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.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2

S 1733 ES

1 SECTION 1. DENIAL OF FOOD STAMPS FOR DECEASED IN2 DIVIDUALS.

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11 of the Food Stamp Act

4 of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended by adding at the end

5 the following:

6 ‘‘(r) DENIAL OF FOOD STAMPS FOR DECEASED INDI7 VIDUALS.—Each State agency shall—

8 ‘‘(1) enter into a cooperative arrangement with

9 the Commissioner of Social Security, pursuant to the

10 authority of the Commissioner under section

11 205(r)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

12 405(r)(3)), to obtain information on individuals who

13 are deceased; and

14 ‘‘(2) use the information to verify and otherwise

15 ensure that benefits are not issued to individuals

16 who are deceased.’’.

17 (b) REPORT.—Not later than September 1, 2000, the

18 Secretary of Agriculture shall submit a report regarding

19 the progress and effectiveness of the cooperative arrange20 ments entered into by State agencies under section 11(r)

21 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020(r)) (as

22 added by subsection (a)) to—

23 (1) the Committee on Agriculture of the House

24 of Representatives;

25 (2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,

26 and Forestry of the Senate;
3

S 1733 ES

1 (3) the Committee on Ways and Means of the

2 House of Representatives;

3 (4) the Committee on Finance of the Senate;

4 and

5 (5) the Secretary of the Treasury.

6 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend7 ments made by this section take effect on June 1, 2000.

8 SEC. 2. STUDY OF NATIONAL DATABASE FOR FEDERAL

9 MEANS-TESTED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PRO10 GRAMS.

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall

12 conduct a study of options for the design, development,

13 implementation, and operation of a national database to

14 track participation in Federal means-tested public assist15 ance programs.

16 (b) ADMINISTRATION.—In conducting the study, the

17 Secretary shall—

18 (1) analyze available data to determine—

19 (A) whether the data have addressed the

20 needs of the food stamp program established

21 under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.

22 2011 et seq.);

23 (B) whether additional or unique data need

24 to be developed to address the needs of the food

25 stamp program; and
4

S 1733 ES

1 (C) the feasibility and cost-benefit ratio of

2 each available option for a national database;

3 (2) survey the States to determine how the

4 States are enforcing the prohibition on recipients re5 ceiving assistance in more than 1 State under Fed6 eral means-tested public assistance programs;

7 (3) determine the functional requirements of

8 each available option for a national database; and

9 (4) ensure that all options provide safeguards

10 to protect against the unauthorized use or disclosure

11 of information in the national database.

12 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date

13 of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to

14 Congress a report on the results of the study conducted

15 under this section.

16 (d) FUNDING.—Out of any moneys in the Treasury

17 not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury

18 shall provide to the Secretary of Agriculture $500,000 to

19 carry out this section. The Secretary shall be entitled to
5

S 1733 ES

1 receive the funds and shall accept the funds, without fur2 ther 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

programs, and for other purposes.tion in Federal means-tested public assistanceeration of a national database to track participathe design, development, implementation, and opof Agriculture to conduct a study of options forfor deceased individuals, to require the Secretaryto ensure that food stamp coupons are not issuedfood stamp State agencies to take certain actions