Food and Nutrition Service July 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the national average value of donated foods or, where applicable, cash in lieu of donated foods, to be provided in school year 2014 (July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014) for each lunch served by schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and for each lunch and supper served by institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a new collection to obtain data on how State and local WIC agencies calculate NSA costs; how recent Program changes have impacted NSA costs; and how administrative costs and policies compare to those of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

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 which 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.

This rulemaking proposes to amend the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) regulations to incorporate changes mandated by Section 738 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008. The changes extend simplified cost accounting and reporting procedures to SFSP sponsors in all States, and eliminate the cost comparison requirements for determining payments to sponsors. This rulemaking would amend SFSP regulations to address these statutory changes. In addition, this rulemaking proposes several discretionary changes to improve administrative efficiency and reduce paperwork in the management of the SFSP. The intended effect of this rulemaking is to simplify and streamline administration while ensuring the integrity of the Program. Finally, this rulemaking proposes a change to the National School Lunch Program regulations to create consistency among the Child Nutrition Programs with regard to notice procedures.

The Food and Nutrition Service published a final rule entitled ``National School Lunch Program: Direct Certification Continuous Improvement Plans Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010'' on February 22, 2013. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) cleared the associated information collection requirements (ICR) on April 10, 2013. This document announces approval of the ICR.

The final rule entitled Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations: Amendments Related to the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 was published on April 6, 2011. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) cleared the associated information collection requirements (ICR) on December 20, 2011. This document announces approval of the ICR.