Food and Nutrition Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): Implementation of the Agricultural Act of 2014
Document Number: 2014-16055
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-07-09
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This final rule amends the regulations for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) to phase out the eligibility of women, infants, and children, in accordance with the amendments made by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill). Under amendments made to the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 by Section 4102 of the 2014 Farm Bill, women, infants, and children who apply to participate in CSFP on February 7, 2014, or later cannot be certified to participate in the program. Under these amendments the population served by CSFP will only be low-income elderly persons at least 60 years of age. However, Section 4102 also included amendments for a phase-out provision, which requires State and local agencies to continue providing assistance to all women, infants, and children who were certified and receiving CSFP benefits as of February 6, 2014. Those individuals can continue to receive assistance until they are no longer eligible under the program rules in effect on February 6, 2014.
National School Lunch Program: Independent Review of Applications Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010; Approval of Information Collection Request
Document Number: 2014-15092
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-27
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is announcing the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of information collection requirements contained in a final rule published in the Federal Register.
School Breakfast Program
Document Number: 2014-14610
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-06-20
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant and Fetal Nutrition; Notice of Meeting
Document Number: 2014-13285
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-06-09
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. APP., this notice announces a meeting of the National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant and Fetal Nutrition.
Automated Data Processing and Information Retrieval System Requirements: System Testing
Document Number: 2014-10239
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-05-19
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is announcing the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of information collection requirements contained in a final rule published in the Federal Register.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages; Approval of Information Collection Request
Document Number: 2014-10160
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-05-02
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The rule titled Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages was published on March 4, 2014. The Office of Management and Budget cleared the associated information collection requirements (ICR) on April 14, 2014. This document announces approval of the ICR.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Sponsor and Provider Characteristics Study
Document Number: 2014-09541
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-04-28
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 the proposed information collection. This is a new information collection for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Sponsor and Provider Characteristics Study.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Trafficking Controls and Fraud Investigations
Document Number: 2014-09334
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-04-24
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, to require State agencies to monitor electronic benefit transfer (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 notice if it chooses to exercise the card withholding option, in accordance with SNAP regulations, and sends the first warning notice upon the household's fourth card replacement request.
Request for Information: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) High Performance Bonuses
Document Number: 2014-09332
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-04-24
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Congress allows the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Secretary) considerable discretion to establish criteria and standards for evaluating the performances of State agencies and to monetarily reward State agencies that improve or excel in the agency's administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The recently enacted Agricultural Act of 2014 (Act) includes changes to the performance bonus system. States are now required by statute to reinvest any SNAP bonuses in the SNAP program. As a complement to these changes, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is soliciting ideas for performance criteria and standards for high and most improved performance from State agencies and organizations that represent State interests prior to issuance of any proposed rules regarding changes to the criteria in determining SNAP high performance bonuses. FNS announces in this notice a request for information about current performance measures and data collection capabilities possessed by SNAP State agencies; data and information needed to assess other areas of SNAP being considered for a future high or most improved performance bonuses; and suggestions for linking bonus categories to ensure winners in one category meet minimum performance standards in other categories in order to qualify for any high or most improved performance bonus. FNS will consider this information in developing a proposed rule to revise the current high or most improved performance bonus structure.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Report of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefit Issuance and Report of Commodity Distribution for Disaster Relief
Document Number: 2014-06749
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-03-27
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 proposed information collections. The proposed collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Food Distribution Program.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Evaluation of the Pilot Project for Canned, Frozen, or Dried Fruits and Vegetables in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)
Document Number: 2014-06746
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-03-27
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 new information collection for the Evaluation of the Pilot Project for Canned, Frozen, or Dried Fruits and Vegetables in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Repayment Demand and Program Disqualification
Document Number: 2014-06282
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-03-24
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 currently approved information collection requirements associated with initiating collection actions against households who have received an overissuance in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Child Nutrition Programs-Income Eligibility Guidelines
Document Number: 2014-04788
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-03-05
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, 2014 through June 30, 2015. 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): Income Eligibility Guidelines
Document Number: 2014-04787
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-03-05
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-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Store Applications, Forms FNS-252, FNS-252-E, FNS-252-FE, FNS-252-R, FNS-252-2 and FNS-252-C
Document Number: 2014-04786
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-03-05
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 collection. This is a revision of a currently approved collection in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and concerns Retail Store Applications (Forms FNS-252; FNS-252-E; FNS-252- R; FNS-252-2; and FNS-252-C).
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages
Document Number: 2014-04105
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-03-04
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This final rule considers public comments submitted in response to the interim rule revising the WIC food packages published on December 6, 2007. The interim rule implemented the first comprehensive revisions to the WIC food packages since 1980. The interim rule revised regulations governing the WIC food packages to align them more closely with updated nutrition science and the infant feeding practice guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, promote and support more effectively the establishment of successful long-term breastfeeding, provide WIC participants with a wider variety of food, and provide WIC State agencies with greater flexibility in prescribing food packages to accommodate participants with cultural food preferences. This rule makes adjustments that improve clarity of the provisions set forth in the interim rule.
Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
Document Number: 2014-04100
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-02-26
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This proposed rule would require all local educational agencies participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or the School Breakfast Program to meet expanded local school wellness policy requirements consistent with the new requirements set forth in section 204 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This proposed rule would establish the framework for the content of the local school wellness policies, ensure stakeholder participation in the development of such policies, and require periodic assessment of compliance and reporting on the progress toward achieving the goals of the local school wellness policy. This proposed rule would also require local educational agencies, as part of the local school wellness policy, to implement policies for the marketing of foods and beverages on the school campus during the school day consistent with nutrition standards for Smart Snacks. Additionally, this proposed rule would require each local educational agency to make information about local school wellness policy implementation for all participating schools available to the public on a periodic basis. The provisions of this proposed rulemaking would ensure local educational agencies establish and implement local school wellness policies that meet minimum standards designed to support a school environment that promotes sound nutrition and student health, reduces childhood obesity, and provides transparency to the public on school wellness policy content and implementation.
National School Lunch Program: Independent Review of Applications Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
Document Number: 2014-02556
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-02-06
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This final rule requires certain local educational agencies participating in the National School Lunch Program to conduct an independent review of initial eligibility determinations for free and reduced price school meals. Additionally, this final rule requires each affected local educational agency to submit to the relevant State agency the results of the reviews including the number and percentage of reviewed applications for which the eligibility determinations changed and the type of change made. State agencies are required to submit to the Food and Nutrition Service, a report describing the results of the second reviews in their State. These changes respond to amendments made to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act by section 304 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 which requires that local educational agencies demonstrating high levels of, or a high risk for, administrative error associated with certification, verification, and other administrative processes, have an individual or entity independently review the initial eligibility determinations for free and reduced price school meals for accuracy prior to sending out household notifications of eligibility or ineligibility. This final rule is expected to reduce administrative errors in eligibility determinations for free and reduced price school meals.
Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Programs Personnel as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
Document Number: 2014-02278
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-02-04
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This proposed rule would establish minimum professional standards for school nutrition personnel who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The proposed rule would also institute hiring standards for the selection of State and local school nutrition program directors; and require all personnel in these programs to complete annual continuing education/training. These proposed changes respond to amendments made by section 306 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), which require USDA to establish professional standards for school nutrition personnel. The HHFKA also requires each State to provide at least annual training to local educational agency and school nutrition personnel. This proposed rule is expected to provide consistent, national standards for school nutrition professionals and staff. The principal benefit of this proposed rule is to ensure that key school nutrition personnel are meeting minimum professional standards in order to adequately perform the duties and responsibilities of their positions.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request: Form FNS-583, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Program Activity Report
Document Number: 2014-02256
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-02-04
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice invites the public and other public agencies to comment on a proposed information collection burden for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Employment and Training (E&T) Program, currently approved under OMB No. 0584-0339. This is an extension without revision of a currently approved collection. The burden estimate remains 21,889 hours.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Form and Regulations
Document Number: 2014-02094
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-01-31
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 consolidation of forms FNS-683 (WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Annual Financial and Program Report) and FNS-203 (WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Report). The proposed consolidation with this renewal will be used to collected information related to WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Financial and Program Data per WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Regulations (7 CFR part 248).
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Education Study
Document Number: 2014-00827
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-01-17
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 collection of data for the WIC Nutrition Education Study. This is a NEW information collection. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Through Federal grants to States, WIC provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non- breastfeeding postpartum women and to infants and children who are found to be at nutritional risk. The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-296, Sec. 305) mandates programs under its authorization, including WIC, to cooperate with USDA program research and evaluation activities. WIC's mission is to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. Nutrition education is the program feature often viewed as pivotal to WIC's success in achieving its mission to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children. By Federal directive, all participants have the opportunity to participate in nutrition education at least two times during a 6-month period of eligibility or quarterly for a 12-month period. State and local WIC agencies have significant flexibility to design nutrition education appropriate for the demographics of their participants within established goals. This flexibility has yielded a range of messages, delivery systems and approaches, qualifications and training for educators, and quality. The WIC Nutrition Education Study will provide a nationally representative description of how nutrition education is currently being provided to WIC recipients across the country. It will also conduct a pilot study of the impact of nutrition education on WIC recipients' nutrition and physical activity behaviors. This study will provide FNS with a better understanding of nutrition education practices and methods used by WIC and of the effectiveness of current WIC nutrition education services. The study will document how nutrition education is being provided subsequent to several program changes, including the 2009 food package changes, the implementation of the initiative to Revitalize Quality Nutrition Services (RQNS), and the use of new technology, among a racially and ethnically diverse population. Understanding optimal educational topics and methods, how to maximize participant engagement, the best approaches for delivery and reinforcement of messages, and how to effectively prepare and support WIC nutrition educators is key to informing WIC nutrition education improvements.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Form FNS-245, Negative QC Review Schedule
Document Number: 2014-00762
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-01-16
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 the proposed collection. Form FNS-245, is currently used in the Quality Control process for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This is a revision of a currently approved collection in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and concerns the Negative QC Review Schedule.
Certification of Compliance With Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010; Correction
Document Number: 2014-00624
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-01-16
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), published a final rule in the Federal Register on January 3, 2014 (79 FR 325), concerning necessary changes made to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to conform to requirements contained in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This document corrects/replaces an appendix that was added at the end of the rule that offered a detailed Regulatory Impact Analysis. All other information in this rule remains unchanged.
Emergency Food Assistance Program; Availability of Foods for Fiscal Year 2014
Document Number: 2014-00325
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-01-13
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) 2014. 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.
Certification of Compliance With Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
Document Number: 2013-31433
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-01-03
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This final rule adopts, with some revisions, changes to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) regulations, as set forth in the interim final rule published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2012. The changes conform to requirements contained in the Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act of 2010 regarding performance-based cash assistance for school food authorities (SFAs) certified compliant with meal pattern and nutrition standards. The changes finalized in this rule include requiring State agencies to certify participating SFAs that are in compliance with meal pattern and nutrition standard requirements as eligible to receive performance-based cash assistance for each reimbursable lunch. This rule also finalizes the requirement in the interim final rule that State agencies disburse performance-based cash assistance to certified SFAs, and withhold the performance-based cash assistance from SFAs determined to be out of compliance with meal pattern or nutrition standards during a subsequent administrative review. Additionally, this final rule is adopting minor changes based on comments on the interim final rule that will help to streamline the certification process. These changes include making permanent the flexibility that State agencies should consider any SFA compliant with the daily and weekly ranges for grain and meat/meat alternates if documentation is compliant with the daily and weekly minimums.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Document Number: 2013-31359
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-01-02
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations in 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces FNS's intention to request OMB approval for a new information collection in support of a study of Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) State agencies, sponsoring organizations, site directors, parents or caregivers of children who participated in the program, and parents or caregivers of children who were eligible for the program but did not participate.
Automated Data Processing and Information Retrieval System Requirements: System Testing
Document Number: 2013-31347
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-01-02
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is adopting as a final rule, without substantive changes, the proposed rule that amends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations to implement Section 4121 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the Farm Bill), which requires adequate system testing before and after implementation of a new State automated data processing (ADP) and information retrieval system, including the evaluation of data from pilot projects in limited areas for major systems changes, before the Secretary approves the system to be implemented more broadly. The rule also provides that systems be operated in accordance with an adequate plan for continuous updating to reflect changed policy and circumstances, and for testing the effects of the system on access by eligible households and on payment accuracy. This final rule specifies the requirements for submission of a test plan, and changes the due date of an Advance Planning Document Update (APDU) from 90 days after to 60 days prior to the expiration of the Federal financial participation (FFP) approval, and revises language regarding the federal share of costs in consolidated information technology (IT) operations to specify that the threshold for service agreements applies to federally aided public assistance programs, rather than to SNAP alone. In addition, this rule amends SNAP regulations relating to the establishment of an ADP and information retrieval system and to provide clarifications and updates, which have occurred since this section was last updated in 1996.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Form FNS-648, WIC Local Agency Directory Report
Document Number: 2013-30331
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-12-20
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Local Agency Directory Report which lists the names and addresses of all WIC local agencies.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-2014 Evaluation of the Summer Electronic Benefits for Children Household-Based Demonstrations on Food Insecurity
Document Number: 2013-27456
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-11-15
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. This collection is a revision of the Evaluation of the Summer Electronic Benefits for Children (SEBTC) Household-Based Demonstrations on Food Insecurity, OMB Control No. 0584-0559.
National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Eliminating Applications Through Community Eligibility as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
Document Number: 2013-25922
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2013-11-04
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
This rule proposes to amend the eligibility regulations for free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) to codify the statutory provision that establishes the community eligibility provision, a reimbursement option for eligible local educational agencies and schools that wish to offer free school meals to all children in high poverty schools without collecting household applications. This proposed rule reflects statutory requirements that were implemented through policy guidance following enactment of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). Implementation of this proposed rule would align the regulations with the statutory provision that establishes administrative and operational requirements for State agencies, local educational agencies, and schools.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Trafficking Controls and Fraud Investigations; Extension of Comment Period
Document Number: 2013-26265
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-11-01
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued 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 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 issued 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 the final rule and sends the requisite Withhold Replacement Card Warning Notice on the 4th replacement card request. The comment period is being extended to provide additional time for interested parties to review the interim final rule.
Request for Information: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Enhancing Retail Food Store Eligibility; Extension of Comment Period
Document Number: 2013-25451
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-10-29
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Sections 3(k), (p) and (r), Section 7, and Section 9 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (``the Act''), and Title 7 Parts 271, 274, and 278 of the Code of Federal Regulations (``the regulations'') provide factors for determining the eligibility of retail food stores to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (``SNAP''). This notice requests information from any and all interested parties on opportunities to enhance retailer definitions and requirements in a manner that improves access to healthy food choices for SNAP participants as well as program integrity, and ensures that only those retailers that effectuate the purpose of SNAP are authorized to accept benefits. The Food and Nutrition Service (``FNS'') considers access to a variety of healthy foods at SNAP retailers to be fundamental to the effectiveness of this critical nutrition assistance program. FNS is requesting information to understand what policy changes and, as needed, statutory changes, should be considered for retailer authorizations. FNS will use this information in determining how to make positive progress in the available healthy choices for program participants at authorized SNAP retail stores. The comment period is being extended to provide additional time for interested parties to review this request for information.
Direct Certification and Certification of Homeless, Migrant and Runaway Children for Free School Meals; Approval of Information Collection Request
Document Number: 2013-25217
Type: Rule
Date: 2013-10-28
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The interim rule entitled Direct Certification and Certification of Homeless, Migrant and Runaway Children for Free School Meals was published on April 25, 2011. The ICR for this rule revised an existing information collection, OMB Control Number 0584-0026, and created a new collection OMB Control Number 0584-0585. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) cleared the associated ICRs on April 19, 2013 and August 14, 2013, respectively. This document announces the approval of the ICRs.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Special Nutrition Program Operations Study (SNPOS)
Document Number: 2013-24143
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-10-03
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the 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 Special Nutrition Program Operations Study.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study
Document Number: 2013-24142
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-10-03
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a new collection for the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Form FNS-46, Issuance Reconciliation
Document Number: 2013-22572
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-09-17
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is publishing for public comment a summary of a proposed information collection. This is a revision of a currently approved collection for form FNS-46, Issuance Reconciliation Report, which concerns benefit issuance operations in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The form will be modified and simplified. FNS plans to update the form FNS-46, to capture Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefit issuances and returns data. This form update will ensure D-SNAP data will be more readily available, enabling FNS to respond to requests from multiple agencies on contributions to Federal disaster relief efforts. The form will be simplified since it no longer captures coupon issuances and returns. (Food stamp coupons were deobligated in 2009.) Instead it will summarize Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) issuances and returns.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: State Issuance and Participation Estimates-Forms FNS-388 and FNS-388A
Document Number: 2013-22253
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-09-13
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is publishing for public comment a summary of a proposed information collection. This is a revision of a currently approved collection for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) forms: FNS-388, State Issuance and Participation Estimates and FNS-388A, Project Area Data Format. FNS plans to update form FNS-388, to separately capture and differentiate Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefit issuance and participation data from ongoing SNAP issuance and participation data. This form update will clearly distinguish D-SNAP data from ongoing SNAP data, thereby ensuring the speed and accuracy of FNS response to requests from multiple agencies on contributions to Federal disaster relief efforts. There are no changes to form FNS-388A.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Form FNS-13, Annual Report of State Revenue Matching (National School Lunch Program)
Document Number: 2013-21764
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-09-09
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 which concerns the appropriation and use of State funds for the National School Lunch, School Breakfast and Special Milk Programs. This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection.
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.
Food Distribution Program: Value of Donated Foods From July 1, 2013 Through June 30, 2014
Document Number: 2013-17998
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-07-26
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 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).
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Enhancing Completion Rates for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Quality Control Reviews
Document Number: 2013-17997
Type: Notice
Date: 2013-07-26
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 Enhancing Completion Rates for SNAP Quality Control Reviews.
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