provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local and 
Tribal governments or the private sector of $100 million or more in any 
one year. Thus, the rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 
202 and 205 of the UMRA.

Executive Order 12372

    The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is listed in 
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs under 10.551. For 
the reasons set forth in the final rule in 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, 
and related Notice (48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983), this program is 
excluded in the scope of Executive Order 12372 which requires 
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials.

Executive Order 13175

    This rule has been reviewed in accordance with the requirements of 
Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and Coordination with Indian 
Tribal Governments.'' Executive Order 13175 requires Federal agencies 
to consult and coordinate with tribes on a government-to-government 
basis on policies that have tribal implications, including regulations, 
legislative comments or proposed legislation, and other policy 
statements or actions that have substantial direct effects on one or 
more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government 
and Indian tribes or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.
    FNS has assessed the impact of this rule on Indian tribes and 
determined that this rule does not, to our knowledge, have tribal 
implications that require tribal consultation under EO 13175. On 
February 18, 2015, the agency held a webinar for tribal participation 
and comments. If a Tribe requests consultation, FNS will work with the 
Office of Tribal Relations to ensure meaningful consultation is 
provided where changes, additions and modifications identified herein 
are not expressly mandated by Congress.

Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132 requires Federal agencies to consider the 
impact of their regulatory actions on State and local governments. 
Where such actions have federalism implications, agencies are directed 
to provide a statement for inclusion in the preamble to the regulations 
describing the agency's considerations in terms of the three categories 
called for under Section (6)(b)(2)(B) of Executive Order 13132. USDA 
has considered this rule's impact on State and local agencies and has 
determined that it does not have Federalism implications.

Executive Order 12988

    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have preemptive effect 
with respect to any State or local laws, regulations or policies which 
conflict with its provisions or which would otherwise impede its full 
and timely implementation. State agencies were required to apply the 
threshold changes in this rule to all cases as of the FY 2014 QC review 
period. All other changes in this rule were effective immediately upon 
enactment of the Act, except the medical marijuana and container 
deposit fees changes which are not intended to have retroactive effect 
unless so specified in the Effective Dates section. Prior to any 
judicial challenge to the provisions of the final rule, all applicable 
administrative procedures must be exhausted.

Civil Rights Impact Analysis

    The Department has reviewed this rule in accordance with the 
Department Regulation 4300-4, ``Civil Rights Impact Analysis,'' to 
identify and address any major civil rights impacts the rule might have 
on minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. After a careful 
review of the rule's intent and provisions, the Department has 
determined that this rule will not in any way limit or reduce the 
ability of protected classes of individuals to participate in SNAP. 
USDA has no data pertaining to the medical marijuana change. The change 
to container deposit fees does not apply to the certification 
determinations made on the intended beneficiaries of the SNAP. Quality 
Control procedures are designed to evaluate the accuracy of the 
application of SNAP certification policy and therefore, the evaluation 
procedures do not impact protected classes or individuals.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Information collections associated with the changes to the Quality 
Control error tolerance threshold have been approved under following 
OMB control numbers: 0584-0074, Worksheet for SNAP Quality Control 
Reviews (expiration date May 31, 2016), and 0584-0299 Form FNS-380-1, 
Quality Control Review Schedule, Form FNS-380-1 (February 29, 2016). 
Other changes in this rule do not contain information collection 
requirements subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1994.

E-Government Act Compliance

    USDA is committed to complying with the E-Government Act, 2002, to 
promote the use of the Internet and other information technologies to 
provide increased opportunities for citizen access to Government 
information and services, and for other purposes.

List of Subjects

7 CFR Part 271

    Food stamps, Grant programs--social programs, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 273

    Administrative practice and procedures, Aliens, Claims, 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Fraud, Grant programs--
social programs, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Social Security, Students.

7 CFR Part 274

    Food stamps, Grant programs--social programs, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

7 CFR Part 275

    Administrative practice and procedure, Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program, Reporting, and recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR parts 271, 273, 
274, and 275 are amended as follows:

PART 271--GENERAL INFORMATION AND DEFINITIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 271 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2011-2036.


Sec.  271.2  [Amended]

0
2. In Sec.  271.2, amend the definition of Eligible foods by adding, at 
the end of paragraph (1), the words ``and any deposit fee in excess of 
the amount of the State fee reimbursement (if any) required to purchase 
any food or food product contained in a returnable bottle, can, or 
other container, regardless of whether the fee is included in the shelf 
price posted for the food or food product'':

PART 273--CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS

0
3. The authority citation for part 273 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2011-2036.


[[Page 53243]]



0
4. In Sec.  273.9, revise paragraph (d)(3)(iii) to read as follows:


Sec.  273.9  Income and deductions.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iii) Prescription drugs, when prescribed by a licensed 
practitioner authorized under State law, and other over-the-counter 
medication (including insulin), when approved by a licensed 
practitioner or other qualified health professional.
    (A) Medical supplies and equipment. Costs of medical supplies, 
sick-room equipment (including rental) or other prescribed equipment 
are deductible;
    (B) Exclusions. The cost of any Schedule I controlled substance 
under The Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq., and any 
expenses associated with its use, are not deductible.
* * * * *

PART 274--ISSUANCE AND USE OF PROGRAM BENEFITS

0
5. The authority citation for part 274 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2011-2036.


0
6. In Sec.  274.7, add paragraph (j) to read as follows:


Sec.  274.7  Benefits redemption by eligible households.

* * * * *
    (j) Container deposit fees. Program benefits may not be used to pay 
for deposit fees in excess of the amount of the State fee reimbursement 
required to purchase any food or food product contained in a returnable 
bottle or can, regardless of whether the fee is included in the shelf 
price posted for item. The returnable container type and fee must be 
included in State law in order for the customer to be able to pay for 
the upfront deposit with SNAP benefits. If a SNAP eligible product has 
a State deposit fee associated with it, the product remains eligible 
for purchase with SNAP benefits, and the State deposit fee may be paid 
with SNAP as well; however, any fee in excess of the State deposit fee 
must be paid in cash or other form of payment other than with SNAP 
benefits.

PART 275--PERFORMANCE REPORTING SYSTEM

0
7. The authority citation for part 275 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2011-2036.


0
8. In Sec.  275.12, revise paragraph (f)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  275.12  Review of active cases.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) Basis of issuance of errors. If the reviewer determines that 
SNAP allotments were either overissued or underissued to eligible 
households in the sample month, the State agency shall code and report 
any variances that directly contributed to the error determination that 
were discovered and verified during the course of the review. For 
fiscal year 2014, only variances that exceed $37.00 (the threshold) 
shall be included in the calculation of the underissuance error rate, 
overissuance error rate, and payment error. For fiscal years 2015 and 
thereafter, this QC tolerance level shall be adjusted annually by the 
percentage by which the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) for the 48 contiguous 
States and the District of Columbia is adjusted. If the State agency 
has chosen to report information on all variances in elements of 
eligibility and basis of issuance, the reviewer shall code and report 
any other such variances that were discovered and verified during the 
course of the review.
* * * * *

0
9. In Sec.  275.23:
0
a. Revise paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (iii).
0
b. Remove paragraph (e)(1)(iv).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  275.23  Determination of State agency program performance.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (i) Require the State agency to invest up to 50 percent of the 
liability in activities to improve program administration (new 
investment money shall not be matched by Federal funds) and
    (ii) Designate up to 50 percent of the liability as ``at-risk'' for 
repayment if a liability is established based on the State agency's 
payment error rate for the subsequent fiscal year, or
    (iii) Choose any combination of these options.
* * * * *

0
10. In Sec.  275.24, add paragraph (a)(8) to read as follows:


Sec.  275.24  High performance bonuses.

    (a) * * *
    (8) Bonus award money shall be used only on SNAP-related expenses 
including, but not limited to, investments in technology; improvements 
in administration and distribution; and actions to prevent fraud, waste 
and abuse.
    (i) Bonus payments shall not be used for household benefits, 
including incentive payments.
    (ii) State agency awardees shall submit their intended spending 
plans of bonus payments to FNS to verify appropriate use.
* * * * *

    Dated: August 27, 2015.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21906 Filed 9-2-15; 8:45 am]
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