Legislative History - 1979

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Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1979 P.L. 96-58, 93 Stat. 389-392 Aug. 14, 1979

Mandated that the Secretary submit by the 15th day of each month, a report to the Committee on Agriculture of the House and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate setting forth the Secretary's best estimate of the second preceding month's expenditure, including administrative costs, as well as the cumulative totals for the fiscal year. The Secretary required in each report to state whether there is reason to believe that allotment reductions will be necessary. In prescribing the manner in which allotments will be reduced, the Secretary must ensure that the reductions reflect the ratio of household income to the income standards of eligibility for households of equal size. The Secretary may establish   1) special provisions applicable to persons sixty years of age or over and persons who are physically or mentally handicapped or otherwise disabled, and 2) minimum allotments after any reductions are otherwise determined. Secretary to take action to reduce allotments not later than 60 days after issuance of a 15th of the month report saying an allotment reduction is required. Secretary to report to the appropriate committees of the House and Senate not later than 7 days after reducing allotments   1) the basis of the Secretary's determination to reduce benefits, 2) the manner in which the benefits will be reduced, and 3) the action that has been taken by the Secretary to reduce the allotments. Households containing a member who is sixty years of age or over or who is disabled entitled to a) an excess medical expense deduction for that portion of the actual cost of allowable medical expenses, incurred by such members, exclusive of special diets, that exceed $35 a month; b) a dependent care deduction, the maximum allowable level of which shall be the same as that for the excess shelter expense deduction for the actual cost of payments necessary for the care of a dependent when such care enables a household member to accept or continue employment, or training or education that is preparatory for employment; and c) an excess shelter expense deduction to the extent that the monthly amount expended by a household for shelter exceeds an amount equal to 50% of monthly household income after all other applicable deductions have been allowed. Allowable medical expenses defined as expenditures for:   1) medical and dental care, 2) hospitalization or nursing care, 3) rescription drugs when prescribed by a licensed practitioner authorized under State law and over-the-counter medication (including insulin) when approved by a licensed practitioner or other qualified health professional, 4) health and hospitalization insurance policies (excluding the costs of health and accident or income maintenance policies), 5) medicare premiums related to coverage under title XVIII of the SSA, 6) dentures, hearing aids, and prosthetics (including the costs of securing and maintaining a seeing eye dog), 7) eye glasses prescribed by a physician or by optometrist, 8) reasonable costs of transportation necessary to secure medical treatment or services, and 9) maintaining an attendant, homemaker, home health aide, housekeeper, or child care services due to age, infirmity, or illness. Secretary and State agencies authorized to 1) require, as a condition of eligibility, that each household member furnish their social security account number(s), and 2) use such numbers in the administration of the FSP. Mandated that individuals disqualified for fraudulent use of coupons or authorization cards shall not be eligible to participate after such disqualification unless he/she agrees to a) a reduction in the allotment of the household of which such individual is a member or b) to repayment in cash, in accordance with a reasonable schedule as determined by the Secretary. Any disqualified individual who elects repayment in cash and fails to make payments in accordance with the schedule shall be subject to appropriate allotment reductions. Permitted States to retain 50 percent of the value of all funds or allotments recovered or collected through prosecutions or other State activities directed against individuals who fraudulently obtain allotments. Officials responsible for making determinations of fraud not to receive or benefit from revenues retained by the State under this provision. Permitted disabled or blind recipients of benefits under title II or title XVI of the SSA who are residents in a public or private nonprofit group living arrangement that serves no more than sixteen residents and is certified by the appropriate State agency or agencies to use their coupons to purchase meals prepared and served under such an arrangement. Allowed these individuals to be individual food stamp households. Group living arrangements not allowed to redeem coupons through banks. No household containing a person involved in a labor management dispute eligible to participate in the FSP unless the household meets the income guidelines, asset requirements, and work registration requirements of this Act.

1980 Appropriations Bill P.L. 96-108, 93 Stat. 821-839 Nov. 9, 1979

Continued prohibition against participation of tax dependent college students in the FSP, as set forth in P.L. 93-563, through Sept. 30, 1980.

Last modified: 02/16/2012