Food and Nutrition Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Employment and Training Program Monitoring, Oversight and Reporting Measures; Correction
Document Number: 2024-28363
Type: Rule
Date: 2024-12-05
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on November 18, 2024. The document implements statutory requirements and policy improvements to strengthen the employment and training (E&T) program through the collection of information to determine the overall effectiveness of the E&T program in reaching the goal of assisting participants in obtaining the skills necessary to obtain and retain employment.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Thrifty Food Plan Cost Adjustment for the Price of Food in Hawaii
Document Number: 2024-27853
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2024-12-03
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is proposing changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations in accordance with the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which calls for a cost adjustment in the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) for Hawaii to reflect the cost of food in Hawaii. The proposal would update the method for calculating this cost adjustment to incorporate food prices from throughout the State of Hawaii rather than from Honolulu alone, ensuring that SNAP benefit allotments better reflect food prices faced by participants throughout the State of Hawaii.
Agency Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection: Request for Comments on Guidance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification and Quality Control Interviews Study
Document Number: 2024-26941
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-11-19
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 is a new information collection for the contract of the study titled Guidance for SNAP Certification and Quality Control Interviews. The purpose of this collection is to help FNS develop new guidance for SNAP eligibility and Quality Control interviews based on principles of human-centered design and cultural competency.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Employment and Training Program Monitoring, Oversight and Reporting Measures
Document Number: 2024-26809
Type: Rule
Date: 2024-11-18
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The final rule implements the employment and training (E&T) provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014. This section provided the Department additional oversight authority of State agencies' administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) E&T program; required the Department to develop reporting measures and required State agencies to report outcome data to the Department. It also required the Department to monitor and assess State agencies' effectiveness of E&T programs and provided 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). The final rule will strengthen the E&T program through the collection of information to determine the overall effectiveness of the E&T program in reaching the goal of assisting participants in obtaining the skills necessary to obtain and retain employment.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Standardization of State Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowances
Document Number: 2024-26845
Type: Rule
Date: 2024-11-18
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This rule finalizes changes proposed October 3, 2019, by the Department to revise Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations for calculating standard utility allowances (SUAs) and expand allowable shelter expenses to include basic internet costs. It requires State agencies to submit for FNS approval their SUA methodologies at least every five years, and methodology submissions must incorporate any revisions necessary to demonstrate that the baseline expenditure data and underlying methodology reflect recent trends and changes. This rule also provides State agencies with the flexibility necessary to ensure that they meet households' needs while also aligning SUAs with data on low-income household utility costs in a more consistent manner. This rule also finalizes updates proposed April 20, 2016, regarding the treatment of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or other similar energy assistance program payments, in accordance with amendments made to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 by the Agricultural Act of 2014. The intent of this final rule is to ensure consistency and integrity of SUAs across the country, which the Department believes is good governance.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Comments Requested: USDA National Hunger Clearinghouse Database Form (FNS 543)
Document Number: 2024-25833
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-11-07
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 is a revision of a currently approved information collection form that organizations fighting hunger and poverty fill out to keep their information up to date for use by the general public.
Food Distribution Programs: Improving Access and Parity
Document Number: 2024-24966
Type: Rule
Date: 2024-10-31
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This final rule considers public comments submitted in response to the proposed rule revising the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and USDA Foods disaster response regulations. This final rule makes access and parity improvements in USDA's food distribution programs to support access for eligible populations and streamline requirements for program operators.
Agency Information Collection Activities: WIC & FMNP Outreach, Innovation, and Modernization Evaluation
Document Number: 2024-25008
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-10-28
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. The purpose of this information collection is to provide information on the implementation and effectiveness of modernization projects across all 88 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) State agencies to help identify successes, opportunities for improvement, and areas for additional support from FNS to strengthen project implementation.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Participant Characteristics and Program Operations Study
Document Number: 2024-24868
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-10-25
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 is a new information collection request in which FNS seeks updated information about the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), including participant characteristics, program operations, and why FDPIR participation has been declining. This study will also include an evaluation of the self-determination demonstration projects (SDDPs), which allow Tribes administering FDPIR to directly purchase food for the FDPIR food packages distributed to their Tribe.
Agency Information Collection Activities: FNS 245-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Negative Case Action Review Schedule
Document Number: 2024-24866
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-10-25
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. This information collection, the FNS-245, Negative Case Action Review Schedule, is designed to collect quality control (QC) data and serve as the data entry form for negative case action QC reviews in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Revisions to the form, its instructions, and burden hours are within.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Longitudinal Study of SNAP Households AKA The Study of Household Insights and Nutritional Experiences (SHINE)
Document Number: 2024-24160
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-10-18
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 new collection will provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) key information from a large representative sample of SNAP households to enable FNS to examine how SNAP households change through time.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefit Expungement and Off-Line Storage
Document Number: 2024-23727
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-10-15
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 associated with SNAP benefit storage and expungement provisions of the 2008 and 2018 Farm Bills. This collection is an extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. This collection is for providing SNAP households advance or concurrent notice of State agency action to store unused SNAP benefits offline due to three or more months of account inactivity and for those households to seek reinstatement of benefits prior to permanent expungement. This collection is also for providing SNAP households advance or concurrent notice prior to the State agency expunging unused SNAP benefits from the household's Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account due to nine months of account inactivity.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP); Withdrawal
Document Number: 2024-22096
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2024-09-27
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This document informs the public that the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is withdrawing the proposed rule titled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D- SNAP) that published in the Federal Register on May 10, 2016. This rule would have amended the SNAP regulations to establish procedures for planning, requesting and operating D-SNAP. The Department is withdrawing this proposed rule to maintain the flexibility to adapt D- SNAP to unique disaster situations. The importance of this flexibility became apparent as the Department adjusted traditional D-SNAP operations to accommodate the changing circumstances during the public health emergency. The proposed rule would have prevented the Department from enacting many of the successful responses utilized during the public health emergency to best serve households and State agencies in the aftermath of a disaster. After enacting these critical adaptations to D-SNAP design during the public health emergency, receiving feedback from D-SNAP listening sessions, and reviewing the comments received on the proposed rule, the Department is withdrawing the proposed rule to reduce the burden on State agencies and households responding to disasters.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Request-Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Health Outcomes and Participant Experience (HOPE) Study
Document Number: 2024-21453
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-09-19
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 for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Health Outcomes and Participant Experience (HOPE) Study. This new information collection will provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) with current information about the population WIC serves, how well WIC services align with participants' needs, and how WIC influences participants' health outcomes. This information will help policymakers and program administrators address service gaps and reduce potential disparities in health outcomes.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Mobile Payment Pilots (MPPs)
Document Number: 2024-18947
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-08-23
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 the proposed information collection. This is a revision of an existing information collection to conduct demonstration pilot projects to test the redemption of SNAP benefits through mobile payment technologies.
Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program
Document Number: 2024-18945
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-08-23
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, USDA FNS is providing notice of a reestablished computer matching program between FNS and the State agencies that administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The matching program allows State agencies access to the Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS), a national database operated by FNS. The system maintains records of SNAP disqualifications imposed by State agencies on individuals who have been found to have committed an intentional program violation (IPV).
Agency Information Collection Activities: Commodity Supplemental Food Program Participant Characteristics and Program Operations Study
Document Number: 2024-17341
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-08-06
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 is a new information collection request in which FNS seeks a description of Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) participant characteristics and program operations. CSFP provides free groceries to approximately 700,000 low-income seniors each month and is administered by 60 State agencies, approximately 250 local agencies, and approximately 9,000 distribution sites.
Agency Information Collection Activities: 2027 Farm to School Census
Document Number: 2024-15511
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-07-16
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 revision of a currently approved collection (OMB Number 0584-0646) for the 2027 Farm to School Census.
National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs, National Average Payments/Maximum Reimbursement Rates
Document Number: 2024-15175
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-07-10
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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 Virgin Islands. The payments and rates are prescribed on an annual basis each July.
Child and Adult Care Food Program: National Average Payment Rates, Day Care Home Food Service Payment Rates, and Administrative Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring Organizations of Day Care Homes for the Period July 1, 2024 Through June 30, 2025
Document Number: 2024-15173
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-07-10
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. 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.
Food Distribution Program: Value of Donated Foods from July 1, 2024 Through June 30, 2025
Document Number: 2024-15031
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-07-09
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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 2025 (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025) 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).
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-User Access Request Form FNS-674
Document Number: 2024-11455
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-05-24
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 the proposed information collection. This is a revision of a currently approved collection. The purpose of this information collection request is to continue the use of the electronic form FNS- 674, titled "User Access Request Form." This form will continue to allow access to current FNS systems, modified access or to remove user access.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Program Purpose and Work Requirement Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Document Number: 2024-11205
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2024-05-22
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service is extending the public comment period on the proposed rule, "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Program Purpose and Work Requirement Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023," which was published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2024. This action extends the public comment period from May 30, 2024, to June 14, 2024, to give the public additional time to review the proposed rule.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Repayment Demand and Program Disqualification
Document Number: 2024-10204
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-05-10
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 is a revision of currently approved information collection requirements associated with initiating collection actions against individuals/households (I/HH) who have received an overissuance in SNAP.
Agency Information Collection Activities: School Meals Operations Study: Evaluation of the School-Based Child Nutrition Programs
Document Number: 2024-09678
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-05-03
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces FNS' plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on the proposed ICR before FNS submits it to OMB. The proposed information collection is a revision of an approved information collection. The approved information collection (OMB Control Number 0584-0607) permitted the School Meals Operations (SMO) study to collect survey and administrative data about school year (SY) 2019-2020 through SY 2022- 2023 from a census of State agencies, and survey data about SY 2020- 2021 and SY 2022-2023 from a nationally representative sample of school food authorities. With the revision, FNS will seek approval for the SMO study to collect survey and administrative data about SY 2023-2024 from a census of State agencies. The SMO study will not collect survey data about SY 2023-2024 from school food authorities.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Program Purpose and Work Requirement Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Document Number: 2024-08338
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2024-04-30
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This proposed rule would amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations to incorporate three provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 by adding to the program purpose language assisting low-income adults in obtaining employment and increasing their earnings; updating and defining the exceptions from the able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) time limit; and adjusting the number of discretionary exemptions available to State agencies each year. This proposed rule would also amend the regulations to clarify procedures for how and when State agencies must screen for exceptions to the time limit and clarify the verification requirements.
Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Document Number: 2024-08098
Type: Rule
Date: 2024-04-25
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This rulemaking finalizes long-term school nutrition requirements based on the goals of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, robust stakeholder input, and lessons learned from prior rulemakings. Notably, this rulemaking gradually phases in added sugars limits for the school lunch and breakfast programs and in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, updates total sugars limits for breakfast cereals and yogurt to added sugars limits. As a reflection of feedback from stakeholders, this final rule implements a single sodium reduction in the school lunch and breakfast programs and commits to studying the potential associations between sodium reduction and student participation in the school lunch and breakfast programs. This rulemaking addresses a variety of other school meal requirements, including establishing long-term milk and whole grain requirements. Finally, this rule includes provisions that strengthen Buy American requirements. While this rulemaking takes effect school year 2024-2025, the Department is gradually phasing in required changes over time. Program operators are not required to make any changes to their menus as a result of this rulemaking until school year 2025-2026 at the earliest.
Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs
Document Number: 2024-08369
Type: Rule
Date: 2024-04-19
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is extending for 120 days the public comment period on the interim final rule, "Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs", which published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2023. This action extends the public comment period from April 29, 2024, to August 27, 2024, to give the public additional time to prepare and submit comments.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Demonstration Projects
Document Number: 2024-07377
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-04-08
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 is a new collection without an assigned OMB control number for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This information collection is for activities associated with SNAP demonstration projects and the SNAP State Options Report, respectively.
Agency Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection: Request for Comments on Evaluating the Interview Requirement for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification Study
Document Number: 2024-07164
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-04-04
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 is a new information collection for the contract of the study titled "Evaluating the Interview Requirement for SNAP Certification." The purpose of this collection is to help FNS describe the effects of waiving the interview requirement, including SNAP agency processes and staff experiences with implementing the no-interview demonstration, analyzing the differences in outcomes for SNAP applicants and recipients, and identifying key lessons to inform future policy or implementation.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Assessment of Administrative Costs of Electronic Healthy Incentives Projects (eHIP)
Document Number: 2024-07163
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-04-04
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 is a new collection for the study "Assessment of Administrative Costs of Electronic Healthy Incentives Projects (eHIP)." This study will calculate costs incurred by eHIP, which will provide incentives through EBT integration to increase purchase of healthy foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables) by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Requirements for National Directory of New Hires for Employment Verification
Document Number: 2024-05436
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-03-14
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.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Scratch Cooking Assessment & Learning Evaluation (SCALE) and Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS) Data Request for School Food Authorities
Document Number: 2024-04492
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-03-04
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Chef Ann Foundation (CAF) is a cooperative argreement recipient from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). CAF plans to collect additional information from sub-grantees, based on an assessment and data report, which is beyond the information already approved under OMB Control Number: 0584-0512 (Expiration Date: July 31, 2025). FNS already has OMB approval for collection of information associated with these grants under the Uniform Grant Application for Non-Entitlement Discretionary Grants, as approved under OMB Control Number: 0584-0512. This notice solicits public comment on the additional information proposed for collection.
Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines
Document Number: C1-2024-03355
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-02-28
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); Food Delivery Portal (FDP)
Document Number: 2024-04064
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-02-28
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 provide FNS and WIC State agencies with an ongoing/annual data set that can be used to assess State agencies' compliance with WIC vendor management requirements and estimate State agencies' progress in eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse.
Serious Deficiency Process in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program
Document Number: 2024-02108
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2024-02-21
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This rulemaking proposes important modifications to make the application of serious deficiency procedures in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program consistent, effective, and in line with current requirements under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The serious deficiency process provides a systematic way for State agencies and sponsoring organizations to correct serious management problems, and when that effort fails, protect Child Nutrition Program integrity through due process. In response to public comments received on a prior rulemaking, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) proposes improvements to ensure that application of the serious deficiency process is fair and fully implemented. FNS proposes to add clarity to the serious deficiency process by defining key terms, establishing a timeline for full correction, and establishing criteria for determining when the serious deficiency process must be implemented. This rulemaking will also address termination for cause and disqualification, implementation of legal requirements for records maintained on individuals on the National Disqualified List, and participation of multi-State sponsoring organizations.
Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines
Document Number: 2024-03355
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-02-20
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, free milk, and Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. 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. Beginning in 2024, they will also be used by States and Indian Tribal Organizations that administer the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children 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): 2024/2025 Income Eligibility Guidelines
Document Number: 2024-02922
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-02-13
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 (WIC). These income eligibility guidelines are to be used in conjunction with the WIC Regulations.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Intervention Submission Form and Scoring Tool
Document Number: 2024-02064
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-02-02
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 revision to the currently approved information collection for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) FNS-885, ``SNAP Education (SNAP-Ed) Intervention Scoring Tool'' and the FNS-886, ``SNAP Education (SNAP-Ed) Intervention Submission Form.'' This revision to forms FNS-885 and FNS-886 will provide an improved user experience by simplifying scoring criteria and clarifying the information requested for certain fields. These updates will also align with the new SNAP-Ed National Program Evaluation and Reporting System (N-PEARS), to ensure consistency with SNAP-Ed specific terms. More information on changes to these forms is in the Supplementary Information section of this notice.
Request for Information: Food Price Data for State of Hawaii
Document Number: 2024-00997
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-01-19
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) requests comments from the publicincluding the food industry and research communityto help inform future policy and decisions about potentially updating Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) cost estimates for the State of Hawaii. Specifically, FNS invites comments and ideas about food price data for the State of Hawaiiincluding communities in the State outside of the County of Honoluluthat may be available, potentially accessible to FNS, and of sufficient quality, format, sample size, and recent period to be used potentially by FNS to make cost adjustments for the State of Hawaii to the TFP pursuant to section 3(u)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended. Comments must be received on or before March 4, 2024.
Summer Food Service Program; 2024 Reimbursement Rates
Document Number: 2024-01009
Type: Notice
Date: 2024-01-19
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This notice informs the public of the annual adjustments to the reimbursement rates for meals served in the Summer Food Service Program. These adjustments address changes in the Consumer Price Index, as required under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The 2024 reimbursement rates are presented as a combined set of rates to highlight simplified cost accounting procedures. The 2024 rates are also presented individually, as separate operating and administrative rates of reimbursement, to show the effect of the Consumer Price Index adjustment on each rate. On average, the 2024 rates adjustment represents a 5.3 percent increase in the rates from last year.
Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs
Document Number: 2023-28488
Type: Rule
Date: 2023-12-29
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to make available an option to States to provide summer meals for non-congregate meal service in rural areas with no congregate meal service and to establish a permanent summer electronic benefits transfer for children program (Summer EBT) for the purpose of ensuring continued access to food when school is not in session for the summer. This interim final rule amends the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program's Seamless Summer Option (SSO) regulations to codify the flexibility for rural program operators to provide non-congregate meal service in the SFSP and SSO, collectively referred to as the summer meal programs. This rule also establishes regulations and codifies the Summer EBT Program in the Code of Federal Regulations.
Agency Information Collection Activities: 2024-2025 National School Foods Study
Document Number: 2023-27763
Type: Notice
Date: 2023-12-19
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 that combines the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study-II (SNMCS-II), School Food Purchase Study-IV (SFPS-IV), and a second Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Evaluation (FFVP-II) into one coordinated effort named the 2024-2025 National School Foods Study. The purpose of this combined effort is to reduce overall burden for respondents across the three studies and provide a comprehensive picture of the school- based child nutrition (CN) programs in the 2024-2025 school year.
Provisions To Improve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's Quality Control System
Document Number: 2023-27821
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2023-12-19
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed to make changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's Quality Control (SNAP QC) system to strengthen and improve the integrity and accuracy of the system and to better align SNAP QC with requirements in the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (PIIA). When published, the proposed rule included an incorrect email address for comments; the reopening of the comment period is intended to allow additional time for the public to submit comments in the event the original comment submission was returned as undeliverable due to the incorrect email address.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Implementation of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 and Related Provisions
Document Number: 2023-26641
Type: Rule
Date: 2023-12-14
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This rulemaking serves to amend the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program regulations by incorporating provisions of the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 and making related amendments. ABFA establishes waiver authority for the Secretary of Agriculture to address certain emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions impacting WIC, and adds requirements to State agency infant formula cost containment contracts to protect against disruptions to the Program in the event of a recall. The provisions focus on improving State agencies' ability to ensure continuity of Program operations during emergency periods (i.e., emergencies, disasters, and public health emergencies) and supply chain disruptions, while ensuring access to Program benefits among low-income pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children up to 5 years of age who are at nutritional risk.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Revision of Civil Rights Data Collection Methods
Document Number: 2023-27351
Type: Rule
Date: 2023-12-14
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This rule finalizes provisions of a proposed rule published on June 27, 2022. With this final rule, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is revising Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations that cover collecting and reporting race and ethnicity data by State agencies on persons receiving benefits from SNAP. This rule removes regulatory language that provides an example that State agencies might collect race and ethnicity data by observation (also referred to as ``visual observation'') when participants do not voluntarily provide the information on the application form. In addition, based on feedback from the commenters, this rule prohibits using visual observation as a data collection method for race and ethnicity. Through this rulemaking, FNS intends to improve the quality of data collected for purposes of Federal civil rights law and policy including title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service is committed to promoting equity and inclusion through its Federal nutrition assistance programs. This regulatory change is consistent with this Administration's priorities and furthers FNS' commitment to building equitable and inclusive systems for nutrition access.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Connection Resource Sharing Form
Document Number: 2023-26962
Type: Notice
Date: 2023-12-08
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 revision to the currently approved information collection for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) form FNS-889, ``SNAP Education (SNAP-Ed) Connection Resource Sharing Form.'' This revision to the information collection will improve the submission process by clarifying the information requested for certain fields, thus providing data that is accurate and beneficial to stakeholders using the resource. These updates will also align with the new SNAP-Ed National Program Evaluation and Reporting System (N-PEARS) (OMB Control #0584-0683, expiration 4/30/2026), to ensure consistency with SNAP-Ed specific terms. With this update to form FNS-889, FNS has determined that nutrition and physical activity interventions (i.e., educational materials, curricula, etc.), will no longer be accepted through this information collection.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)-Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden
Document Number: 2023-26659
Type: Notice
Date: 2023-12-05
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 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 reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) regulations.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Recordkeeping of D-SNAP Benefit Issuance and Commodity Distribution for Disaster Relief
Document Number: 2023-26561
Type: Notice
Date: 2023-12-04
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 an extension of a currently approved collection. This information collection addresses the recordkeeping burden associated with forms FNS-292A (Report of Commodity Distribution for Disaster Relief) and FNS-292B (Report of Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Benefit Issuance).
The Emergency Food Assistance Program; Availability of Foods for Fiscal Year 2024
Document Number: 2023-24667
Type: Notice
Date: 2023-11-08
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This notice announces the surplus and purchased foods that the Department expects to make available for donation to States for use in providing nutrition assistance to the needy under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The foods made available under this notice must, at the discretion of the State, be distributed to eligible recipient agencies (ERAs) for use in preparing meals and/or for distribution to households for home consumption.
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