The proposed action would implement four sections of the Agricultural Act of 2014, (2014 Farm Bill), affecting eligibility, benefits, and program administration requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
FNS is proposing changes to SNAP issuance regulations in accordance with the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 PL 110-234.
This rule proposes to revise program regulations to implement changes made by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the "2014 Farm Bill"), which amends the definition of "retail food store" in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the FNA) to include governmental or private nonprofit food purchasing and delivery services (P&D Services) that purchase and deliver food to households in which the head of household is an individual who is unable to shop for food, and who is 60 years of age or older, or physically or mentally handicapped or otherwise disabled.
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 proposal would update SNAP retailer sanction regulations to include authority granted in the 2008 Farm Bill to allow FNS to impose a civil penalty in addition to disqualification, raise the allowable penalties per violation, and provide greater flexibility to USDA for minor violations.
Section 4116 of the Farm Bill, Review of Major Changes in Program Design, requires USDA to identify standards for major changes in operations of state agencies' administration of SNAP.
The purpose of this proposed rule is to incorporate this procurement option in the programs' regulations and to define the term "unprocessed locally grown or locally raised agricultural products'' to ensure that both the intent of Congress in providing for such a procurement option is met and that any such definition will facilitate ease of implementation for institutions participating in the child nutrition programs.
The Department proposes to establish a reasonable formula to allocate 100 percent federal funds authorized under the Farm Bill to carry out the E&T program each fiscal year.