| (1) |
IN GENERAL - For each
of fiscal years 2003 through 2007, the Secretary shall use not
more than $5,000,000 of funds made available under section
18(a)(1) to make grants to pay 100 percent of the costs of
eligible entities approved by the Secretary to carry out
projects to develop and implement – |
| |
(A) |
simple food stamp
application and eligibility determination systems; or |
| |
(B) |
measures to improve
access to food stamp benefits by eligible households. |
| (2) |
TYPES OF PROJECTS – A
project under paragraph (1) may consist of – |
| |
(A) |
coordinating
application and eligibility determination processes, including
verification practices, under the food stamp program and other
Federal, State, and local assistance programs; |
| |
(B) |
establishing methods
for applying for benefits and determining eligibility that –
|
| |
|
(i) |
more extensively use -
|
| |
|
|
(I) |
communications by telephone; and
|
| |
|
|
(II) |
electronic alternative such as the
Internet; or |
| |
|
(ii) |
otherwise improve the
administrative infrastructure used in processing applications
and determining eligibility; |
| |
(C) |
developing procedures,
training materials, and other resources aimed at reducing
barriers to participation and reaching eligible households; |
| |
(D) |
improving methods for
informing and enrolling eligible households; or |
| |
(E) |
carrying out such other
activities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. |
| (3) |
LIMITATION – A grant
under this subsection shall not be made for the ongoing cost of
carrying out any project. |
| (4) |
ELIGIBLE ENTITIES – To
be eligible to receive a grand under this subsection, an entity
shall be – |
| |
(A) |
a State agency
administering the food stamp program; |
| |
(B) |
a State or local
government; |
| |
(C) |
an agency providing
health or welfare services; |
| |
(D) |
a public health or
educational entity; or |
| |
(E) |
a private nonprofit
entity such as a community based organization, food bank, or
other emergency feeding organization. |
| (5) |
SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES – The Secretary |
| |
(A) |
shall develop criteria
for the selection of eligible entities to receive grants under
this subsection; and |
| |
(B) |
may give preference to
any eligible entity that consists of a partnership between a
governmental entity and a nongovernmental entity. |
