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[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1733 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1733

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 
    To amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require food stamp State 
agencies to take certain actions to ensure that food stamp coupons are 
   not issued for deceased individuals, to require the Secretary of 
Agriculture to conduct a study of options for the design, development, 
     implementation, and operation of a national database to track 
 participation in Federal means-tested public assistance programs, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DENIAL OF FOOD STAMPS FOR DECEASED INDIVIDUALS.

    (a) In General.--Section 11 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2020) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(r) Denial of Food Stamps for Deceased Individuals.--Each State 
agency shall--
            ``(1) enter into a cooperative arrangement with the 
        Commissioner of Social Security, pursuant to the authority of 
        the Commissioner under section 205(r)(3) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(3)), to obtain information on individuals 
        who are deceased; and
            ``(2) use the information to verify and otherwise ensure 
        that benefits are not issued to individuals who are 
        deceased.''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than September 1, 2000, the Secretary of 
Agriculture shall submit a report regarding the progress and 
effectiveness of the cooperative arrangements entered into by State 
agencies under section 11(r) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2020(r)) (as added by subsection (a)) to--
            (1) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
        of the Senate;
            (3) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (4) the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
            (5) the Secretary of the Treasury.
    (c) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this 
section take effect on June 1, 2000.

SEC. 2. STUDY OF NATIONAL DATABASE FOR FEDERAL MEANS-TESTED PUBLIC 
              ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study 
of options for the design, development, implementation, and operation 
of a national database to track participation in Federal means-tested 
public assistance programs.
    (b) Administration.--In conducting the study, the Secretary shall--
            (1) analyze available data to determine--
                    (A) whether the data have addressed the needs of 
                the food stamp program established under the Food Stamp 
                Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
                    (B) whether additional or unique data need to be 
                developed to address the needs of the food stamp 
                program; and
                    (C) the feasibility and cost-benefit ratio of each 
                available option for a national database;
            (2) survey the States to determine how the States are 
        enforcing the prohibition on recipients receiving assistance in 
        more than 1 State under Federal means-tested public assistance 
        programs;
            (3) determine the functional requirements of each available 
        option for a national database; and
            (4) ensure that all options provide safeguards to protect 
        against the unauthorized use or disclosure of information in 
        the national database.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
results of the study conducted under this section.
    (d) Funding.--Out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide to the 
Secretary of Agriculture $500,000 to carry out this section. The 
Secretary shall be entitled to receive the funds and shall accept the 
funds, without further appropriation.

            Passed the Senate October 14 (legislative day, October 2), 
      1998.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
105th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1733

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

    To amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require food stamp State 
agencies to take certain actions to ensure that food stamp coupons are 
   not issued for deceased individuals, to require the Secretary of 
Agriculture to conduct a study of options for the design, development, 
     implementation, and operation of a national database to track 
 participation in Federal means-tested public assistance programs, and 
                          for other purposes.
```