Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) To become
authorized to offer basic food incentives, the grocery store must:
(a) Be in good standing with the United
States Department of Agriculture as an authorized grocer that can accept SNAP
benefits through electronic benefit transfer;
(b) Apply as a grocery store on a form
determined by the department, including documentation demonstrating that the
grocery store meets the following criteria:
(i) Have a point-of-sale mechanism that
allows tracking and redemption of basic food incentives, including either
automated or manual tracking;
(ii)
Have a designated staff member on-site during operating hours that has
completed all required basic food incentive training; and
(iii) Sells fresh fruits and
vegetables.
(c) Execute a
contract with the department.
(2) The department is not required to
authorize all applicants. Selection is based on available funding and community
needs and preferences as collected by the department.
(3) An authorized grocery store must reapply
at the end of the contract period; however, neither the department nor the
participant has an obligation to renew a contract.
(4) The authorized grocery store must, at a
minimum:
(a) Comply with the grocery store
basic food incentives requirements and the terms of their contract;
(b) Accept annual training and other
technical assistance on basic food incentives requirements from department
staff;
(c) Provide training to
employees and volunteers on basic food incentive requirements including, but
not limited to, eligible foods, redemption procedures, data tracking and
evaluation requirements;
(d) Be
accountable for actions of employees and volunteers;
(e) Ensure basic food incentives are only
redeemed for eligible foods;
(f)
Comply with federal and state nondiscrimination laws;
(g) Ensure that participants receive the same
courtesies as other customers;
(h)
Promote the availability of basic food incentives with materials provided by
the department;
(i) Promptly
provide the department, upon request, with any information it has available
regarding its participation in basic food incentives;
(j) Allow the department to share information
about the grocery store related to basic food incentives with program partners
and in public reports;
(k) Allow
the department to monitor the grocery store for compliance with basic food
incentive requirements and fiscal recordkeeping;
(l) Notify the department immediately if the
grocery store's operations cease; and
(m) Comply with department instructions and
guidance with respect to the program.
(5) Authorized grocery stores that do not
comply with requirements of this chapter are subject to termination of their
contract. Noncompliance includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Violating any applicable state or federal
law;
(b) Violating any provision of
the contract; or
(c) Accepting
basic food incentives without having a signed contract with the
department.
(6) Prior to
disqualification, the department must consider whether the contract termination
would create undue hardships to participants.
(7) Trafficking in basic food incentives in
any amount will result in contract termination. Grocery stores should ensure
basic food incentives are not trafficked among any participants.
(8) An authorized grocery store that has a
terminated contract may reapply for reauthorization.
