555
ards that include the cost of heating and cooling and 1
or more standards that do not include the cost of heating
and cooling, and if the Secretary finds that the standards
will not result in an increased cost to the Secretary. A
State agency that has not made the use of a standard util-
ity allowance mandatory shall allow a household to switch,
at the end of a certification period, between the standard
utility allowance and a deduction based on the actual util-
ity costs of the household.’’.
SEC. 908. VEHICLE ALLOWANCE.
Section 5(g)(2) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2014(g)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(2) INCLUDED ASSETS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the other
provisions of this paragraph, the Secretary
shall, in prescribing inclusions in, and exclu-
sions from, financial resources, follow the regu-
lations in force as of June 1, 1982 (other than
those relating to licensed vehicles and inacces-
sible resources).
‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL
INCLUDED
ASSETS.—
The Secretary shall include in financial re-
sources—
‘‘(i) any boat, snowmobile, or airplane
used for recreational purposes;
556
‘‘(ii) any vacation home;
‘‘(iii) any mobile home used primarily
for vacation purposes;
‘‘(iv) subject to subparagraph (C), any
licensed vehicle that is used for household
transportation or to obtain or continue em-
ployment to the extent that the fair market
value of the vehicle exceeds a level set by
the Secretary, which shall be $4,600 begin-
ning October 1, 1995, and adjusted on
each October 1 thereafter to reflect
changes in the new car component of the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Con-
sumers published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics for the 12-month period ending
on June 30 preceding the date of such ad-
justment and rounded to the nearest $50;
and
‘‘(v) any savings or retirement ac-
count (including an individual account), re-
gardless of whether there is a penalty for
early withdrawal.
‘‘(C) EXCLUDED
VEHICLES.—A vehicle
(and any other property, real or personal, to the
extent the property is directly related to the
557
maintenance or use of the vehicle) shall not be
included in financial resources under this para-
graph if the vehicle is—
‘‘(i) used to produce earned income;
‘‘(ii) necessary for the transportation
of a physically disabled household member;
or
‘‘(iii) depended on by a household to
carry fuel for heating or water for home
use and provides the primary source of fuel
or water, respectively, for the household.’’.
SEC. 909. VENDOR PAYMENTS FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUS-
ING COUNTED AS INCOME.
Section 5(k)(2) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2014(k)(2)) is amended—
(1) by striking subparagraph (F); and
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and
(H) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively.
SEC. 910. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING FOOD
STAMP PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.
Section 6(b)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2015(b)(1)) is amended—
(1) in clause (i)—
(A) by striking ‘‘six months’’ and inserting
‘‘1 year’’; and
558
(B) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end; and
(2) striking clauses (ii) and (iii) and inserting
the following:
‘‘(ii) permanently upon—
‘‘(I) the second occasion of any such deter-
mination; or
‘‘(II) the first occasion of a finding by a
Federal, State, or local court of the trading of
a controlled substance (as defined in section
102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21
U.S.C. 802)), firearms, ammunition, or explo-
sives for coupons.’’.
SEC. 911. DISQUALIFICATION OF CONVICTED INDIVIDUALS.
Section 6(b)(1)(ii) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 2015(b)(1)(iii)), as amended by section 910, is
amended—
(1) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the
end;
(2) in subclause (II), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
(3) by inserting after subclause (II) the follow-
ing:
‘‘(IV) a conviction of an offense under sub-
section (b) or (c) of section 15 involving an
559
item covered by subsection (b) or (c) of section
15 having a value of $500 or more.’’.
SEC. 912. DISQUALIFICATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6(d) of the Food Stamp
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)) is amended by striking
‘‘(d)(1) Unless otherwise exempted by the provisions’’ and
all that follows through paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(d) CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION.—
‘‘(1) WORK REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—No physically and
mentally fit individual over the age of 15 and
under the age of 60 shall be eligible to partici-
pate in the food stamp program if the individ-
ual—
‘‘(i) refuses, at the time of application
and every 12 months thereafter, to register
for employment in a manner prescribed by
the Secretary;
‘‘(ii) refuses without good cause to
participate in an employment and training
program under paragraph (4), to the ex-
tent required by the State agency;
‘‘(iii) refuses without good cause to
accept an offer of employment, at a site or
560
plant not subject to a strike or lockout at
the time of the refusal, at a wage not less
than the higher of—
‘‘(I) the applicable Federal or
State minimum wage; or
‘‘(II) 80 percent of the wage that
would have governed had the mini-
mum 
hourly 
rate 
under 
section
6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1))
been applicable to the offer of employ-
ment;
‘‘(iv) refuses without good cause to
provide a State agency with sufficient in-
formation to allow the State agency to de-
termine the employment status or the job
availability of the individual;
‘‘(v) voluntarily and without good
cause—
‘‘(I) quits a job; or
‘‘(II) reduces work effort and,
after the reduction, the individual is
working less than 30 hours per week;
or
‘‘(vi) fails to comply with section 20.
561
‘‘(B) HOUSEHOLD
INELIGIBILITY.—If an
individual who is the head of a household be-
comes ineligible to participate in the food stamp
program under subparagraph (A), the house-
hold shall, at the option of the State agency,
become ineligible to participate in the food
stamp program for a period, determined by the
State agency, that does not exceed the lesser
of—
‘‘(i) the duration of the ineligibility of
the individual determined under subpara-
graph (C); or
‘‘(ii) 180 days.
‘‘(C) DURATION OF INELIGIBILITY.—
‘‘(i) FIRST
VIOLATION.—The first
time that an individual becomes ineligible
to participate in the food stamp program
under subparagraph (A), the individual
shall remain ineligible until the later of—
‘‘(I) the date the individual be-
comes eligible under subparagraph
(A);
‘‘(II) the date that is 1 month
after the date the individual became
ineligible; or
562
‘‘(III) a date determined by the
State agency that is not later than 3
months after the date the individual
became ineligible.
‘‘(ii) SECOND
VIOLATION.—The sec-
ond time that an individual becomes ineli-
gible to participate in the food stamp pro-
gram under subparagraph (A), the individ-
ual shall remain ineligible until the later
of—
‘‘(I) the date the individual be-
comes eligible under subparagraph
(A);
‘‘(II) the date that is 3 months
after the date the individual became
ineligible; or
‘‘(III) a date determined by the
State agency that is not later than 6
months after the date the individual
became ineligible.
‘‘(iii) THIRD OR SUBSEQUENT VIOLA-
TION.—The third or subsequent time that
an individual becomes ineligible to partici-
pate in the food stamp program under sub-
563
paragraph (A), the individual shall remain
ineligible until the later of—
‘‘(I) the date the individual be-
comes eligible under subparagraph
(A);
‘‘(II) the date that is 6 months
after the date the individual became
ineligible;
‘‘(III) a date determined by the
State agency; or
‘‘(IV) at the option of the State
agency, permanently.
‘‘(D) ADMINISTRATION.—
‘‘(i) GOOD
CAUSE.—The Secretary
shall determine the meaning of good cause
for the purpose of this paragraph.
‘‘(ii) VOLUNTARY
QUIT.—The Sec-
retary shall determine the meaning of vol-
untarily quitting and reducing work effort
for the purpose of this paragraph.
‘‘(iii) 
DETERMINATION
BY
STATE
AGENCY.—
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to
subclause (II) and clauses (i) and (ii),
a State agency shall determine—
564
‘‘(aa) the meaning of any
term in subparagraph (A);
‘‘(bb) the procedures for de-
termining whether an individual
is in compliance with a require-
ment under subparagraph (A);
and
‘‘(cc) whether an individual
is in compliance with a require-
ment under subparagraph (A).
‘‘(II) NOT LESS RESTRICTIVE.—
A State agency may not determine a
meaning, procedure, or determination
under subclause (I) to be less restric-
tive than a comparable meaning, pro-
cedure, or determination under a
State program funded under part A of
title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
‘‘(iv) STRIKE AGAINST THE GOVERN-
MENT.—For the purpose of subparagraph
(A)(v), an employee of the Federal Govern-
ment, a State, or a political subdivision of
a State, who is dismissed for participating
in a strike against the Federal Govern-
565
ment, the State, or the political subdivision
of the State shall be considered to have
voluntarily quit without good cause.
‘‘(v) SELECTING A HEAD OF HOUSE-
HOLD.—
‘‘(I) IN GENERAL.—For the pur-
pose of this paragraph, the State
agency shall allow the household to se-
lect any adult parent of a child in the
household as the head of the house-
hold if all adult household members
making application under the food
stamp program agree to the selection.
‘‘(II) TIME
FOR
MAKING
DES-
IGNATION.—A household may des-
ignate the head of the household
under subclause (I) each time the
household is certified for participation
in the food stamp program, but may
not change the designation during a
certification period unless there is a
change in the composition of the
household.
‘‘(vi) CHANGE
IN
HEAD
OF
HOUSE-
HOLD.—If the head of a household leaves
566
the household during a period in which the
household is ineligible to participate in the
food stamp program under subparagraph
(B)—
‘‘(I) the household shall, if other-
wise eligible, become eligible to par-
ticipate in the food stamp program;
and
‘‘(II) if the head of the household
becomes the head of another house-
hold, the household that becomes
headed by the individual shall become
ineligible to participate in the food
stamp program for the remaining pe-
riod of ineligibility.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—
(1) The second sentence of section 17(b)(2) of
the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026(b)(2))
is amended by striking ‘‘6(d)(1)(i)’’ and inserting
‘‘6(d)(1)(A)(i)’’.
(2) Section 20(f) of the Food Stamp Act of
1977 (7 U.S.C. 2029(f)) is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(f) DISQUALIFICATION.—An individual or a house-
hold may become ineligible under section 6(d)(1) to par-
567
ticipate in the food stamp program for failing to comply
with this section.’’.
SEC. 913. CARETAKER EXEMPTION.
Section 6(d)(2)(B) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(2)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(B) a parent or other member of a household with re-
sponsibility for the care of (i) a dependent child under the
age of 6 or any lower age designated by the State agency
that is not under the age of 1, or (ii) an incapacitated
person;’’.
SEC. 914. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6(d)(4) of the Food
Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (D)—
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘to which the
application’’ and all that follows through ‘‘30
days or less’’;
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘but with re-
spect’’ and all that follows through ‘‘child
care’’; and
(C) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘, on the
basis of’’ and all that follows through ‘‘clause
(ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘the exemption continues to
be valid’’;
568
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the third
sentence; AND
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(O) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
paragraph, the amount of Federal funds a State agency
uses in any fiscal year after fiscal year 1996 to carry out
this paragraph with respect to individuals who receive ben-
efits under a State plan approved under part A of title
IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) shall
not exceed the amount of Federal funds the State agency
used in fiscal year 1995 to carry out this paragraph with
respect to individuals who received benefits under such
plan.’’.
(b) FUNDING.—Section 16(h) of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) is amended by striking
‘‘(h)(1)(A) The Secretary’’ and all that follows through
the end of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
‘‘(h) FUNDING
OF EMPLOYMENT
AND TRAINING
PROGRAMS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(A) AMOUNTS.—To carry out employ-
ment and training programs, the Secretary
shall reserve for allocation to State agencies
from funds made available for each fiscal year
under 
section 
18(a)(1) 
the 
amount 
of
569
$150,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1996
through 2002.
‘‘(B) ALLOCATION.—The Secretary shall
allocate the amounts reserved under subpara-
graph (A) among the State agencies using a
reasonable formula (as determined by the Sec-
retary) that gives consideration to the popu-
lation in each State affected by section 6(o).
‘‘(C) REALLOCATION.—
‘‘(i) NOTIFICATION.—A State agency
shall promptly notify the Secretary if the
State agency determines that the State
agency will not expend all of the funds al-
located to the State agency under subpara-
graph (B).
‘‘(ii) REALLOCATION.—On notification
under clause (i), the Secretary shall reallo-
cate the funds that the State agency will
not expend as the Secretary considers ap-
propriate and equitable.
‘‘(D) MINIMUM
ALLOCATION.—Notwith-
standing subparagraphs (A) through (C), the
Secretary shall ensure that each State agency
operating an employment and training program
570
shall receive not less than $50,000 in each fis-
cal year.’’.
(d) REPORTS.—Section 16(h) of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (5)—
(A) by striking ‘‘(5)(A) The Secretary’’
and inserting ‘‘(5) The Secretary’’; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(2) by striking paragraph (6).
SEC. 915. COMPARABLE TREATMENT FOR DISQUALIFICA-
TION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(i) COMPARABLE TREATMENT FOR DISQUALIFICA-
TION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If a disqualification is im-
posed on a member of a household for a failure of
the member to perform an action required under a
Federal, State, or local law relating to a means-test-
ed public assistance program, the State agency may
impose the same disqualification on the member of
the household under the food stamp program.
‘‘(2) RULES AND PROCEDURES.—If a disquali-
fication is imposed under paragraph (1) for a failure
571
of an individual to perform an action required under
part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the State agency may use the
rules and procedures that apply under part A of title
IV of such Act to impose the same disqualification
under the food stamp program.
‘‘(3) APPLICATION
AFTER
DISQUALIFICATION
PERIOD.—A member of a household disqualified
under paragraph (1) may, after the disqualification
period has expired, apply for benefits under this Act
and shall be treated as a new applicant, except that
a prior disqualification under subsection (d) shall be
considered in determining eligibility.’’.
(b) STATE PLAN PROVISIONS.—Section 11(e) of the
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (24), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
(2) in paragraph (25), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(26) the guidelines the State agency uses in
carrying out section 6(i); and’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 6(d)(2)(A)
of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(2)(A))
572
is amended by striking ‘‘that is comparable to a require-
ment of paragraph (1)’’.
SEC. 916. DISQUALIFICATION FOR RECEIPT OF MULTIPLE
FOOD STAMP BENEFITS.
Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015), as amended by section 915, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘(j) DISQUALIFICATION FOR RECEIPT OF MULTIPLE
FOOD STAMP BENEFITS.—An individual shall be ineligible
to participate in the food stamp program as a member
of any household for a 10-year period if the individual is
found by a State agency to have made, or is convicted
in a Federal or State court of having made, a fraudulent
statement or representation with respect to the identity
or place of residence of the individual in order to receive
multiple benefits simultaneously under the food stamp
program.’’.
SEC. 917. DISQUALIFICATION OF FLEEING FELONS.
Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015), as amended by sections 915 and 916, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(k) DISQUALIFICATION OF FLEEING FELONS.—No
member of a household who is otherwise eligible to partici-
pate in the food stamp program shall be eligible to partici-
pate in the program as a member of that or any other
573
household during any period during which the individual
is—
‘‘(1) fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or
confinement after conviction, under the law of the
place from which the individual is fleeing, for a
crime, or attempt to commit a crime, that is a felony
under the law of the place from which the individual
is fleeing or that, in the case of New Jersey, is a
high misdemeanor under the law of New Jersey; or
‘‘(2) violating a condition of probation or parole
imposed under a Federal or State law.’’.
SEC. 918. COOPERATION WITH CHILD SUPPORT AGENCIES.
Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015), as amended by sections 915, 916, and 917, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(l) CUSTODIAL
PARENT’S
COOPERATION
WITH
CHILD SUPPORT AGENCIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—At the option of a State
agency, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), no natu-
ral or adoptive parent or other individual (collec-
tively referred to in this subsection as ‘the individ-
ual’) who is living with and exercising parental con-
trol over a child under the age of 18 who has an ab-
sent parent shall be eligible to participate in the food
stamp program unless the individual cooperates with
574
the State agency administering the program estab-
lished under part D of title IV of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.)—
‘‘(A) in establishing the paternity of the
child (if the child is born out of wedlock); and
‘‘(B) in obtaining support for—
‘‘(i) the child; or
‘‘(ii) the individual and the child.
‘‘(2) GOOD
CAUSE
FOR
NONCOOPERATION.—
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the individual if
good cause is found for refusing to cooperate, as de-
termined by the State agency in accordance with
standards prescribed by the Secretary in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices. The standards shall take into consideration cir-
cumstances under which cooperation may be against
the best interests of the child.
‘‘(3) FEES.—Paragraph (1) shall not require
the payment of a fee or other cost for services pro-
vided under part D of title IV of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.).
‘‘(m) NONCUSTODIAL PARENT’S COOPERATION WITH
CHILD SUPPORT AGENCIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—At the option of a State
agency, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a puta-
575
tive or identified noncustodial parent of a child
under the age of 18 (referred to in this subsection
as ‘the individual’) shall not be eligible to participate
in the food stamp program if the individual refuses
to cooperate with the State agency administering the
program established under part D of title IV of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.)—
‘‘(A) in establishing the paternity of the
child (if the child is born out of wedlock); and
‘‘(B) in providing support for the child.
‘‘(2) REFUSAL TO COOPERATE.—
‘‘(A) GUIDELINES.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, shall develop guidelines on
what constitutes a refusal to cooperate under
paragraph (1).
‘‘(B) PROCEDURES.—The State agency
shall develop procedures, using guidelines devel-
oped under subparagraph (A), for determining
whether an individual is refusing to cooperate
under paragraph (1).
‘‘(3) FEES.—Paragraph (1) shall not require
the payment of a fee or other cost for services pro-
vided under part D of title IV of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.).
576
‘‘(4) PRIVACY.—The State agency shall provide
safeguards to restrict the use of information col-
lected by a State agency administering the program
established under part D of title IV of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) to purposes for
which the information is collected.’’.
SEC. 919. DISQUALIFICATION RELATING TO CHILD SUP-
PORT ARREARS.
Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015), as amended by sections 915, 916, 917 and 918,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(o) DISQUALIFICATION FOR CHILD SUPPORT AR-
REARS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—At the option of a State
agency, except as provided in paragraph (2), no indi-
vidual shall be eligible to participate in the food
stamp program as a member of any household dur-
ing any month that the individual is delinquent in
any payment due under a court order for the sup-
port of a child of the individual.
‘‘(2) EXCEPTIONS.—Paragraph (1) shall not
apply if—
‘‘(A) a court is allowing the individual to
delay payment; or
577
‘‘(B) the individual is complying with a
payment plan approved by a court or the State
agency designated under part D of title IV of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.)
to provide support for the child of the individ-
ual.’’.
SEC. 920. WORK REQUIREMENT FOR ABLE-BODIED RECIPI-
ENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6 of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015), as amended by sections 915,
916, 917, 918, and 919, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
‘‘(p) WORK REQUIREMENT.—
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF WORK PROGRAM.—In this
subsection, the term ‘work program’ means—
‘‘(A) a program under the Job Training
Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.);
‘‘(B) a program under section 236 of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296); or
‘‘(C) a program of employment or training
operated or supervised by a State or local gov-
ernment, as determined appropriate by the Sec-
retary.
‘‘(2) WORK
REQUIREMENT.—No individual
shall be eligible to participate in the food stamp pro-
578
gram as a member of any household if, during the
preceding 12 months, the individual received food
stamp benefits for not less than 6 months during
which the individual did not—
‘‘(A) work 20 hours or more per week,
averaged monthly;
‘‘(B) participate in a workfare program
under section 20 or a comparable State or local
workfare program;
‘‘(C) participate in and comply with the re-
quirements of an approved employment and
training program under subsection (d)(4); or
‘‘(D) participate in and comply with the
requirements of a work program for 20 hours
or more per week.
‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (2) shall not
apply to an individual if the individual is—
‘‘(A) under 18 or over 50 years of age;
‘‘(B) medically certified as physically or
mentally unfit for employment;
‘‘(C) a parent or other member of a house-
hold with a dependent child under 18 years of
age; or
‘‘(D) otherwise exempt under subsection
(d)(2).
579
‘‘(4) WAIVER.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may
waive the applicability of paragraph (2) to any
group of individuals in the State if the Sec-
retary makes a determination that the area in
which the individuals reside—
‘‘(i) has an unemployment rate of over
8 percent; or
‘‘(ii) does not have a sufficient num-
ber of jobs to provide employment for the
individuals.
‘‘(B) REPORT.—The Secretary shall report
the basis for a waiver under subparagraph (A)
to the Committee on Agriculture of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen-
ate.’’.
(b) WORK
AND
TRAINING
PROGRAMS.—Section
6(d)(4) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2015(d)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the follow-
ing:
‘‘(O) REQUIRED PARTICIPATION IN WORK
AND
TRAINING
PROGRAMS.—A State agency
shall provide an opportunity to participate in
the employment and training program under
580
this paragraph to any individual who would oth-
erwise become subject to disqualification under
subsection (p).
‘‘(P) 
COORDINATING
WORK
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of this paragraph, a
State agency that meets the participation
requirements of clause (ii) may operate the
employment and training program of the
State for individuals who are members of
households receiving allotments under this
Act as part of a program operated by the
State under part F of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 681 et seq.), sub-
ject to the requirements of such Act.
‘‘(ii) 
PARTICIPATION
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—A State agency may exercise the
option under clause (i) if the State agency
provides an opportunity to participate in
an approved employment and training pro-
gram to an individual who is—
‘‘(I) subject to subsection (p);
‘‘(II) not employed at least an
average of 20 hours per week;
581
‘‘(III) not participating in a
workfare program under section 20
(or a comparable State or local pro-
gram); and
‘‘(IV) not subject to a waiver
under subsection (i)(4).’’.
SEC. 921. ENCOURAGE ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER
SYSTEMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7(i) of the Food Stamp
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2016(i)) is amended—
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(1) ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFERS.—
‘‘(A) 
IMPLEMENTATION.—Each 
State
agency shall implement an electronic benefit
transfer system in which household benefits de-
termined under section 8(a) or 24 are issued
from and stored in a central databank before
October 1, 2002, unless the Secretary provides
a waiver for a State agency that faces unusual
barriers to implementing an electronic benefit
transfer system.
‘‘(B) TIMELY
IMPLEMENTATION.—State
agencies are encouraged to implement an elec-
582
tronic benefit transfer system under subpara-
graph (A) as soon as practicable.
‘‘(C) STATE
FLEXIBILITY.—Subject to
paragraph (2), a State agency may procure and
implement an electronic benefit transfer system
under the terms, conditions, and design that
the State agency considers appropriate.
‘‘(D) OPERATION.—An electronic benefit
transfer system should take into account gen-
erally accepted standard operating rules based
on—
‘‘(i) 
commercial 
electronic 
funds
transfer technology;
‘‘(ii) the need to permit interstate op-
eration and law enforcement monitoring;
and
‘‘(iii) the need to permit monitoring
and investigations by authorized law en-
forcement agencies.’’;
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) by striking ‘‘effective no later than
April 1, 1992,’’;
(B) in subparagraph (A)—
(i) by striking ‘‘, in any 1 year,’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘on-line’’;
583
(F) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(I) procurement standards.’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(7) REPLACEMENT
OF
BENEFITS.—Regula-
tions issued by the Secretary regarding the replace-
ment of benefits and liability for replacement of ben-
efits under an electronic benefit transfer system
shall be similar to the regulations in effect for a
paper food stamp issuance system.’’.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that a State that operates an electronic benefit
transfer system under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) should operate the system in a man-
ner that is compatible with electronic benefit transfer sys-
tems operated by other States.
SEC. 922. VALUE OF MINIMUM ALLOTMENT.
The proviso in section 8(a) of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2017(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘, and
shall be adjusted’’ and all that follows through ‘‘$5’’.
SEC. 923. BENEFITS ON RECERTIFICATION.
Section 8(c)(2)(B) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
(7 U.S.C. 2017(c)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘of more
than one month’’.
607
‘‘(D) would not substantially alter, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, the appropriate distribution
of benefits according to household need.
‘‘(e) COST DETERMINATION.—(1) During each fiscal
year and not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal
year, the Secretary shall determine using data provided
by the State deemed appropriate by the Secretary whether
such simplified food stamp program being carried out by
a State is increasing Federal costs under this Act above
what the costs would have been for the same population
had they been subject to the rules of the food stamp pro-
gram.
‘‘(2) If the Secretary determines that such simplified
food stamp program has increased Federal costs under
this Act for any fiscal year or any portion of any fiscal
year, the Secretary shall notify the State not later than
30 days after the Secretary makes the determination
under paragraph (1).
‘‘(3)(A) Not later than 90 days after the date of a
notification under paragraph (2), the State shall submit
a plan for approval by the Secretary for prompt corrective
action that is designed to prevent such simplified food
stamp program from increasing Federal costs under this
Act.