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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54-55]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-29004]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice of reestablished matching program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is 
providing notice of a reestablished computer matching program between 
FNS and the State agencies that administer the Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP). The matching program allows State agencies 
access to the Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS), a 
national database operated by FNS. The system maintains records of SNAP 
disqualifications imposed by State agencies on individuals who have 
been found to have committed an intentional program violation (IPV). 
State agencies need access to nationwide disqualification information 
to meet program integrity requirements because a disqualification in 
any State applies to SNAP nationally. Matches against eDRS enhance 
program integrity by providing State agencies assistance in determining 
eligibility for SNAP benefits and the proper disqualification length 
when imposing a new disqualification.

DATES: The deadline for comments on this notice is February 3, 2021. 
The effective date of the reestablished matching program will be not 
sooner than 30 days from the publication of this notice, provided no 
comments are received that result in a contrary determination. The 
matching program will be conducted for an initial term of 18 months 
and, within three months of expiration, may be renewed for one 
additional year if the parties make no change to the matching program 
and certify that the program has been conducted in compliance with the 
agreement.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit written comments on this 
notice to Maribelle Balbes, Chief, State Administration Branch, Program 
Accountability and Administration Division, SNAP, by email at 
[email protected], or by mail at 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the 
matching program, you may contact Maribelle Balbes, (703) 605-4272.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 
U.S.C. 552a, provides certain protections for individuals applying for 
and receiving federal benefits. The law governs the use of computer 
matching by federal agencies when records in a system of records, which 
contains information about individuals that are retrieved by name or 
other personal identifier, are matched with records of other Federal, 
State, or local government records. The Privacy Act requires agencies 
involved in a matching program to:
    1. Obtain approval of a Computer Matching Agreement, prepared in 
accordance with the Privacy Act, by the Data Integrity Board of any 
Federal agency participating in a matching program.
    2. Enter into a written Computer Matching Agreement.
    3. Provide a report of the matching program to Congress and the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and make it available to the 
public, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(o), (u)(3)(A), and (u)(4).
    4. Publish a notice of the matching program in the Federal Register 
as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(12) after OMB and Congress complete 
their review of the report, as provided by OMB Circular A-108, Federal 
Agency Responsibilities for Review, Reporting, and Publication under 
the Privacy Act.
    5. Notify the individuals whose information will be used in the 
matching program that the information they provide is subject to 
verification through matching, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(o)(1)(D).
    6. Verify match findings before suspending, terminating, reducing, 
or making a final denial of an individual's benefits or payments or 
taking other adverse action against the individual, as required by 5 
U.S.C. 552a(p).
    This matching program meets these requirements.
    Participating Agencies: FNS and the State agencies that administer 
SNAP to include all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    Authority for Conducting the Matching Program: The Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act), as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2015(b), provides 
the legal authority for conducting the matching program. Section 6(b) 
of the Act, prescribes mandatory periods of ineligibility for persons 
found to have committed an IPV such as fraud, misrepresentation, or 
other violation of statute or regulation in connection with SNAP. 
Section 6(b)(4) prescribes regulations to ensure that appropriate State 
and Federal entities forward information concerning determinations 
arising out of such proscribed activity by a specific individual.
    Purpose: The eDRS matching program maintains program integrity and 
reduces payment errors by providing information to assist State 
agencies with establishing or verifying the eligibility of individuals 
for SNAP benefits and determining the appropriate disqualification 
period to be imposed for a new IPV as required in regulations at 7 CFR 
273.16, Disqualification for intentional Program violation. Each State 
agency must submit information about individuals who have been 
disqualified from SNAP within their State to eDRS. As a participant in 
this matching program, each State agency has access to this national 
system to both submit the required information for their State and 
perform the required matches against information provided by all State 
agencies.
    Categories of Individuals: SNAP applicants and new household 
members are matched against eDRS as part of the eligibility 
determination process to ensure the individual is not currently 
disqualified from receiving benefits due to an IPV. Individuals who are 
being disqualified by a State agency due to a new IPV finding are 
matched against eDRS to assist the State agency in determining the 
appropriate duration of the new disqualification.
    Categories of Records: The data elements in eDRS provide 
information about individuals who have been disqualified, the 
disqualification details, and the agency that imposed the 
disqualification. State agencies submit this information about 
disqualifications imposed in their State and this information is then 
available to all participating State agencies with access to eDRS. 
State agencies use personally identifying information to search eDRS 
for the individual being matched.

1. Information about the disqualified individual:
     Name
     Social security number or alternative ID
     Date of birth
     Gender
     Alias
2. Disqualification details:
     Disqualification number
     Disqualification decision date

[[Page 55]]

     Disqualification start date
     Duration of disqualification period
     Offense code
3. Agency information:
     Locality code
     Locality contact name, title, location, and phone number

    System of Records: The system of records for this data exchange 
comprising eDRS is USDA/FNS-5, Information on Persons Disqualified from 
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 75 FR 81205 (Dec. 27, 
2010). This data exchange is authorized under routine uses.

Pamilyn Miller,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-29004 Filed 12-31-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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