S. 1733

One Hundred Fifth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the twenty-seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight

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 MEANSTESTED 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.
S. 1733—2

(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 one 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.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.