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

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Enhancing Retail Food Store Eligibility-Listening Sessions
Document Number: 2013-20907
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-08-27
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This Notice announces 5 listening sessions to support the Request for Information (RFI) published by FNS regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailer eligibility requirements (78 FR 51136, August 20, 2013). As explained in the RFI, FNS is re- examining SNAP retailer eligibility requirements in part because of concerns raised in a recent FNS report examining the trafficking rates at different types of retail food stores and a 2006 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report suggesting that the minimal stocking requirements in SNAP contribute to corrupt retailers entering the program. The FNS report is available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/ora/ menu/Published/SNAP/FILES/ProgramIntegrity/Trafficking2009_ Summary.pdf. The GAO report is available at: https://www.gao.gov/ products/GAO-07-53. Information on SNAP retailer eligibility requirements is available at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/ store-eligibility.htm. The scheduled listening sessions provide an opportunity for FNS to seek public input on potential changes to retailer authorization requirements.
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations: Income Deductions and Resource Eligibility
Document Number: 2013-20844
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-08-27
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This rulemaking establishes requirements to simplify and improve the administration of and expand access to the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations and the Food Distribution Program for Indian Households in Oklahoma, both of which are referred to as ``FDPIR'' in this rulemaking. The rulemaking amends FDPIR regulations to promote conformity with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). First, the final rule revises FDPIR regulations to eliminate household resources from consideration when determining FDPIR eligibility. Second, the final rule will expand the current FDPIR income deduction for Medicare Part B Medical Insurance and Part D Prescription Drug Coverage premiums to include other monthly medical expenses in excess of $35 for households with elderly and/or disabled members. Third, the final rule will establish an income deduction for shelter and utility expenses. Finally, the final rule will provide new verification requirements related to the new income deductions, and provide revisions to the household reporting requirements that will more closely align FDPIR and SNAP regulations.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Trafficking Controls and Fraud Investigations
Document Number: 2013-20245
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-08-21
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is issuing a final rule to amend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or Program) regulations to allow State agencies to deny a request for a replacement card until contact is made by the household with the State agency, if the requests for replacement cards are determined to be excessive. State agencies which elect to exercise this authority will be required to protect vulnerable persons, such as individuals with disabilities, homeless individuals or the elderly, who may repeatedly lose their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards but are not committing fraud. FNS is also changing the EBT card replacement timeframes in the same section to require State agencies to make replacement cards available for pick up or to place the card in the mail within two business days following notice by the household to the State agency that the card has been lost or stolen. FNS is further amending its regulations to define the term ``trafficking'' to include the attempt to buy or sell SNAP benefits in cases where an individual makes the offer to sell SNAP benefits and/or EBT card online or in person. Finally, FNS is issuing an interim final rule (with a request for additional comment) that requires State agencies to monitor EBT card replacement requests and send notices to those clients who have requested four cards within a 12-month period. The State agency shall be exempt from sending this Excessive Replacement Card Notice if it adopts the card withholding option in accordance with this final rule and sends the requisite Withhold Replacement Card Warning Notice on the 4th replacement card request.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Document Number: 2013-19064
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-08-07
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service is correcting this notice, which invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This notice was published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2013. This notice corrects where and to whom the comments are to be sent.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Privacy Protections of Information From Applicant Households
Document Number: 2013-18597
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-08-02
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is issuing this affirmation of a final rule, without change, of an interim rule that amended Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations at Sec. 272.1, to permit SNAP State agencies to share information with local educational agencies (LEAs) administering the National School Lunch Program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or the School Breakfast Program established under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, in order to directly certify the eligibility of school-age children for receipt of free school lunches and breakfasts based on their receipt of SNAP benefits.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.