Food and Nutrition Service March 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program
Document Number: 2016-07179
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-03-31
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This rule adopts the interim rule implementing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) nutrition education and obesity prevention grant program with changes as provided in this rule. This rule also amends SNAP regulations to implement section 28 of the Food and Nutrition Act (FNA) of 2008, as added by section 241 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010, to award grants to States for provision of nutrition education and obesity prevention programs. These programs provide services for eligible individuals that promote healthy food choices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). The rule provides State agencies with requirements for implementing section 28, including the grant award process and describes the process for allocating the Federal grant funding for each State's approved SNAP-Ed plan authorized under the FNA to carry out nutrition education and obesity prevention services each fiscal year. This final rule also implements section 4028 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill of 2014), which authorizes physical activity promotion in addition to promotion of healthy food choices as part of this nutrition education and obesity prevention program.
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Document Number: 2016-07002
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-29
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Child Nutrition Program Integrity
Document Number: 2016-06801
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-03-29
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This rule proposes to codify several provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 affecting the integrity of the Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the Special Milk Program for Children, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and State Administrative Expense Funds. The Department is proposing to establish criteria for assessments against State agencies and program operators who jeopardize the integrity of any Child Nutrition Program; establish procedures for termination and disqualification of entities in the SFSP; modify State agency site review requirements in the CACFP; establish State liability for reimbursements incurred as a result of a State's failure to conduct timely hearings in the CACFP; establish criteria for increased State audit funding for CACFP; establish procedures to prohibit the participation of entities or individuals terminated from any of the Child Nutrition Programs; establish serious deficiency and termination procedures for unaffiliated sponsored centers in the CACFP; eliminate cost-reimbursement food service management company contracts in the NSLP; and establish procurement training requirements for State agency and school food authority staff in the NSLP. In addition, this rulemaking would make several operational changes to improve oversight of an institution's financial management and would also include several technical corrections to the regulations. The proposed rule is intended to improve the integrity of all Child Nutrition Programs.
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Document Number: 2016-06924
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-28
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Document Number: 2016-06821
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-25
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Employment and Training Program Monitoring, Oversight and Reporting Measures
Document Number: 2016-06549
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-03-24
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Section 4022 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 requires that, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment, USDA (the Department) shall issue an interim final rule implementing the amendments made by subsection (a)(2). Pursuant to that requirement, this rule implements the employment and training (E&T) provisions of section 4022(a)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014. Section 4022(a)(2) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 provides the Department additional oversight authority of State agencies' administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) E&T program. In addition, it requires the Department to develop national reporting measures and for State agencies to report outcome data to the Department. It also requires that the Department monitor and assess State agencies' E&T programs, and provides the Department with the authority to require State agencies to make improvements to their programs as necessary. Finally, State agencies are required to submit reports on the impact of certain E&T components and, in certain States, the E&T services provided to able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Document Number: 2016-06465
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-23
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines
Document Number: 2016-06463
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-23
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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, 2016 through June 30, 2017. 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.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): 2016/2017 Income Eligibility Guidelines
Document Number: 2016-06222
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-18
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (``Department'') announces adjusted income eligibility guidelines to be used by State agencies in determining the income eligibility of persons applying to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC). These income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with the WIC Regulations.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Understanding the Anti-Fraud Measures of Large SNAP Retailers
Document Number: 2016-05896
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-18
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for the purpose of learning about the types of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) related fraud activity observed by large retailers and the methods they use to prevent fraud and minimize their losses. The goal of the information collection is to learn more about the types of SNAP fraud that occur in large retailer settings; document retailer practices to detect, deter, and deal with fraud (collectively known as loss prevention or loss prevention practices); and determine which practices could provide information that would help FNS in detecting and preventing SNAP fraud.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Successful Approaches To Reduce Sodium in School Meals
Document Number: 2016-05895
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-16
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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 study Successful Approaches to Reduce Sodium in School Meals.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Application of Schools Applying for Recognition Through HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms
Document Number: 2016-05893
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-16
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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 for reviewing and evaluating the practices of schools participating in both the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs as a part of their application for recognition through HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms. The goal is to highlight and recognize those schools that are achieving success above and beyond Federal meal pattern requirements in the areas of actively implementing smarter lunchroom techniques, Smart Snacks, nutrition education, physical education, local school wellness policies, and other criteria for excellence.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Promotion
Document Number: 2016-05583
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-03-14
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This proposed rule would implement Section 4018 of the Agricultural Act of 2014. Section 4018 created new limitations on the use of federal funds authorized in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (FNA), for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) promotion and outreach activities. Specifically, Section 4018 of the 2014 Farm Bill prohibits the use of Federal funds appropriated in the FNA from being used for; recruitment activities designed to persuade an individual to apply for SNAP benefits, television, radio, or billboard advertisements that are designed to promote SNAP benefits and enrollment. This provision does not apply to Disaster SNAP, or any agreements with foreign governments designed to promote SNAP benefits and enrollment. Section 4018 also prohibits any entity that receives funds under the FNA from compensating any person engaged in outreach or recruitment activities based on the number of individuals who apply to receive SNAP benefits. Lastly, Section 4018 modifies Section 16(a)(4) of the FNA to prohibit the Federal government from paying administrative costs associated with recruitment activities designed to persuade an individual to apply for program benefits or that promote the program through television, radio, or billboard advertisements. This proposed rule would also impact the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), both of which receive funding and/or foods authorized under the FNA.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Study of WIC Food Package Costs and Cost Containment
Document Number: 2016-05338
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-10
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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 Information Collection for The Study of WIC Food Package Costs and Cost Containment.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Information Collection for the National School Lunch Program
Document Number: 2016-05312
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-10
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this information collection. This is a revision of the FNS-640 Administrative Review Data Report associated with the currently approved information collection for the National School Lunch Program.
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Document Number: 2016-05065
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-08
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed collection; Comment Request-Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
Document Number: 2016-04443
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-01
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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 revision of a currently approved collection for the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
Agency Information Collection Activities: WIC Program Regulations
Document Number: 2016-04262
Type: Notice
Date: 2016-03-01
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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 revision of a currently approved collection to add the submittal of Authorized Product Lists in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) into the collection.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Implementation of Electronic Benefit Transfer-Related Provisions
Document Number: 2016-04261
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-03-01
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This final rule considers public comments submitted in response to the proposed rule published February 28, 2013 and implements the provisions set forth in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 related to electronic benefit transfer (EBT) for the WIC Program (also referred to herein as ``the Program''). The HHFKA amended provisions of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) and was enacted on December 13, 2010. EBT provisions of the HHFKA and other EBT implementation requirements included in this final rule are: A definition of EBT; a mandate that all WIC State agencies implement EBT delivery method by October 1, 2020; system management and reporting requirements; revisions to current provisions that prohibit imposition of costs on vendors; a requirement for the Secretary of Agriculture to establish minimum lane equipage standards; a requirement for the Secretary of Agriculture to establish technical standards and operating rules; and a requirement that State agencies use the National Universal Product Code (NUPC) database.
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