Food and Nutrition Service July 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This interim final rule delays from September 24, 2021, until September 24, 2022, the implementation date of certain provisions of the final rule entitled, ``Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): 2008 Farm Bill Provisions on Clarification of Split Issuance; Accrual of Benefits and Definition Changes'' (``the Final Rule''), which was published in the Federal Register on August 24, 2020 and became effective on September 23, 2020. The original implementation date for the final rule was September 24, 2021. For reasons explained below, mostly arising from the burden on State agency resources caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, FNS is changing the implementation date for certain provisions of the final rule to September 24, 2022, effective immediately.

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 for the Food Security Status and Well-Being of Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) Participants in Puerto Rico study. This is a new information collection request. This study informs the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) about household food security, health, and well-being among Puerto Rico's population.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on the Agency's proposed revision to the currently approved information collection for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). FNS uses this collection to obtain account and record information from State and program operators that is necessary to effectively manage the SFSP and ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory Program requirements.

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 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. Further adjustments are made to these rates to reflect higher costs of providing meals in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The payments and rates are prescribed on an annual basis each July. Overall, reimbursement rates this year for the National School Lunch, Breakfast Programs and the Special Milk Program either remained the same or increased compared to last year. Special Note: For the school year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022, school food authorities operating the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option under Food and Nutrition Service- issued nationwide waivers #85 (Nationwide Waiver to Allow the Seamless Summer Option through School Year 2021-2022) and #86 (Nationwide Waiver to Allow Summer Food Service Program Reimbursement Rates in School Year 2021-2022) may receive the reimbursement rates prescribed for the Summer Food Service Program (85 FR 86901) in lieu of the reimbursement rates established in this notice. The Summer Food Service Program reimbursement rates made available to these school food authorities will similarly be updated effective January 1, 2022 through a future notice published in the Federal Register.

This notice announces the annual adjustments to the national average payment rates for meals and snacks served in child care centers, outside-school-hours care centers, at-risk afterschool care centers, and adult day care centers; the food service payment rates for meals and snacks served in day care homes; and the administrative reimbursement rates for sponsoring organizations of day care homes, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Further adjustments are made to these rates to reflect the higher costs of providing meals in Alaska and Hawaii. The adjustments contained in this notice are made on an annual basis each July, as required by the laws and regulations governing the Child and Adult Care Food Program.