USDA has legislative authority to grant waivers to WIC and FMNP state agencies. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 grants temporary waiver authority to WIC and WIC FMNP for the purpose of outreach, modernization, and innovation and The Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 grants permanent waiver authority to WIC during certain emergencies and supply chain disruptions. This information collection request covers activities associated with the waiver request process.
FNS will collect information to estimate funding needs and also provide data on the number of applications processed, number of fair hearings, and fraud control activity. FNS uses the data to estimate funding needs and to monitor state agency activity levels and performance.
This action implements statutory requirements and policy improvements to strengthen administrative oversight and operational performance of the Child Nutrition Programs.
State agencies must maintain quarterly E&T Program Activity Reports containing monthly figures for participation in the program. State agencies report this data using the online Food Program Reporting System.
FNS collects information for this collection, which contains both mandatory and required to obtain or retain benefit requirements, from state agencies, LEAs/SFAs, and households. The information collected from the state agencies and the LEAs/SFAs ensures that eligibility determinations are made, that applications are verified, that eligibility and other records are maintained, and that public notification is provided concerning the programs.
This ongoing information collection is required to administer and operate this program in accordance with the NSLA. The program is administered at the state agency and school food authority/local education agency levels and states, SFAs/LEAs, and schools under this Act are required to keep accounts and records as may be necessary to enable FNS to determine whether the program is in compliance with this Act and the regulations.
This agenda provides summary descriptions of significant and not significant regulations being developed in FNS.
FNS plans to conduct an annual assessment through the School Meals Operations Study in SY 2023–24. This notice covers the fourth year of the SMO Study, which will collect data from state and local agencies on the CN COVID–19 waivers as well as data on state and local CN program operations during SY 2022–23. Data collection will occur in SY 2023–24.
The information collected from the individuals and households permits them to apply for benefits (including assistance during disasters or situations of distress) or to recertify their eligibility. FNS uses this information to manage the Food Distribution Programs and monitor the use of federal funds.
This collection is an extension, without change, of a previously approved collection for which approval will expire on September 30, 2023, for recognizing program sponsors' nutrition efforts in the Summer Food Service Program or the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option.