Department of Agriculture June 9, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This is an attachment that was inadvertently left out of the notice that published on June 6, 2006. (71 FR 32504). For the readers convenience this goes with Attachment 1.

This rule finalizes the proposed provisions of a rule published on March 19, 2004 to amend Food Stamp Program regulations to codify Food Stamp Employment and Training (E&T) Program provisions of section 4121 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the Farm Bill). This final rule establishes a reasonable formula for allocating the 100 percent Federal grant authorized under the Farm Bill to carry out the E&T Program each fiscal year. This final rule also codifies the Farm Bill provision that makes available up to $20 million a year in additional unmatched Federal E&T funds for State agencies that commit to offer an education/training or workfare opportunity to every applicant and recipient who is an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD), limited to 3 months of food stamp eligibility in a 36-month period, who would otherwise be terminated. This final rule eliminates the current Federal cost-sharing cap of $25 per month on the amount State agencies may reimburse E&T participants for work expenses other than dependent care. This final rule codifies Farm Bill provisions that expand State flexibility in E&T Program spending by repealing the requirements that State agencies earmark 80 percent of their annual 100 percent Federal E&T grants to serve ABAWDs; they meet or exceed their fiscal year 1996 State administrative spending levels to access funds made available by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; and the Secretary be given the authority to establish maximum reimbursement costs of E&T Program components. Lastly, this final rule rescinds the balance of unobligated funds carried over from fiscal year 2001.

The Siskiyou County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Yreka, California, June 19, 2006. The meeting will include routine business, and two presentations from the Salmon River Restoration Council and the Siskiyou Fire Safe Council on previously funded RAC grants.