This proposed rule would amend regulations governing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) to implement a mandate of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which requires the disqualification of WIC vendors who are disqualified from the Food Stamp Program (FSP).
According to the law, the disqualification shall be for the same length of time as the FSP disqualification and may begin at a later date than the FSP disqualification. Furthermore, the law states that disqualification from WIC on the basis of an FSP disqualification is not subject to judicial or administrative review. This proposed rule would also mandate uniform sanctions across states for the most serious WIC program vendor violations, including seven specific WIC program violations that result in FSP disqualification in addition to WIC program disqualification.
The implementation of these mandatory sanctions is intended to promote WIC and FSP coordination in the disqualification of retailers and vendors who violate program rules. >