This proposed rule would amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regulations to incorporate three provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
This document contains a correction to a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on June 27, 2022. The rule proposes to revise SNAP regulations that cover the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data by state agencies on persons receiving benefits from SNAP.
FNS proposes to revise SNA regulations that cover the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data by state agencies on persons receiving benefits from SNAP.
USDA proposes updating the regulations to refine categorical eligibility requirements based on receipt of TANF benefits. Specifically, the Department proposes: (1) to define “benefits” for categorical eligibility to mean ongoing and substantial benefits; and (2) to limit the types of non-cash TANF benefits conferring categorical eligibility to those that focus on subsidized employment, work supports and childcare. The proposed rule would also require state agencies to inform FNS of all non-cash TANF benefits that confer categorical eligibility.
The proposed rule would revise SNAP regulations to standardize the methodology for calculating standard utility allowances.
The Food and Nutrition Service seeks to prevent firms authorized to participate in SNAP from delaying administrative actions, such as disqualification or civil money penalties, through submission of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests or appeals. As such, FNS is proposing that FOIA requests and FOIA appeals be processed separately from administrative actions FNS takes against retail food stores. This proposed rule would ensure that retail food stores can no longer use the FOIA process to delay FNS' administrative actions to sanction a retail food store for SNAP violations.
FNS proposes to make changes to the SNAP regulations pertaining to the eligibility of SNAP retail food stores.
Integrity in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a primary Program concern. This proposed rule codifies a provision of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (FCEA) which authorizes the Department to suspend the payment of redeemed SNAP benefits to certain retail food stores or wholesale food concerns pending administrative action to disqualify the firms for fraudulent activity.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is proposing to amend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regulations at 7 CFR 274.6 to allow state agencies to deny a request for a replacement card until contact is made with the state agency, if the requests for replacement cards are determined to be excessive.
This action proposes to revise the current bonding requirements imposed against participating retailers and wholesalers who have violated the Food Stamp Program rules and regulations.