559
‘‘(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
this paragraph to any individual who would oth-
erwise become subject to disqualification under
subsection (i).
‘‘(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
560
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 (i);
‘‘(II) not employed at least an
average of 20 hours per week;
‘‘(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—
561
(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-
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—
562
‘‘(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’’;
(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
563
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’’.
SEC. 924. OPTIONAL COMBINED ALLOTMENT FOR EXPE-
DITED HOUSEHOLDS.
Section 8(c)(3) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2017(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(3) OPTIONAL
COMBINED
ALLOTMENT
FOR
EXPEDITED
HOUSEHOLDS.—A State agency may
provide to an eligible household applying after the
15th day of a month, in lieu of the initial allotment
of the household and the regular allotment of the
household for the following month, an allotment that
is equal to the total amount of the initial allotment
and the first regular allotment. The allotment shall
be provided in accordance with section 11(e)(3) in
564
the case of a household that is not entitled to expe-
dited service and in accordance with paragraphs (3)
and (9) of section 11(e) in the case of a household
that is entitled to expedited service.’’.
SEC. 925. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH OTHER MEANS-TEST-
ED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
Section 8(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2017(d)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(d) REDUCTION
OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENE-
FITS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If the benefits of a house-
hold are reduced under a Federal, State, or local law
relating to a means-tested public assistance program
for the failure of a member of the household to per-
form an action required under the law or program,
for the duration of the reduction—
‘‘(A) the household may not receive an in-
creased allotment as the result of a decrease in
the income of the household to the extent that
the decrease is the result of the reduction; and
‘‘(B) the State agency may reduce the al-
lotment of the household by not more than 25
percent.
‘‘(2) RULES AND PROCEDURES.—If the allot-
ment of a household is reduced under this subsection
565
for a failure 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 reduce the allotment under the
food stamp program.’’.
SEC. 926. ALLOTMENTS FOR HOUSEHOLDS RESIDING IN
CENTERS.
Section 8 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2017) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(f) ALLOTMENTS FOR HOUSEHOLDS RESIDING IN
CENTERS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an individual
who resides in a center for the purpose of a drug or
alcoholic treatment program described in the last
sentence of section 3(i), a State agency may provide
an allotment for the individual to—
‘‘(A) the center as an authorized represent-
ative of the individual for a period that is less
than 1 month; and
‘‘(B) the individual, if the individual leaves
the center.
‘‘(2) DIRECT PAYMENT.—A State agency may
require an individual referred to in paragraph (1) to
designate the center in which the individual resides
567
business integrity infractions that are the basis of such
denials or withdrawals.’’.
SEC. 929. INFORMATION FOR VERIFYING ELIGIBILITY FOR
AUTHORIZATION.
Section 9(c) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2018(c)) is amended—
(1) in the 1st sentence by inserting ‘‘, which
may include relevant income and sales tax filing doc-
uments,’’ after ‘‘submit information’’ ; and
(2) by inserting after the 1st sentence the fol-
lowing:
‘‘The regulations may require retail food stores and whole-
sale food concerns to provide written authorization for the
Secretary to verify all relevant tax filings with appropriate
agencies and to obtain corroborating documentation from
other sources in order that the accuracy of information
provided by such stores and concerns may be verified.’’.
SEC. 930. WAITING PERIOD FOR STORES THAT INITIALLY
FAIL TO MEET AUTHORIZATION CRITERIA.
Section 9(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2018(d)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘Regulations issued pursuant to this Act shall prohibit a
retail food store or wholesale food concern that has an ap-
plication for approval to accept and redeem coupons de-
568
nied because it does not meet criteria for approval estab-
lished by the Secretary in regulations from submitting a
new application for six months from the date of such de-
nial.’’.
SEC. 931. OPERATION OF FOOD STAMP OFFICES.
Section 11(e)(2) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2020(e)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(2)(A) that the State agency shall establish
procedures governing the operation of food stamp of-
fices that the State agency determines best serve
households in the State, including households with
special needs, such as households with elderly or dis-
abled members, households in rural areas with low-
income members, homeless individuals, households
residing on reservations, and households in areas in
which a substantial number of members of low-in-
come households speak a language other than Eng-
lish.
‘‘(B) In carrying out subparagraph (A), a State
agency—
‘‘(i) shall provide timely, accurate, and fair
service to applicants for, and participants in,
the food stamp program;
569
‘‘(ii) shall develop an application contain-
ing the information necessary to comply with
this Act;
‘‘(iii) shall permit an applicant household
to apply to participate in the program on the
same day that the household first contacts a
food stamp office in person during office hours;
‘‘(iv) shall consider an application that
contains the name, address, and signature of
the applicant to be filed on the date the appli-
cant submits the application;
‘‘(v) shall require that an adult representa-
tive of each applicant household certify in writ-
ing, under penalty of perjury, that—
‘‘(I) the information contained in the
application is true; and
‘‘(II) all members of the household
are citizens or are aliens eligible to receive
food stamps under section 6(f);
‘‘(vi) shall provide a method of certifying
and issuing coupons to eligible homeless individ-
uals, to ensure that participation in the food
stamp program is limited to eligible households;
and
570
‘‘(vii) may establish operating procedures
that vary for local food stamp offices to reflect
regional and local differences within the State.
‘‘(C) Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the use
of signatures provided and maintained electronically,
storage of records using automated retrieval systems
only, or any other feature of a State agency’s appli-
cation system that does not rely exclusively on the
collection and retention of paper applications or
other records.
‘‘(D) The signature of any adult under this
paragraph shall be considered sufficient to comply
with any provision of Federal law requiring a house-
hold member to sign an application or statement.’’;
(2) in the last sentence of subsection (i) by
striking ‘‘No’’ and inserting ‘‘Other than in a case
of disqualification as a penalty for failure to comply
with a public assistance program rule or regulation,
no’’.
SEC. 932. MANDATORY CLAIMS COLLECTION METHODS.
(a) ADMINISTRATION.—Section 11(e)(8) of the Food
Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(8)) is amended by
inserting ‘‘or refunds of Federal taxes as authorized pur-
suant to section 3720A of title 31 of the United States
Code’’ before the semicolon at the end.
571
(b) COLLECTION OF CLAIMS.—Section 13(d) of the
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2022(d)) is amend-
ed—
(1) by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’;
and
(2) by inserting ‘‘or refunds of Federal taxes as
authorized pursuant to section 3720A of title 31 of
the United States Code’’ before the period at the
end.
(c) RELATED AMENDMENTS.—Section 6103(1) of
the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 6103(1)) is amend-
ed—
(1) by striking ‘‘officers and employees’’ in
paragraph (10)(A) and inserting ‘‘officers, employ-
ees or agents, including State agencies’’; and
(2) by striking ‘‘officers and employees’’ in
paragraph (10)(B) and inserting ‘‘officers, employ-
ees or agents, including State agencies’’.
SEC. 933. EXCHANGE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMA-
TION.
Section 11(e)(8) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2020(e)(8)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘that (A) such’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘that—
572
‘‘(A) the’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘law, (B) notwithstanding’’ and
inserting the following:
‘‘law;
‘‘(B) notwithstanding’’;
(3) by striking ‘‘Act, and (C) such’’ and insert-
ing the following:
‘‘Act;
‘‘(C) the’’; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the address, social security number, and,
if available, photograph of any member of a
household shall be made available, on request,
to any Federal, State, or local law enforcement
officer if the officer furnishes the State agency
with the name of the member and notifies the
agency that—
‘‘(i) the member—
‘‘(I) is fleeing to avoid prosecu-
tion, or custody or confinement after
conviction, for a crime (or attempt to
commit a crime) that, under the law
of the place the member is fleeing, is
a felony (or, in the case of New Jer-
573
sey, a high misdemeanor), or is violat-
ing a condition of probation or parole
imposed under Federal or State law;
or
‘‘(II) has information that is nec-
essary for the officer to conduct an of-
ficial duty related to subclause (I);
‘‘(ii) locating or apprehending the
member is an official duty; and
‘‘(iii) the request is being made in the
proper exercise of an official duty; and
‘‘(E) the safeguards shall not prevent com-
pliance with paragraph (16);’’.
SEC. 934. EXPEDITED COUPON SERVICE.
Section 11(e)(9) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2020(e)(9)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A)—
(A) by striking ‘‘five days’’ and inserting
‘‘7 days’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(2) by striking subparagraph (B);
(3) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘, (B), or
(C)’’ and inserting ‘‘or (B)’’; and
(4) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and
(D) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively.
574
SEC. 935. WITHDRAWING FAIR HEARING REQUESTS.
Section 11(e)(10) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2020(e)(10)) is amended by inserting before the
semicolon at the end a period and the following: ‘‘At the
option of a State, at any time prior to a fair hearing deter-
mination under this paragraph, a household may with-
draw, orally or in writing, a request by the household for
the fair hearing. If the withdrawal request is an oral re-
quest, the State agency shall provide a written notice to
the household confirming the withdrawal request and pro-
viding the household with an opportunity to request a
hearing’’.
SEC. 936. INCOME, ELIGIBILITY, AND IMMIGRATION STATUS
VERIFICATION SYSTEMS.
Section 11(e)(19) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2020(e)(19)) is amended by striking ‘‘that infor-
mation is’’ and inserting ‘‘at the option of the State agen-
cy, that information may be’’.
SEC. 937. BASES FOR SUSPENSIONS AND DISQUALIFICA-
TIONS.
Section 12(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2021(a)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘Regulations issued pursuant to this Act shall provide cri-
teria for the finding of violations and the suspension or
disqualification of a retail food store or wholesale food con-
575
cern on the basis of evidence which may include, but is
not limited to, facts established through on-site investiga-
tions, inconsistent redemption data, or evidence obtained
through transaction reports under electronic benefit trans-
fer systems.’’.
SEC. 938. AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND STORES VIOLATING
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS PENDING ADMIN-
ISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL REVIEW.
(a) SUSPENSION AUTHORITY.—Section 12(a) of the
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2021(a)), as amended
by section 937, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘Such regulations may establish criteria under which the
authorization of a retail food store or wholesale food con-
cern to accept and redeem coupons may be suspended at
the time such store or concern is initially found to have
committed violations of program requirements. Such sus-
pension may coincide with the period of a review as pro-
vided in section 14. The Secretary shall not be liable for
the value of any sales lost during any suspension or dis-
qualification period.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 14(a) of
the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2023(a)) is amend-
ed—
576
(1) in the 1st sentence by inserting ‘‘sus-
pended,’’ before ‘‘disqualified or subjected’’;
(2) in the 5th sentence by inserting before the
period at the end the following:
‘‘, except that in the case of the suspension of a retail
food store or wholesale food concern pursuant to section
12(a), such suspension shall remain in effect pending any
administrative or judicial review of the proposed disquali-
fication action, and the period of suspension shall be
deemed a part of any period of disqualification which is
imposed.’’; and
(3) by striking the last sentence.
SEC. 939. DISQUALIFICATION OF RETAILERS WHO ARE DIS-
QUALIFIED FROM THE WIC PROGRAM.
Section 12 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2021) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(g) The Secretary shall issue regulations providing
criteria for the disqualification of approved retail food
stores and wholesale food concerns that are otherwise dis-
qualified from accepting benefits under the Special Sup-
plemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children (WIC) authorized under section 17 of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966. Such disqualification—
‘‘(1) shall be for the same period as the dis-
qualification from the WIC Program;
577
‘‘(2) may begin at a later date; and
‘‘(3) notwithstanding section 14 of this Act,
shall not be subject to administrative or judicial re-
view.’’.
SEC. 940. PERMANENT DEBARMENT OF RETAILERS WHO IN-
TENTIONALLY SUBMIT FALSIFIED APPLICA-
TIONS.
Section 12 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C.
2021), as amended by section 939, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘(h) The Secretary shall issue regulations providing
for the permanent disqualification of a retail food store
or wholesale food concern that is determined to have
knowingly submitted an application for approval to accept
and redeem coupons which contains false information
about one or more substantive matters which were the
basis for providing approval. Any disqualification imposed
under this subsection shall be subject to administrative
and judicial review pursuant to section 14, but such dis-
qualification shall remain in effect pending such review.’’.
SEC. 941. EXPANDED CIVIL AND CRIMINAL FORFEITURE
FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE FOOD STAMP ACT.
(a) FORFEITURE OF ITEMS EXCHANGED IN FOOD
STAMP TRAFFICKING.—Section 15(g) of the Food Stamp
578
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2024(g)) is amended by striking
‘‘or intended to be furnished’’.
(b) CIVIL AND CRIMINAL FORFEITURE.—Section 15
of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2024)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(h)(1) CIVIL FORFEITURE FOR FOOD STAMP BENE-
FIT VIOLATIONS.—
‘‘(A) Any food stamp benefits and any property,
real or personal—
‘‘(i) constituting, derived from, or traceable
to any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly
from, or
‘‘(ii) used, or intended to be used, to com-
mit, or to facilitate,
the commission of a violation of subsection (b) or
subsection (c) involving food stamp benefits having
an aggregate value of not less than $5,000, shall be
subject to forfeiture to the United States.
‘‘(B) The provisions of chapter 46 of title 18,
United States Code, relating to civil forfeitures shall
extend to a seizure or forfeiture under this sub-
section, insofar as applicable and not inconsistent
with the provisions of this subsection.
‘‘(2) CRIMINAL FORFEITURE FOR FOOD STAMP BEN-
EFIT VIOLATIONS.—
579
‘‘(A)(i) Any person convicted of violating sub-
section (b) or subsection (c) involving food stamp
benefits having an aggregate value of not less than
$5,000, shall forfeit to the United States, irrespec-
tive of any State law—
‘‘(I) any food stamp benefits and any prop-
erty constituting, or derived from, or traceable
to any proceeds such person obtained directly or
indirectly as a result of such violation; and
‘‘(II) any food stamp benefits and any of
such person’s property used, or intended to be
used, in any manner or part, to commit, or to
facilitate the commission of such violation.
‘‘(ii) In imposing sentence on such person, the
court shall order that the person forfeit to the Unit-
ed States all property described in this subsection.
‘‘(B) All food stamp benefits and any property
subject to forfeiture under this subsection, any sei-
zure and disposition thereof, and any administrative
or judicial proceeding relating thereto, shall be gov-
erned by subsections (b), (c), (e), and (g) through
(p) of section 413 of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse
Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C.
853), insofar as applicable and not inconsistent with
the provisions of this subsection.
580
‘‘(3) APPLICABILITY.—This subsection shall not
apply to property specified in subsection (g) of this sec-
tion.
‘‘(4) RULES.—The Secretary may prescribe such
rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out
this subsection.’’.
SEC. 942. EXPANDED AUTHORITY FOR SHARING INFORMA-
TION PROVIDED BY RETAILERS.
(a) AMENDMENT TO SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.—Sec-
tion 205(c)(2)(C)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)(iii)), as amended by section 316(a)
of the Social Security Administrative Reform Act of 1994
(Public Law 103–296; 108 Stat. 1464), is amended—
(1) by inserting in the 1st sentence of subclause
(II) after ‘‘instrumentality of the United States’’ the
following: ‘‘, or State government officers and em-
ployees with law enforcement or investigative respon-
sibilities, or State agencies that have the responsibil-
ity for administering the Special Supplemental Nu-
trition Program for Women, Infants and Children
(WIC)’’;
(2) by inserting in the last sentence of sub-
clause (II) immediately after ‘‘other Federal’’ the
words ‘‘or State’’; and
581
(3) by inserting ‘‘or a State’’ in subclause (III)
immediately after ‘‘United States’’.
(b) AMENDMENT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF
1986.—Section 6109(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 6109(f)(2)) (as added by section
316(b) of the Social Security Administrative Reform Act
of 1994 (Public Law 103–296; 108 Stat. 1464)) is amend-
ed—
(1) by inserting in subparagraph (A) after ‘‘in-
strumentality of the United States’’ the following: ‘‘,
or State government officers and employees with law
enforcement or investigative responsibilities, or State
agencies that have the responsibility for administer-
ing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)’’;
(2) in the last sentence of subparagraph (A) by
inserting ‘‘or State’’ after ‘‘other Federal’’; and
(3) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ‘‘or a
State’’ after ‘‘United States’’.
SEC. 943. LIMITATION OF FEDERAL MATCH.
Section 16(a)(4) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2025(a)(4)) is amended by inserting after the
comma at the end the following: ‘‘but not including re-
cruitment activities,’’.
582
SEC. 944. COLLECTION OF OVERISSUANCES.
Section 16(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2025(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘25 percent dur-
ing the period beginning October 1, 1990’’ and all that
follows through ‘‘error of a State agency’’ and inserting
the following: ‘‘25 percent of the overissuances collected
by the State agency under section 13, except those
overissuances arising from an error of the State agency’’.
SEC. 945. STANDARDS FOR ADMINISTRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025) is amended by striking sub-
section (b).
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) The 1st sentence of section 11(g) of the
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020(g)) is
amended by striking ‘‘the Secretary’s standards for
the efficient and effective administration of the pro-
gram established under section 16(b)(1) or’’.
(2) Section 16(c)(1)(B) of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(1)(B)) is amended by
striking ‘‘pursuant to subsection (b)’’.
SEC. 946. RESPONSE TO WAIVERS.
Section 17(b)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7
U.S.C. 2026(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(C) RESPONSE TO WAIVERS.—
583
‘‘(i) RESPONSE.—Not later than 60 days after
the date of receiving a request for a waiver under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide a re-
sponse that—
‘‘(I) approves the waiver request;
‘‘(II) denies the waiver request and ex-
plains any modification needed for approval of
the waiver request;
‘‘(III) denies the waiver request and ex-
plains the grounds for the denial; or
‘‘(IV) requests clarification of the waiver
request.
‘‘(ii) FAILURE TO RESPOND.—If the Secretary
does not provide a response in accordance with
clause (i), the waiver shall be considered approved,
unless the approval is specifically prohibited by this
Act.
‘‘(iii) NOTICE
OF
DENIAL.—On denial of a
waiver request under clause (i)(III), the Secretary
shall provide a copy of the waiver request and a de-
scription of the reasons for the denial to the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry of the Senate.’’.
584
SEC. 947. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
The 1st sentence of section 18(a)(1) of the Food
Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2027(a)(1)) is amended by
striking ‘‘1991 through 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘1996
through 2002’’.
SEC. 948. AUTHORIZE STATES TO OPERATE SIMPLIFIED
FOOD STAMP PROGRAMS.
(a) AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM.—The Food Stamp
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘SEC. 24. SIMPLIFIED FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.
‘‘(a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘Federal
costs’ does not include any Federal costs incurred under
section 17.
‘‘(b) STATE OPTION.—Subject to subsection (d), a
State may elect to carry out a simplified food stamp pro-
gram for households described in subsection (c)(1), state-
wide or in a political subdivision of the State, in accord-
ance with this section.
‘‘(c) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—If a State elects to
carry out such simplified food stamp program, within the
State or a political subdivision of the State—
‘‘(1) only households in which all members re-
ceive assistance under a State program funded
under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) shall receive benefits under
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this section. Such households shall be automatically
eligible to participate in such simplified food stamp
program; and
‘‘(2) subject to subsection (f), benefits under
such simplified food stamp program shall be deter-
mined under rules and procedures established by the
State under—
‘‘(A) a State program funded under part A
of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
601 et seq.);
‘‘(B) the food stamp program; or
‘‘(C) a combination of a State program
funded under part A of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 US..C. 601 et seq.) and the
food stamp program.
‘‘(d) STATE PLAN.—(1) A State may not operate
such simplified food stamp program unless the Secretary
approves a State plan for the operation of such simplified
food stamp program under paragraph (2).
‘‘(2) The Secretary is authorized to approve any State
plan to carry out such simplified food stamp program if
the Secretary determines that the plan—
‘‘(A) simplifies program administration while
fulfilling the goals of the food stamp program to
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permit low-income households to obtain a more nu-
tritious diet;
‘‘(B) complies with this section;
‘‘(C) would not increase Federal costs for any
fiscal year; and
‘‘(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
587
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.
‘‘(B) If the State does not submit a plan under sub-
paragraph (A) or carry out a plan approved by the Sec-
retary, the Secretary shall terminate the approval of the
State operating such simplified food stamp program and
the State shall be ineligible to operate a future Simplified
Program.
‘‘(f) RULES AND PROCEDURES.—(1) In operating
such simplified food stamp program, a State or political
subdivision of a State may follow the rules and procedures
established by the State or political subdivision under a
State program funded under part A of title IV of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or under the
food stamp program.
‘‘(2) In operating such simplified food stamp pro-
gram, a State or political subdivision shall comply with
the requirements of—
‘‘(A) section 5(e) to the extent that it requires
an excess shelter expense deduction;
‘‘(B) subsections (a) through (g) of section 7;
‘‘(C) section 8(a) (except that the income of a
household may be determined under a State pro-
588
gram funded under part A of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.));
‘‘(D) subsections (b) and (d) of section 8;
‘‘(E) subsections (a), (c), (d), and (n) of section
11;
‘‘(F) paragraphs (8), (9), (12), (18), (20), (24),
and (25) of section 11(e);
‘‘(G) section 11(e)(2), to the extent that it re-
quires the State agency to provide an application to
households on the 1st day they contact a food stamp
office in person during office hours to make what
may reasonably be interpreted as an oral or written
request for food stamp assistance and to allow those
households to file such application on the same day;
‘‘(H) section 11(e)(3), to the extent that it re-
quires the State agency to complete certification of
an eligible household and provide an allotment retro-
active to the period of application to an eligible
household not later than 30 days following the filing
of an application;
‘‘(I) section 11(e)(10) (or a comparable require-
ment established by the State under a State pro-
gram funded under part A of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)); and
‘‘(J) section 16.
589
‘‘(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this sec-
tion, a household may not receive benefits under this sec-
tion as a result of the eligibility of the household under
a State program funded under part A of title IV of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), unless the
Secretary determines that any household with income
above 130 percent of the poverty guidelines is not eligible
for such simplified food stamp program.’’.
(b) REPEALER.—Section 8 of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2017) is amended by striking sub-
section (e).
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—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
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(26) if a State elects to carry out a simplified
food stamp program under section 24, the plan of
the State agency for operating such simplified food
stamp program, including—
‘‘(A) the rules and procedures to be fol-
lowed by the State to determine food stamp
benefits; and
590
‘‘(B) a description of the method by which
the State will carry out a quality control system
under section 16(c).’’.
(d) REPEAL OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.—Sec-
tion 17 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026)
is amended by—
(1) by striking subsection (i); and
(2) redesignating subsections (j) through (l) as
subsections (i) through (k), respectively.
SEC. 949. EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 201A of the Emergency
Food Assistance Act of 1983 (Public Law 98–8; 7 U.S.C.
612c note) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 201A. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘In this Act:
‘‘(1) ADDITIONAL
COMMODITIES.—The term
‘additional commodities’ means commodities made
available under section 214 in addition to the com-
modities made available under sections 202 and
203D.
‘‘(2) AVERAGE MONTHLY NUMBER OF UNEM-
PLOYED
PERSONS.—The term ‘average monthly
number of unemployed persons’ means the average
monthly number of unemployed persons in each
State in the most recent fiscal year for which infor-
591
mation concerning the number of unemployed per-
sons is available, as determined by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT AGENCY.—The term
‘eligible recipient agency’ means a public or non-
profit organization—
‘‘(A) that administers—
‘‘(i) an emergency feeding organiza-
tion;
‘‘(ii) a charitable institution (including
a hospital and a retirement home, but ex-
cluding a penal institution) to the extent
that the institution serves needy persons;
‘‘(iii) a summer camp for children, or
a child nutrition program providing food
service;
‘‘(iv) a nutrition project operating
under the Older Americans Act of 1965
(42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), including a
project that operates a congregate nutri-
tion site and a project that provides home-
delivered meals; or
‘‘(v) a disaster relief program;
593
activities, provide meals or food to feed needy per-
sons on a regular basis.
‘‘(6) FOOD PANTRY.—The term ‘food pantry’
means a public or private nonprofit organization
that distributes food to low-income and unemployed
households, including food from sources other than
the Department of Agriculture, to relieve situations
of emergency and distress.
‘‘(7) POVERTY LINE.—The term ‘poverty line’
has the same meaning given the term in section
673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act
(42 U.S.C. 9902(2)).
‘‘(8) SOUP KITCHEN.—The term ‘soup kitchen’
means a public or charitable institution that, as an
integral part of the normal activities of the institu-
tion, maintains an established feeding operation to
provide food to needy homeless persons on a regular
basis.
‘‘(9) TOTAL VALUE OF ADDITIONAL COMMOD-
ITIES.—The term ‘total value of additional commod-
ities’ means the actual cost of all additional com-
modities made available under section 214 that are
paid by the Secretary (including the distribution and
processing costs incurred by the Secretary).
594
‘‘(10) VALUE
OF
ADDITIONAL
COMMODITIES
ALLOCATED TO EACH STATE.—The term ‘value of
additional commodities allocated to each State’
means the actual cost of additional commodities
made available under section 214 and allocated to
each State that are paid by the Secretary (including
the distribution and processing costs incurred by the
Secretary).’’.
(b) STATE PLAN.—Section 202A of the Emergency
Food Assistance Act of 1983 (Public Law 98–8; 7 U.S.C.
612c note) (7 U.S.C. 612c note) is amended to read as
follows:
‘‘SEC. 202A. STATE PLAN.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To receive commodities under
this Act, a State shall submit a plan of operation and ad-
ministration every 4 years to the Secretary for approval.
The plan may be amended at any time, with the approval
of the Secretary.
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Each plan shall—
‘‘(1) designate the State agency responsible for
distributing the commodities received under this Act;
‘‘(2) set forth a plan of operation and adminis-
tration to expeditiously distribute commodities under
this Act;
595
‘‘(3) set forth the standards of eligibility for re-
cipient agencies; and
‘‘(4) set forth the standards of eligibility for in-
dividual or household recipients of commodities,
which shall require—
‘‘(A) individuals or households to be com-
prised of needy persons; and
‘‘(B) individual or household members to
be residing in the geographic location served by
the distributing agency at the time of applying
for assistance.
‘‘(c) STATE ADVISORY BOARD.—The Secretary shall
encourage each State receiving commodities under this Act
to establish a State advisory board consisting of represent-
atives of all interested entities, both public and private,
in the distribution of commodities received under this Act
in the State.’’.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR AD-
MINISTRATIVE FUNDS.—Section 204(a)(1) of the Emer-
gency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (Public Law 98–8; 7
U.S.C. 612c note) (7 U.S.C. 612c note) is amended—
(1) in the 1st sentence—
(A) by striking ‘‘1991 through 1995’’ and
inserting ‘‘1996 through 2002’’; and
596
(B) by striking ‘‘for State and local’’ and
all that follows through ‘‘under this title’’ and
inserting ‘‘to pay for the direct and indirect ad-
ministrative costs of the State related to the
processing, transporting, and distributing to eli-
gible recipient agencies of commodities provided
by the Secretary under this Act and commod-
ities secured from other sources’’; and
(2) by striking the fourth sentence.
(d) TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS.—The Emergency
Food Assistance Act of 1983 (Public Law 98–8; 7 U.S.C.
612c note) (7 U.S.C. 612c note) is amended—
(1) in the 1st sentence of section 203B(a), by
striking ‘‘203 and 203A of this Act’’ and inserting
‘‘203A’’;
(2) in section 204(a), by striking ‘‘title’’ each
place it appears and inserting ‘‘Act’’; and
(3) by striking section 212.
(e) REPORT ON EFAP.—Section 1571 of the Food
Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–198; 7 U.S.C. 612c
note) is repealed.
SEC. 950. FOOD BANK DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
Section 3 of the Charitable Assistance and Food
Bank Act of 1987 (Public Law 100–232; 7 U.S.C. 612c
note) is repealed.
597
SEC. 951. REPORT ON ENTITLEMENT COMMODITY PROC-
ESSING.
Section 1773 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation,
and Trade Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–624; 7 U.S.C.
612c note) is amended by striking subsection (f).
TITLE X—MISCELLANEOUS
SEC. 1001. EXPENDITURE OF FEDERAL FUNDS IN ACCORD-
ANCE WITH LAWS AND PROCEDURES APPLI-
CABLE TO EXPENDITURE OF STATE FUNDS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, any funds received by a State under the provi-
sions of law specified in subsection (b) shall be expended
only in accordance with the laws and procedures applicable
to expenditures of the State’s own revenues, including ap-
propriation by the State legislature, consistent with the
terms and conditions required under such provisions of
law.
(b) PROVISIONS
OF LAW.—The provisions of law
specified in this subsection are the following:
(1) Part A of title IV of the Social Security Act
(relating to block grants for temporary assistance
for needy families).
(2) Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977
(relating to the optional State food assistance block
grant).
598
(3) The Child Care and Development Block
Grant Act of 1990 (relating to block grants for child
care).
SEC. 1002. ELIMINATION OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE WITH
RESPECT TO FUGITIVE FELONS AND PROBA-
TION AND PAROLE VIOLATORS.
(a) ELIGIBILITY
FOR
ASSISTANCE.—The United
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) is
amended—
(1) in section 6(l)—
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
the end;
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by inserting immediately after para-
graph (6) the following new paragraph:
‘‘(7) provide that it shall be cause for imme-
diate termination of the tenancy of a public housing
tenant if such tenant—
‘‘(A) is fleeing to avoid prosecution, or cus-
tody or confinement after conviction, under the
laws of the place from which the individual
flees, for a crime, or attempt to commit a
crime, which is a felony under the laws of the
place from which the individual flees, or which,