[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 26, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4159-4163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01402]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 26, 2016 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 4159]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

7 CFR Part 272

[FNS-2015-0029]
RIN 0584-AE36


SNAP Requirement for National Directory of New Hires Employment 
Verification and Annual Program Activity Reporting

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

ACTION: Interim final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Food and Nutrition Service is codifying the requirement 
for State agencies to verify applicant employment data through the 
National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) for the determination of 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility and 
correct amount of benefits, pursuant to section 4013 of the 
Agricultural Act of 2014. This interim final rule requires that State 
agencies access employment data through the NDNH at the time of SNAP 
certification, including recertification, and aims to improve Program 
integrity by reducing the risk of improper payments due to unreported 
or misreported income. This rule further amends regulations to change 
the reporting frequency requirement for the ``Program and Budget 
Summary Statement Part B--Program Activity Statement'' from an annual 
submission based on the State fiscal year to a quarterly submission 
based on the Federal fiscal year.

DATES: To be considered, written comments on this interim final rule 
must be received on or before March 28, 2016. This rule will become 
effective March 28, 2016.
    Implementation Date: State agencies have already been instructed 
through FNS directive to implement this provision as required by the 
Agricultural Act of 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing by one of the following 
methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    <bullet> Mail: Send written comments to Jane Duffield, State 
Administration Branch, Program Accountability and Administration 
Division, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food and Nutrition 
Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 818, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    <bullet> All written comments submitted in response to this interim 
final rule will be included in the record and will be made available to 
the public. Please be advised that the substance of the comments and 
the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the comments 
will be subject to public disclosure. FNS will make the written 
comments publicly available on the Internet via http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Duffield, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
818, Alexandria, VA 22302, by phone at (703) 305-2425 or via email at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f153e313a711b2a3939363a333b1f39312c712a2c3b3e71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e9a388878cc7ad9c8f8f808c858da98f879ac79c9a8d88c78e869f">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    With this interim final rule, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) 
amends the SNAP regulations at 7 CFR part 272 to require State agencies 
to access employment data through the National Directory of New Hires 
(NDNH) at the time of certification, including recertification, to 
determine the eligibility status and correct benefit amount for SNAP 
applicants and participants. This requirement codifies section 4013 of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-79). The legislation was 
effective on February 7, 2014, and FNS implemented the mandated 
requirements, including that associated with the NDNH requirement, by 
directive to all SNAP State agencies on March 21, 2014. This interim 
rule also amends regulations at 7 CFR 272.2 to change the requirement 
for State agency submission of the ``Program and Budget Summary 
Statement Part B--Program Activity Statement'' (FNS-366B, OMB #0584-
0594, expiration date 6/30/2017) from an annual submission based on the 
State fiscal year to a quarterly submission based on the Federal fiscal 
year.

Implement National Directory of New Hires Employment Verification 
Requirement

    Current regulations at Sec.  273.2(f)(1)(i) require State agencies 
to verify gross non-exempt income for all households prior to 
certification or, in instances where the State's attempts to verify the 
income with the employer have been unsuccessful, use the best available 
information to determine benefits. Additionally, regulations at Sec.  
273.12(a) and Sec.  273.21 establish the SNAP household's 
responsibility to report applicable changes in income while 
participating in the Program. Thus, the accuracy of Program benefits 
issued to a household relies on the accuracy of reported and verified 
information.
    The NDNH is a repository of employment, unemployment insurance, and 
quarterly wage data maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). The 
data residing in the NDNH includes W-4 (new hire) records from the 
State Directory of New Hires, quarterly wage and unemployment insurance 
data from the State workforce agencies, and new hire and quarterly wage 
data from Federal agencies. The Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) mandated the establishment of 
the NDNH in 1996. A major component of the Federal Parent Locator 
Service (FPLS), the NDNH was originally established for State Child 
Support Enforcement (CSE) Agencies to locate non-custodial parents in 
order to establish and enforce child support orders. As of February 
2015, there were 64,571 employers and 33,610 subsidiaries listed in the 
NDNH. The number of employers and their subsidiaries listed in the NDNH 
generally increase each year. In 2014, over 4,320 new employers were 
added to the database.
    The NDNH may only be accessed by authorized agencies with 
legislative authority. On July 27, 2006, Public Law 109-250 amended 
section 453(j) of Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)) by the adding 
a new paragraph (10), which

[[Page 4160]]

authorized State agencies administering SNAP under the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 [7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.] to access NDNH data for 
carrying out Program responsibilities. Prior to the amendment, State 
SNAP agencies could only access employment data made available through 
their own State Directory of New Hires for the determination of SNAP 
eligibility. Public Law 109-250 gave State SNAP agencies the option to 
access NDNH, thus providing an opportunity to receive employment data 
from other States, multi-State employers, and Federal agencies. Despite 
this change in legislation, few State agencies exercised the option to 
use it. Most State agencies instead opted to access employment data via 
their respective State Directory of New Hires, State Workforce Agency, 
and other data sources. By now requiring State agencies to access NDNH 
data for SNAP, FNS believes States will benefit from a reduction in 
improper payments due to unreported income.
    This rule codifies in Sec.  272.16 the requirement that each State 
agency must establish a system to compare identifiable information 
about each adult household member against data from the NDNH. Section 
4013 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 mandates that States use NDNH to 
verify applicant and participant employment data and enter into a 
computer matching agreement with HHS pursuant to the authority in 42 
U.S.C. 653(j)(10). State agencies must enter into a computer matching 
agreement with HHS in order to access the NDNH. States must continue to 
adhere to requirements Sec.  272.12 addressing the use of information 
obtained from computer matching programs. The State agency may only use 
the required data matching to verify that the employment status of 
adult household members is accurately reported on the SNAP application. 
Because the NDNH does not include employment data on individuals under 
the age of 18, this verification requirement is limited to adult 
household members. The law further mandates the State agency to conduct 
matches against NDNH new hire data at the time of certification. FNS 
believes that conducting the match at both initial application and 
recertification will meet the intent of section 4013, and is therefore 
codifying the requirement for both certification and recertification.
    The NDNH maintains three data sets. While this rule addresses the 
requirement for State agency matching against the NDNH new hire data 
set, States have the option to match against the quarterly wage and 
unemployment insurance data sets at their own discretion. Because the 
timeliness of quarterly wage and quarterly unemployment insurance data 
may not provide a true benefit to the State agency in determining 
eligibility and benefit levels, this rule only requires that States 
match against NDNH new hire data at minimum.
    Data matching has provided many positive results for the efficient 
and effective administration of the program. However, it has come to 
the attention of FNS that there has been some confusion regarding 
reporting systems and integrity provisions for SNAP, specifically with 
regard to simplified reporting. Therefore, FNS wishes to clarify that 
in addition to the requirements of these integrity provisions, State 
agencies are also expected to comply with the requirements of the 
reporting system applicable to SNAP households provided at 7 CFR 
273.12. State options for action on reported changes during the 
certification period must be followed, even for required data matches.
    Data received through NDNH is not considered verified upon receipt. 
Consistent with requirements set forth in the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 
552a(p)) and in SNAP regulation at 7 CFR 272.12(c), the State agency 
may not take any adverse action to terminate, deny, suspend, or reduce 
benefits to an applicant or SNAP recipient based on information 
provided by the NDNH unless the match information has been 
independently verified and a Notice of Adverse Action or Notice of 
Denial has been sent to the household. The Privacy Act defines 
independent verification as the investigation and confirmation of 
specific information relating to an individual used as a basis for an 
adverse action against the individual. Should there be a delay in the 
State agency's ability to verify the NDNH new hire match results within 
the required application processing timeline, the State agency is 
expected to continue processing the application without the requested 
documentation verifying the information. If, after either certification 
or recertification is completed, the State agency receives verification 
of information obtained through the NDNH match indicating that the 
household is ineligible or was approved for the incorrect benefit 
amount, the State should deny, reduce or terminate benefits, as 
applicable, and establish a claim to collect any benefits that were 
overpaid, in accordance with regulations at Sec.  273.18.

Change the Reporting Frequency of Program Activity Statement (FNS-366B)

    With this rule, FNS is also modifying a reporting requirement of 
Stte agencies by increasing the frequency of submitting a Program 
Activity Statement from an annual submission based on the State fiscal 
year to a quarterly submission based on the Federal fiscal year. 
Section 16(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 authorizes 50 
percent Federal reimbursement for State agency costs to administer 
SNAP. SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 272.2(a) require that State agencies 
plan and budget Program operations and establish objectives for the 
next year. The basic components of the State Plan of Operation are the 
Federal/State Agreement, the Budget Projection Statement and the 
Program Activity Statement (7 CFR 272.2(a)(2)). Under current 
regulations at 7 CFR 272.2(c), the State agency is required to submit 
to FNS for approval a Budget Projection Statement (FNS-366A) which 
projects total Federal administrative costs for the upcoming fiscal 
year and a Program Activity Statement (FNS-366B) which provides Program 
activity data for the preceding fiscal year. Current regulations at 7 
CFR 272.2(e)(2)(ii) require State agencies to submit the Program 
Activity Statement to FNS no later than 45 days after the end of the 
State agency's fiscal year, which is typically August 15 for most 
States. The Program Activity Statement was created to substantiate the 
costs the State agency expects to incur during the next fiscal year. It 
currently provides data on the number of SNAP applications the State 
agency processed, the number of fair hearings the State agency 
conducted, and the fraud control activities in which the State agency 
was engaged in the preceding year. FNS uses the data to monitor State 
agency activity levels and performance.
    While originally intended only to support the States' annual SNAP 
budget request by providing a summary of State SNAP activities in the 
previous State fiscal year, the data reported on the Program Activity 
Statement has also become a vital tool for monitoring State operations 
related to application processing, fair hearings, and fraud prevention 
activities. The data reported on the Program Activity Statement enables 
FNS to identify areas that may need improvement and to provide more 
effective technical assistance to State agencies. The Agency believes 
an increase in reporting frequency will allow for greater and more 
timely access to Program data. It will help States, FNS, and other 
stakeholders identify

[[Page 4161]]

trends, inconsistencies and inefficiencies earlier in each fiscal year. 
A 2014 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) performance audit of 
FNS (GAO-14-641, Enhanced Detection Tools and Reporting Could Improve 
Efforts to Combat Recipient Fraud) concluded that State-reported data 
on anti-fraud activities are not reliable for ensuring Program 
integrity and assessing States' performance. Additionally, the study 
warned that data inconsistencies could limit FNS' ability to identify 
more effective and efficient practices for State anti-fraud efforts. 
With more current data, States and other interested parties will be 
able to identify gaps and areas in need of greater attention, and allow 
States to respond more quickly to those gaps. This increased 
responsiveness, along with a concurrent FNS effort to update and 
improve the reliability of the data collected in the Program Activity 
Statement, will help to address directly the concerns raised by GAO. 
With this regulation, FNS is also aligning the new quarterly 
requirement to the Federal fiscal year. As most SNAP data is reported 
monthly, quarterly or annually based on the Federal fiscal year, this 
change will improve FNS' ability to conduct data analysis by using data 
collected over consistent periods of time.

II. Procedural Matters

Executive Order 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. This interim final rule has been determined to be not 
significant and was not reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) in conformance with Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Impact Analysis

    This interim final rule has been designated as not significant by 
the Office of Management and Budget; therefore, no Regulatory Impact 
Analysis is required.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) requires Agencies 
to analyze the impact of rulemaking on small entities and consider 
alternatives that would minimize any significant impacts on a 
substantial number of small entities. Pursuant to that review, it has 
been certified that this interim final rule would not have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. While 
there may be some impact on the State and local agencies that 
administer the Program in implementing this provision, the impact is 
not expected to be significant. Applicants and recipients may also be 
impacted to the extent that matching client information with records in 
the National Directory of New Hires may identify a client as ineligible 
for the Program, thus preventing them from Program participation.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public 
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the 
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local and Tribal 
governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, the 
Department generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost 
benefit analysis, for proposed and final rules with Federal mandates 
that may result in expenditures by State, local or Tribal governments, 
in the aggregate, or the private sector, of $100 million or more in any 
one year. When such a statement is needed for a rule, section 205 of 
the UMRA generally requires the Department to identify and consider a 
reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and adopt the most cost 
effective or least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives 
of the rule.
    This interim final rule does not contain Federal mandates (under 
the regulatory provisions of Title II of the UMRA) for State, local and 
Tribal governments or the private sector of $100 million or more in any 
one year. Thus, the rule is not subject to the requirements of sections 
202 and 205 of the UMRA.

Executive Order 12372

    The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is listed in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No. 10.551. For the 
reasons set forth in the Final Rule codified in 7 CFR part 3015, 
subpart V and related Notice (48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983), this Program 
is excluded from the scope of Executive Order 12372, which requires 
intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials.

Federalism Summary Impact Statement

    Executive Order 13132 requires Federal agencies to consider the 
impact of their regulatory actions on State and local governments. 
Where such actions have federalism implications, agencies are directed 
to provide a statement for inclusion in the preamble to the regulations 
describing the agency's considerations in terms of the three categories 
called for under section (6)(b)(2)(B) of Executive Order 13132. The 
Department has considered the impact of this interim final rule on 
State and local governments and has determined that this rule does not 
have federalism implications. Therefore, under section 6(b) of the 
Executive Order, a federalism summary is not required.

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform

    This interim final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 
12988, Civil Justice Reform. This rule is intended to have preemptive 
effect with respect to any State or local laws, regulations or policies 
which conflict with its provisions or which would otherwise impede its 
full and timely implementation. This rule is not intended to have 
retroactive effect unless so specified in the Effective Dates section 
of the final rule. Prior to any judicial challenge to the provisions of 
the final rule, all applicable administrative procedures must be 
exhausted.

Civil Rights Impact Analysis

    FNS has reviewed this interim final rule in accordance with USDA 
Regulation 4300-4, ``Civil Rights Impact Analysis,'' to identify any 
major civil rights impacts the rule might have on Program participants 
on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex or disability. 
After a careful review of the rule's intent and provisions, FNS has 
determined that this rule is not expected to affect the participation 
of protected individuals in SNAP.

Executive Order 13175

    This rule has been reviewed in accordance with the requirements of 
Executive Order 13175, ``Consultation and Coordination with Indian 
Tribal Governments.'' Executive Order 13175 requires Federal agencies 
to consult and coordinate with tribes on a government-to-government 
basis on policies that have tribal implications, including regulations, 
legislative comments or proposed legislation, and other policy 
statements or actions that have substantial direct effects on one or 
more Indian tribes, on the relationship

[[Page 4162]]

between the Federal Government and Indian tribes or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian 
tribes.
    FNS has assessed the impact of this rule on Indian tribes and 
determined that this rule does not, to our knowledge, have tribal 
implications that require tribal consultation under E.O. 13175. On 
February 18, 2015, the agency held a webinar for tribal participation 
and comments. If a Tribe requests consultation, FNS will work with the 
Office of Tribal Relations to ensure meaningful consultation is 
provided where changes, additions and modifications identified herein 
are not expressly mandated by Congress.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chap. 35; 5 CFR part 
1320) requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve all 
collections of information by a Federal agency before they can be 
implemented. Respondents are not required to respond to any collection 
of information unless it displays a current valid OMB control number.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
interim final rule contains information collections that are subject to 
review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget; therefore, 
FNS is submitting an information collection under 0584-NEW, which 
contains the burden information in the rule for OMB's review and 
approval. These changes are contingent upon OMB approval under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. When the information collection 
requirements have been approved, the Department will publish a separate 
action in the Federal Register announcing OMB's approval. Once approved 
the new provisions in this rule and the burden requirement associated 
with the National Directory of New Hires will be merged into the 
existing information collection for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program (SNAP) Forms: Applications, Periodic Reporting, Notices, OMB 
Control Number #0584-0064, expiration date 4/30/2016, which is 
currently under revision. New provisions and burden requirements in 
this rule associated with the Program Activity Statement (FNS-366B) 
will be merged into the existing information collection for the Food 
and Nutrition Service Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS), OMB 
Control Number #0584-0594, expiration date 6/30/2017, which is 
currently under revision.
    Comments on this interim final rule must be received by March 28, 
2016.
    Send comments to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, 
Attention: Desk Officer for FNS, Washington, DC 20403. Please also send 
a copy of your comments to Jane Duffield, Food and Nutrition Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 
22302. For further information, or for copies of the information 
collection, please contact Jane Duffield at the above address.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.
    Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Requirement for 
National Directory of New Hires Employment Verification and Annual 
Program Activity Reporting.
    OMB Number: 0584--NEW.
    Expiration Date: N/A.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Abstract: This rule codifies section 4013 of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014, requiring State agencies to access employment data through the 
National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) at the time of certification, 
including recertification, to determine eligibility status and correct 
benefit amount for SNAP applicants. This rule also amends regulations 
at 7 CFR 272.2 to increase the frequency of the requirement for State 
agency submission of the Program Activity Statement from an annual 
requirement based on the State fiscal year to a quarterly requirement, 
unless otherwise directed by FNS, based on the Federal fiscal year.
272.2--Program Activity Statement (FNS-366B)
    State agencies are required to submit (quarterly) to FNS a Program 
Activity Statement (FNS-366B) providing a summary of Program activity 
for the State agency's operations during the previous reporting period. 
The activity report provides data on the number of applications 
processed, number of fair hearings and fraud control activity. FNS uses 
the data to monitor State agency activity levels and performance.
272.16--National Directory of New Hires
    Applicant and Recipient Screening: The State agency must compare 
identifiable information about each adult household member against 
information from the NDNH. States must make the comparison of matched 
data at the time of application and recertification and must 
independently verify any positive match results.
    Verification of Match: The State agency must independently verify 
the information prior to taking any adverse action against an 
individual. Should the State agency receive employment information via 
the NDNH that was previously unreported by the household, the State 
agency may issue a Request for Contact to the household to verify the 
information or contact the employer directly, depending upon applicable 
reporting requirements as defined at 7 CFR 273.12.
    Notice: The Notice of Adverse Action or Notice of Denial is issued 
by State agencies to participating households whose benefits will be 
reduced or terminated as the result of a change in household 
circumstances. Should the State agency independently verify unreported 
or underreported income discovered through NDNH, and that income 
results in a reduction of benefits or change in eligibility, the State 
agency must take action by issuing the household a Notice of Adverse 
Action or Notice of Denial and adjusting benefits accordingly.
    Burden Estimates: Out of the 251,482.35 hours requested for this 
new information collection request and after OMB's approval, FNS will 
merge the total reporting burden estimates into 0584-0064 are 
249,252.64 burden hours & 12,276,992 total annual responses; and, the 
total reporting burden into 0584-0594 is 2,229.71 burden hours and 159 
total annual responses. After approval into these existing collection 
packages and there are no recordkeeping requirements with these new or 
changing provisions.
    See the burden breakdown by affected public below. After OMB 
approval of this information collection request, the program plans to 
publish another notice in the Federal Register announcing OMB's 
approval.
    Respondents: State and local agencies, households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 891,125.

[[Page 4163]]

    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 13.78.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 252,432.64 hours. See 
the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type of 
respondent.

                                                                     State Agencies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                 Difference
                                               Number of    Frequency      Total       Burden hours      Total       Previous      due to     Difference
         CFR                  Action          respondents      per         annual      per response      burden     submission    program       due to
                                                            respondent   responses                       hours     total hours    changes    adjustments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
272.2...............  Program Activity                 53            4          212               15        3,180       950.29     2,229.71         0.00
                       Statement (FNS 366B).
272.16..............  NDNH--Applicant/                 53            1    9,158,240            0.017   155,690.08         0.00   155,690.08         0.00
                       Recipient Screening.
272.16..............  NDNH--Verification of            53            1    1,237,600             0.03       37,128         0.00    37,128.00         0.00
                       Match.
272.16..............  NDNH--Notice of                  53            1      495,040             0.03    14,851.20         0.00    14,851.20         0.00
                       Adverse Action or
                       Notice of Denial.
                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...........  ......................           53  ...........   10,891,092      0.019359792   210,849.28       950.29   209,898.99         0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                       Households
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                 Difference
                                               Number of    Frequency     Total annual      Burden       Total       Previous      due to     Difference
         CFR                  Action          respondents      per         responses      hours per      burden     submission    program       due to
                                                            respondent                     response      hours     total hours    changes    adjustments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
272.16..............  NDNH--Request for           891,072            1          891,072         0.03    26,732.16         0.00    26,732.16         0.00
                       Contact.
272.16..............  NDNH--Notice of             495,040            1          495,040         0.03    14,851.20         0.00    14,851.20         0.00
                       Adverse Action or
                       Notice of Denial.
                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...........  ......................      891,072  ...........        1,386,112         0.03    41,583.36         0.00    41,583.36         0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

E-Government Act Compliance

    The Department is committed to complying with the E-Government Act 
of 2002 to promote the use of the Internet and other information 
technologies to provide increased opportunities for citizen access to 
Government information and services, and for other purposes.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 272

    Civil rights, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Grant 
programs--social programs, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, 7 CFR part 272 is amended as follows:

PART 272--REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING STATE AGENCIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 272 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 2011-2036.


0
2. In Sec.  272.2, revise paragraphs (c)(1)(ii) and (e)(2)(ii) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  272.2  Plan of operation.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) The Program Activity Statement, to be submitted quarterly 
(unless otherwise directed by FNS), solicits a summary of Program 
activity for the State agency's operations during the preceding 
reporting period.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) The Program Activity Statement shall be submitted quarterly 
(unless otherwise directed by FNS) based on the Federal fiscal year.
* * * * *

0
3. Add Sec.  272.16 to read as follows:


Sec.  272.16  National Directory of New Hires.

    (a) General. Each State agency shall establish a system to verify 
applicant employment data for the determination of SNAP eligibility and 
correct benefit amount.
    (b) Data source. States shall use the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Service (HHS) National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) and enter 
into a computer matching agreement with HHS pursuant to the authority 
in 42 U.S.C. 653(j)(10).
    (c) Use of match data. In accordance with the procedural 
requirements and privacy protections required for computer data 
matching at 5 U.S.C. 552a(p), States shall provide a system for:
    (1) Comparing identifiable information about each adult household 
member against data from the NDNH. States must, at minimum, match 
household members against new hire data available in the database. 
States shall make the comparison of matched data at the time of 
application and recertification.
    (2) The reporting of instances where there is a match;
    (3) The independent verification of match hits to determine their 
accuracy;
    (4) Notice to the household of match results;
    (5) An opportunity for the household to respond to the match prior 
to an adverse action to deny, reduce, or terminate benefits; and
    (6) The establishment and collection of claims as appropriate.

    Dated: January 14, 2016.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-01402 Filed 1-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P


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