Food and Nutrition Service March 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This Notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals and free milk for the period from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program (and Commodity School Program), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program. The annual adjustments are required by section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The guidelines are intended to direct benefits to those children most in need and are revised annually to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index.

This proposed rule is part of the Department's effort to fulfill its responsibilities under Executive Orders 13279 and 13280. Under this rule, State agencies would collect and report information related to faith-based and community organizations currently participating and applying to participate in Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) nutrition assistance programs. This information would be added to existing collections for the affected programs. It would enable FNS to identify the faith-based and community organizations participating in FNS programs, determine the level of participation of faith-based and community organizations in its programs, ensure that FNS' programs are open to all eligible organizations and evaluate the effectiveness of its technical assistance and outreach efforts. It will not adversely impact the application or participation of any organization or institution currently participating in, or seeking to participate in FNS nutrition assistance programs.