National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates, 35175-35178 [2017-15956]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices
This notice 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.
This notice imposes no new reporting
or recordkeeping provisions that are
subject to OMB review in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3518).
Authority: Sections 4(b)(2), 11a, 17(c) and
17(f)(3)(B) of the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1753(b)(2),
1759a, 1766(f)(3)(B)) and section 4(b)(1)(B) of
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1773(b)(1)(B)).
Dated: July 13, 2017.
Jessica Shahin,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–15950 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
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.
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 that 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 Producer Price
Index for Fluid Milk Products.
DATES: These rates are effective from
July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:50 Jul 27, 2017
Jkt 241001
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jessica Saracino, Branch Chief, Program
Monitoring and Operational Support
Division, Child Nutrition Programs,
Food and Nutrition Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park
Center Drive, Room 640, Alexandria, VA
22302–1594.
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, 2017 through
June 30, 2018, the rate of reimbursement
for a half-pint of milk served to a nonneedy child in a school or institution
that participates in the Special Milk
Program is 20.75 cents. This reflects an
increase of 1 cent from the School Year
(SY) 2016–17 level, based on the 4.21
percent increase in the Producer Price
Index for Fluid Milk Products from May
2016 to May 2017 (from a level of 216.1
in May 2016, as previously published in
the Federal Register to 225.2 in May
2017).
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
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
35175
average payment rates for schools and
residential child care institutions for the
period July 1, 2017 through June 30,
2018 reflect a 2.31 percent increase in
the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers during the 12-month period
May 2016 to May 2017 (from a level of
262.074 in May 2016, as previously
published in the Federal Register to
268.128 in May 2017). 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
Lunch Act. On January 3, 2014, the final
rule entitled, ‘‘Certification of
Compliance With Meal Requirements
for the National School Lunch Program
E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM
28JYN1
35176
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices
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.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
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,
2017 through June 30, 2018. Due to a
higher cost of living, the average
payments and maximum
reimbursements for Alaska, Puerto Rico
and Hawaii are higher than those for all
other States. The District of Columbia,
Virgin Islands, and Guam use the figures
specified for the contiguous States.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:50 Jul 27, 2017
Jkt 241001
National School Lunch Program
Payments
Section 4 National Average Payment
Factors—In school food authorities that
served less than 60 percent free and
reduced price lunches in School Year
(SY) 2015–16, the payments for meals
served are: Contiguous States—paid
rate—31 cents (1 cent increase from the
SY 2016–17 level), free and reduced
price rate—31 cents (1 cent increase),
maximum rate—39 cents (1 cent
increase); Alaska—paid rate—50 cents
(1 cent increase), free and reduced price
rate—50 cents (1 cent increase),
maximum rate—61 cents (1 cent
increase); Hawaii and Puerto Rico—paid
rate—36 cents (1 cent increase), free and
reduced price rate—36 cents (1 cent
increase), maximum rate—45 cents (1
cent increase).
In school food authorities that served
60 percent or more free and reduced
price lunches in School Year 2015–16,
payments are: Contiguous States—paid
rate—33 cents (1 cent increase from the
SY 2016–17 level), free and reduced
price rate—33 cents (1 cent increase),
maximum rate—39 cents (1 cent
increase); Alaska—paid rate—52 cents
(1 cent increase), free and reduced price
rate—52 cents (1 cent increase),
maximum rate—61 cents (1 cent
increase); Hawaii and Puerto Rico—paid
rate—38 cents (1 cent increase), free and
reduced price rate—38 cents (1 cent
increase), maximum rate—45 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—292 cents (6 cents increase from
the SY 2016–2017 level), reduced price
lunch—252 cents (6 cents increase);
Alaska—free lunch—474 cents (11 cents
increase), reduced price lunch—434
cents (11 cents increase); Hawaii and
Puerto Rico—free lunch—342 cents (8
cents increase), reduced price lunch—
302 cents (8 cents increase).
Afterschool Snacks in Afterschool
Care Programs—The payments are:
Contiguous States—free snack—88 cents
(2 cents increase from the SY 2016–2017
level), reduced price snack—44 cents (1
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
cent increase), paid snack—8 cents (1
cent increase); Alaska—free snack—144
cents (4 cents increase), reduced price
snack—72 cents (2 cents increase), paid
snack—13 cents (1 cent increase);
Hawaii and Puerto Rico—free snack—
104 cents (3 cents increase), reduced
price snack—52 cents (2 cents increase),
paid snack—9 cents (no change).
School Breakfast Program Payments
For schools ‘‘not in severe need’’ the
payments are: Contiguous States—free
breakfast—175 cents (4 cents increase
from the SY 2016–2017 level), reduced
price breakfast—145 cents (4 cents
increase), paid breakfast—30 cents (1
cent increase); Alaska—free breakfast—
279 cents (6 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast—249 cents (6 cents
increase), paid breakfast—45 cents (1
cent increase); Hawaii and Puerto
Rico—free breakfast—203 cents (4 cents
increase), reduced price breakfast—173
cents (4 cents increase), paid breakfast—
34 cents (1 cent increase).
For schools in ‘‘severe need’’ the
payments are: Contiguous States—free
breakfast—209 cents (5 cents increase
from the SY 2016–2017 level), reduced
price breakfast—179 cents (5 cents
increase), paid breakfast—30 cents (1
cent increase); Alaska—free breakfast—
335 cents (8 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast—305 cents (8 cents
increase), paid breakfast—45 cents (1
cent increase); Hawaii and Puerto
Rico—free breakfast—243 cents (5 cents
increase), reduced price breakfast—213
cents (5 cents increase), paid breakfast—
34 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, and
Guam are those specified for the
contiguous States.
E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM
28JYN1
35177
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
MEAL, SNACK AND MILK PAYMENTS TO STATES AND SCHOOL FOOD AUTHORITIES
Expressed in Dollars or Fractions Thereof
Effective fi'om: July 1, 2017 -June 30, 2018
PROGRAM
LESS
THAN
60%+6
LESS
THAN
60%
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH
1
PAID
CONTIGUOUS
REDUCED PRICE
STATES
FREE
PAID
ALASKA
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
PAID
HAWAll and
REDUCED PRICE
PUER10RICO
FREE
ccnts
0.37
2.89
3.29
0.56
4.90
5.30
0.42
3.44
3.84
0.31
2.83
3.23
0.50
4.84
5.24
0.36
3.38
3.78
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
PAID
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
PAID
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
PAID
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
CONTIGUOUS STATES
ALASKA
HAWAll and PUER10 RICO
SPECIAL MILK PROGRAM
PRICING PROGRAMS WITHOUT FREE OPTION
2
60%or
MAXIMUM
60%0R
MAXIMUM
MORE+
RATE+6
MORE
RATE
0
2
6 cents~
cents
0.33
0.39
2.85
2.91
3.25
3.31
0.52
0.58
4.86
4.92
5.26
5.32
0.38
0.44
3.40
3.46
3.80
3.86
NON-SEVERE
NEED
0.30
1.45
1.75
0.45
2.49
2.79
0.34
1.73
2.03
ALL
PAID
MILK
MILK
0.39
3.00
3.40
0.61
5.09
5.49
0.45
3.57
3.97
0.45
3.06
3.46
0.67
5.15
5.55
0.51
3.63
4.03
SEVERE NEED
0.30
1.79
2.09
0.45
3.05
3.35
0.34
2.13
2.43
FREE MILK
0.2075
N/A
N/A
N/A
0.2075
Average Cost Per 1/2 Pint
of Milk
0.2075
N/A
N/A
PRICING PROGRAMS WITH FREE OPTION
NONPRICING PROGRAMS
AFTERSCHOOL SNACKS SERVED IN AFTERSCHOOL CARE PROGRAMS
ALASKA
2
Payment listed for Free and Reduced Price Lunches include both section 4 and section 11 funds
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:50 Jul 27, 2017
Jkt 241001
601–612) and thus is exempt from the
provisions of that Act.
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507),
E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM
28JYN1
EN28JY17.013</GPH>
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
HAWAll and PUER10 RICO
1
0.08
0.44
0.88
0.13
0.72
1.44
0.09
0.52
1.04
PAID
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
PAID
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
PAID
REDUCED PRICE
FREE
CONTIGUOUS STATES
35178
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices
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 not 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.
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 13, 2017.
Jessica Shahin,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–15956 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request—Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program
Education (SNAP-Ed) Toolkit
Intervention Submission Form and
Scoring Tool
Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on a
proposed information collection, which
will use two new forms.
The purpose of the SNAP-Ed Toolkit
Intervention Submission Form and
Scoring Tool is to provide a uniform
and transparent method for submission,
review, and scoring of nutrition
education, physical activity promotion,
and obesity prevention interventions for
possible inclusion in the SNAP-Ed
Strategies and Interventions: An Obesity
Prevention Toolkit for States (Toolkit).
The Toolkit was developed to assist
State agencies in locating evidencebased interventions for their
implementation of SNAP-Ed
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:50 Jul 27, 2017
Jkt 241001
programming. The Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008, as amended (The Act)
§ 28(c)(3)(A) requires that States use
evidence-based interventions. These
forms will allow FNS to increase the
selection of interventions available in
the Toolkit, increase innovation in
service delivery using interventions
which reflect up-to-date research, and
respond to intervention developer
requests to be included in the Toolkit.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before September 26,
2017.
ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information has practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the
burden hours, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions that
were used; (c) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to Lisa Mays,
State Administration Branch, Program
Accountability and Administration
Division, Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service,
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 821,
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may
also be submitted via fax to the attention
of Lisa Mays at 703–457–7762, or via
email to SNAP-Ed@fns.usda.gov.
Comments will also be accepted through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and follow
the online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
All written comments will be open for
public inspection at the office of the
Food and Nutrition Service during
regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101
Park Center Drive, Room 821,
Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approval. All comments
will also be a matter of public record.
CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Requests for additional information
should be directed to Lisa Mays at
SNAP-Ed@fns.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: SNAP Ed Toolkit Intervention
Scoring Tool and Submission Form.
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
OMB Number: 0584–NEW.
Form Numbers: FNS–885 and FNS–
886.
Expiration Date: TBD.
Type of Request: New information
collection.
Abstract: SNAP-Ed State and
Implementing agencies are able to
identify and choose evidence-based
interventions using the Toolkit. The
Toolkit was developed collaboratively
by FNS National and Regional Office
SNAP-Ed staff, the National
Collaborative on Childhood Obesity
Reduction (NCCOR), and the
Association of SNAP Nutrition
Education Administrators (ASNNA).
Currently, more than 80 interventions
are available in the Toolkit (https://
snapedtoolkit.org/). This new data
collection for additional interventions to
be reviewed for inclusion in the Toolkit
is necessary to:
• Increase the selection available to
agencies to allow them to find
interventions that fit their specific
needs.
• Increase innovation in service
delivery by encouraging adoption of
interventions which reflect the most upto-date research of nutrition education,
physical activity, and obesity
prevention behavior change.
• Allow FNS to respond to requests
by intervention developers to be
included in the Toolkit with a clear and
transparent review process and criteria
for inclusion.
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008,
as amended (The Act) § 28(c)(3)(A)
states that State agencies ‘‘may use
funds provided under this section for
any evidence-based allowable use of
funds’’ including ‘‘(i) individual and
group-based nutrition education, health
promotion, and intervention strategies’’.
7 CFR 272.2(2)(d) also states ‘‘SNAP-Ed
activities must include evidence-based
activities using one or more of these
approaches: Individual or group-based
nutrition education, health promotion,
and intervention strategies;
comprehensive, multi-level
interventions at multiple
complementary organizational and
institutional levels; community and
public health approaches to improve
nutrition’’. The Intervention Submission
Form (FNS 886) and Scoring Tool (FNS
885) allows for interventions to be
assessed to determine if they are both
evidence-based and use one of the
approaches described.
The Intervention Submission Form
will be used by intervention developers
(submitters) to provide information
about the intervention they are
submitting for inclusion in the Toolkit.
Information requested includes
E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM
28JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 144 (Friday, July 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35175-35178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15956]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 that 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
Producer Price Index for Fluid Milk Products.
DATES: These rates are effective from July 1, 2017 through June 30,
2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Saracino, Branch Chief,
Program Monitoring and Operational Support Division, Child Nutrition
Programs, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 640, Alexandria, VA 22302-1594.
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, 2017 through June 30, 2018, the rate of
reimbursement for a half-pint of milk served to a non-needy child in a
school or institution that participates in the Special Milk Program is
20.75 cents. This reflects an increase of 1 cent from the School Year
(SY) 2016-17 level, based on the 4.21 percent increase in the Producer
Price Index for Fluid Milk Products from May 2016 to May 2017 (from a
level of 216.1 in May 2016, as previously published in the Federal
Register to 225.2 in May 2017).
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, 2017 through June 30, 2018 reflect a 2.31 percent increase in the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers during the 12-month period
May 2016 to May 2017 (from a level of 262.074 in May 2016, as
previously published in the Federal Register to 268.128 in May 2017).
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
[[Page 35176]]
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, 2017 through June 30, 2018. Due to a higher cost of
living, the average payments and maximum reimbursements for Alaska,
Puerto Rico and Hawaii are higher than those for all other States. The
District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, 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 that served less than 60 percent free and reduced price
lunches in School Year (SY) 2015-16, the payments for meals served are:
Contiguous States--paid rate--31 cents (1 cent increase from the SY
2016-17 level), free and reduced price rate--31 cents (1 cent
increase), maximum rate--39 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--paid
rate--50 cents (1 cent increase), free and reduced price rate--50 cents
(1 cent increase), maximum rate--61 cents (1 cent increase); Hawaii and
Puerto Rico--paid rate--36 cents (1 cent increase), free and reduced
price rate--36 cents (1 cent increase), maximum rate--45 cents (1 cent
increase).
In school food authorities that served 60 percent or more free and
reduced price lunches in School Year 2015-16, payments are: Contiguous
States--paid rate--33 cents (1 cent increase from the SY 2016-17
level), free and reduced price rate--33 cents (1 cent increase),
maximum rate--39 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--paid rate--52 cents
(1 cent increase), free and reduced price rate--52 cents (1 cent
increase), maximum rate--61 cents (1 cent increase); Hawaii and Puerto
Rico--paid rate--38 cents (1 cent increase), free and reduced price
rate--38 cents (1 cent increase), maximum rate--45 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--292 cents (6 cents increase from the SY 2016-2017 level),
reduced price lunch--252 cents (6 cents increase); Alaska--free lunch--
474 cents (11 cents increase), reduced price lunch--434 cents (11 cents
increase); Hawaii and Puerto Rico--free lunch--342 cents (8 cents
increase), reduced price lunch--302 cents (8 cents increase).
Afterschool Snacks in Afterschool Care Programs--The payments are:
Contiguous States--free snack--88 cents (2 cents increase from the SY
2016-2017 level), reduced price snack--44 cents (1 cent increase), paid
snack--8 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--free snack--144 cents (4
cents increase), reduced price snack--72 cents (2 cents increase), paid
snack--13 cents (1 cent increase); Hawaii and Puerto Rico--free snack--
104 cents (3 cents increase), reduced price snack--52 cents (2 cents
increase), paid snack--9 cents (no change).
School Breakfast Program Payments
For schools ``not in severe need'' the payments are: Contiguous
States--free breakfast--175 cents (4 cents increase from the SY 2016-
2017 level), reduced price breakfast--145 cents (4 cents increase),
paid breakfast--30 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--free breakfast--279
cents (6 cents increase), reduced price breakfast--249 cents (6 cents
increase), paid breakfast--45 cents (1 cent increase); Hawaii and
Puerto Rico--free breakfast--203 cents (4 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast--173 cents (4 cents increase), paid breakfast--34 cents
(1 cent increase).
For schools in ``severe need'' the payments are: Contiguous
States--free breakfast--209 cents (5 cents increase from the SY 2016-
2017 level), reduced price breakfast--179 cents (5 cents increase),
paid breakfast--30 cents (1 cent increase); Alaska--free breakfast--335
cents (8 cents increase), reduced price breakfast--305 cents (8 cents
increase), paid breakfast--45 cents (1 cent increase); Hawaii and
Puerto Rico--free breakfast--243 cents (5 cents increase), reduced
price breakfast--213 cents (5 cents increase), paid breakfast--34 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, and Guam are
those specified for the contiguous States.
[[Page 35177]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28JY17.013
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),
[[Page 35178]]
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 not
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.
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 13, 2017.
Jessica Shahin,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-15956 Filed 7-27-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
