7 U.S.C. § 2020 — Administration

Page 1309 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 pursuant to section 1338 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title, see section 192(b) of Pub. L. 97–253, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective upon such date as Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe, taking into account need for orderly implementation, see section 1338 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1979 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 96–58 to be implemented in all States by July 1, 1980, but not to affect the rights or li- abilities of Secretary, States, and applicant or partici- pant households under provisions of this chapter as in effect on July 1, 1979, until implemented, see section 10(c) of Pub. L. 96–58, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1977 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, § 1301, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 958, provided that the amendment made by section 1301 is effective Oct. 1, 1977. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1972 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 92–603 effective Jan. 1, 1973, see section 411(h) of Pub. L. 92–603, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. REGULATIONS Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, § 1523(b), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1580, provided that: ‘‘The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Board of Governors of the Fed- eral Reserve System, shall issue regulations imple- menting the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section].’’ PUBLICLY OPERATED COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS Provisions of this section concerning private, non- profit drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and reha- bilitation programs to be applicable to publicly oper- ated community health centers, see section 101(b) of Pub. L. 98–107, set out in part as a note under section 2012 of this title. EXTENSION UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 1976, OF FINAL DATE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS GOVERNING USE OF FOOD STAMPS BY AFDC FAMILIES Pub. L. 94–182, title II, § 201, Dec. 31, 1975, 89 Stat. 1056, permitted the final date for compliance with regula- tions implementing former subsec. (e)(7) of this section to be extended until Oct. 1, 1976. § 2020. Administration (a) State responsibility (1) In general The State agency of each participating State shall have responsibility for certifying applicant households and issuing EBT cards. (2) Local administration The responsibility of the agency of the State government shall not be affected by whether the program is operated on a State-adminis- tered or county-administered basis, as pro- vided under section 2012(s)(1) of this title. (3) Records (A) In general Each State agency shall keep such records as may be necessary to determine whether the program is being conducted in compli- ance with this chapter (including regula- tions issued under this chapter). (B) Inspection and audit All records, and the entire information systems in which records are contained, that are covered in subparagraph (A) shall— (i) be made available for inspection and audit by the Secretary, subject to data and security protocols agreed to by the State agency and Secretary; (ii) subject to subsection (e)(8), be avail- able for review in any action filed by a household to enforce any provision of this chapter (including regulations issued under this chapter); and (iii) be preserved for such period of not less than 3 years as may be specified in regulations. (4) Review of major changes in program design (A) In general The Secretary shall develop standards for identifying major changes in the operations of a State agency, including— (i) large or substantially-increased num- bers of low-income households that do not live in reasonable proximity to an office performing the major functions described in subsection (e); (ii) substantial increases in reliance on automated systems for the performance of responsibilities previously performed by personnel described in subsection (e)(6)(B); (iii) changes that potentially increase the difficulty of reporting information under subsection (e) or section 2015(c) of this title; and (iv) changes that may disproportionately increase the burdens on any of the types of households described in subsection (e)(2)(A). (B) Notification If a State agency implements a major change in operations, the State agency shall— (i) notify the Secretary; and (ii) collect such information as the Sec- retary shall require to identify and correct any adverse effects on program integrity or access, including access by any of the types of households described in sub- section (e)(2)(A). (b) Correction of improper denials and under- issuances When a State agency learns, through its own reviews under section 2025 of this title or other reviews, or through other sources, that it has improperly denied, terminated, or underissued benefits to an eligible household, the State agency shall promptly restore any improperly denied benefits to the extent required by sub- section (e)(11) and section 2023(b) of this title, and shall take other steps to prevent a recur- rence of such errors where such error was caused by the application of State agency practices, rules or procedures inconsistent with the re- quirements of this chapter or with regulations or policies of the Secretary issued under the au- thority of this chapter. (c) Civil rights compliance (1) In general In the certification of applicant households for the supplemental nutrition assistance pro- Page 1310 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 1 See References in Text note below. gram, there shall be no discrimination by rea- son of race, sex, religious creed, national ori- gin, or political affiliation. (2) Relation to other laws The administration of the program by a State agency shall be consistent with the rights of households under the following laws (including implementing regulations): (A) The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.). (B) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794). (C) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). (D) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.). (d) Plan of operation by State agency; approval by Secretary; Indians The State agency (as defined in section 2012(s)(1) of this title) of each State desiring to participate in the supplemental nutrition assist- ance program shall submit for approval a plan of operation specifying the manner in which such program will be conducted within the State in every political subdivision. The Secretary may not, as a part of the approval process for a plan of operation, require a State to submit for prior approval by the Secretary the State agency in- structions to staff, interpretations of existing policy, State agency methods of administration, forms used by the State agency, or any mate- rials, documents, memoranda, bulletins, or other matter, unless the State determines that the materials, documents, memoranda, bul- letins, or other matter alter or amend the State plan of operation or conflict with the rights and levels of benefits to which a household is enti- tled. In the case of all or part of an Indian res- ervation, the State agency as defined in section 2012(s)(1) of this title shall be responsible for conducting such program on such reservation unless the Secretary determines that the State agency (as defined in section 2012(s)(1) of this title) is failing, subsequent to August 31, 1964, properly to administer such program on such reservation in accordance with the purposes of this chapter and further determines that the State agency as defined in section 2012(s)(2) of this title is capable of effectively and efficiently conducting such program, in light of the dis- tance of the reservation from State agency-oper- ated certification and issuance centers, the pre- vious experience of such tribal organization in the operation of programs authorized under the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 450) 1 and similar Acts of Congress, the tribal organi- zation’s management and fiscal capabilities, and the adequacy of measures taken by the tribal or- ganization to ensure that there shall be no dis- crimination in the operation of the program on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin, in which event such State agency shall be re- sponsible for conducting such program and sub- mitting for approval a plan of operation speci- fying the manner in which such program will be conducted. The Secretary, upon the request of a tribal organization, shall provide the designees of such organization with appropriate training and technical assistance to enable them to qual- ify as expeditiously as possible as a State agen- cy pursuant to section 2012(s)(2) of this title. A State agency, as defined in section 2012(s)(1) of this title, before it submits its plan of operation to the Secretary for the administration of the supplemental nutrition assistance program on all or part of an Indian reservation, shall con- sult in good faith with the tribal organization about that portion of the State’s plan of oper- ation pertaining to the implementation of the program for members of the tribe, and shall im- plement the program in a manner that is re- sponsive to the needs of the Indians on the res- ervation as determined by ongoing consultation with the tribal organization. (e) Requisites of State plan of operation The State plan of operation required under subsection (d) of this section shall provide, among such other provisions as may be required by regulation— (1) that the State agency shall— (A) at the option of the State agency, in- form low-income households about the avail- ability, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and benefits of the supplemental nutrition assistance program; and (B) comply with regulations of the Sec- retary requiring the use of appropriate bilin- gual personnel and printed material in the administration of the program in those por- tions of political subdivisions in the State in which a substantial number of members of low-income households speak a language other than English; (2)(A) that the State agency shall establish procedures governing the operation of supple- mental nutrition assistance program offices that the State agency determines best serve households in the State, including households with special needs, such as households with el- derly or disabled members, households in rural areas with low-income members, homeless in- dividuals, households residing on reservations, and households in areas in which a substantial number of members of low-income households speak a language other than English. (B) In carrying out subparagraph (A), a State agency— (i) shall provide timely, accurate, and fair service to applicants for, and participants in, the supplemental nutrition assistance program; (ii)(I) shall develop an application con- taining the information necessary to comply with this chapter; and (II) if the State agency maintains a website for the State agency, shall make the application available on the website in each language in which the State agency makes a printed application available; (iii) shall permit an applicant household to apply to participate in the program on the same day that the household first contacts a supplemental nutrition assistance program office in person during office hours; (iv) shall consider an application that con- tains the name, address, and signature of the applicant to be filed on the date the appli- cant submits the application; Page 1311 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 (v) shall require that an adult representa- tive of each applicant household certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, that— (I) the information contained in the ap- plication is true; and (II) all members of the household are citizens or are aliens eligible to receive supplemental nutrition assistance pro- gram benefits under section 2015(f) of this title; (vi) shall provide a method of certifying and issuing benefits to eligible homeless in- dividuals, to ensure that participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program is limited to eligible households; and (vii) may establish operating procedures that vary for local supplemental nutrition assistance program offices to reflect re- gional and local differences within the State. (C) ELECTRONIC AND AUTOMATED SYSTEMS.— (i) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this chapter 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 agen- cy’s application system that does not rely exclusively on the collection and retention of paper applications or other records. (ii) STATE OPTION FOR TELEPHONIC SIGNA- TURE.—A State agency may establish a sys- tem by which an applicant household may sign an application through a recorded verbal assent over the telephone. (iii) REQUIREMENTS.—A system established under clause (ii) shall— (I) record for future reference the verbal assent of the household member and the information to which assent was given; (II) include effective safeguards against impersonation, identity theft, and inva- sions of privacy; (III) not deny or interfere with the right of the household to apply in writing; (IV) promptly provide to the household member a written copy of the completed application, with instructions for a simple procedure for correcting any errors or omissions; (V) comply with paragraph (1)(B); (VI) satisfy all requirements for a signa- ture on an application under this chapter and other laws applicable to the supple- mental nutrition assistance program, with the date on which the household member provides verbal assent considered as the date of application for all purposes; and (VII) comply with such other standards as the Secretary may establish. (D) The signature of any adult under this paragraph shall be considered sufficient to comply with any provision of Federal law re- quiring a household member to sign an appli- cation or statement; (3) that the State agency shall thereafter promptly determine the eligibility of each ap- plicant household by way of verification of in- come other than that determined to be ex- cluded by section 2014(d) of this title (in part through the use of the information, if any, ob- tained under section 2025(e) of this title and after compliance with the requirement speci- fied in paragraph (24)), household size (in any case such size is questionable), and such other eligibility factors as the Secretary determines to be necessary to implement sections 2014 and 2015 of this title, although the State agency may verify prior to certification, whether questionable or not, the size of any applicant household and such other eligibility factors as the State agency determines are necessary, so as to complete certification of and provide an allotment retroactive to the period of applica- tion to any eligible household not later than thirty days following its filing of an applica- tion, and that the State agency shall provide each applicant household, at the time of appli- cation, a clear written statement explaining what acts the household must perform to co- operate in obtaining verification and other- wise completing the application process; (4) that the State agency shall insure that each participating household receive a notice of expiration of its certification prior to the start of the last month of its certification pe- riod advising the household that it must sub- mit a new application in order to renew its eli- gibility for a new certification period and, fur- ther, that each such household which seeks to be certified another time or more times there- after by filing an application for such recer- tification no later than fifteen days prior to the day upon which its existing certification period expires shall, if found to be still eligi- ble, receive its allotment no later than one month after the receipt of the last allotment issued to it pursuant to its prior certification, but if such household is found to be ineligible or to be eligible for a smaller allotment during the new certification period it shall not con- tinue to participate and receive benefits on the basis authorized for the preceding certifi- cation period even if it makes a timely request for a fair hearing pursuant to paragraph (10) of this subsection: Provided, That the timeliness standards for submitting the notice of expira- tion and filing an application for recertifi- cation may be modified by the Secretary in light of sections 2014(f)(2) and 2015(c) of this title if administratively necessary; (5) the specific standards to be used in deter- mining the eligibility of applicant households which shall be in accordance with sections 2014 and 2015 of this title and shall include no addi- tional requirements imposed by the State agency; (6) that— (A) the State agency shall undertake the certification of applicant households in ac- cordance with the general procedures pre- scribed by the Secretary in the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter; and (B) the State agency personnel utilized in undertaking such certification shall be em- ployed in accordance with the current stand- ards for a Merit System of Personnel Admin- istration or any standards later prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management pur- suant to section 4728 of title 42 modifying or superseding such standards relating to the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis; Page 1312 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 (7) that an applicant household may be rep- resented in the certification process and that an eligible household may be represented in benefit issuance or food purchase by a person other than a member of the household so long as that person has been clearly designated as the representative of that household for that purpose by the head of the household or the spouse of the head, and, where the certifi- cation process is concerned, the representative is an adult who is sufficiently aware of rel- evant household circumstances, except that the Secretary may restrict the number of households which may be represented by an in- dividual and otherwise establish criteria and verification standards for representation under this paragraph; (8) safeguards which prohibit the use or dis- closure of information obtained from appli- cant households, except that— (A) the safeguards shall permit— (i) the disclosure of such information to persons directly connected with the ad- ministration or enforcement of the provi- sions of this chapter, regulations issued pursuant to this chapter, Federal assist- ance programs, or federally-assisted State programs; and (ii) the subsequent use of the informa- tion by persons described in clause (i) only for such administration or enforcement; (B) the safeguards shall not prevent the use or disclosure of such information to the Comptroller General of the United States for audit and examination authorized by any other provision of law; (C) notwithstanding any other provision of law, all information obtained under this chapter from an applicant household shall be made available, upon request, to local, State or Federal law enforcement officials for the purpose of investigating an alleged violation of this chapter or any regulation issued under this chapter; (D) the safeguards shall not prevent the use by, or disclosure of such information, to agencies of the Federal Government (includ- ing the United States Postal Service) for purposes of collecting the amount of an overissuance of benefits, as determined under section 2022(b) of this title, from Fed- eral pay (including salaries and pensions) as authorized pursuant to section 5514 of title 5 or a Federal income tax refund as authorized by section 3720A of title 31; (E) 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 mem- ber and notifies the agency that— (i) the member— (I) is fleeing to avoid prosecution, 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 Jersey, a high mis- demeanor), or is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under Fed- eral or State law; or (II) has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct an official 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 (F) the safeguards shall not prevent com- pliance with paragraph (15) or (18)(B) or sub- section (u); (9) that the State agency shall— (A) provide benefits no later than 7 days after the date of application to any house- hold which— (i)(I) has gross income that is less than $150 per month; or (II) is a destitute migrant or a seasonal farmworker household in accordance with the regulations governing such households in effect July 1, 1982; and (ii) has liquid resources that do not ex- ceed $100; (B) provide benefits no later than 7 days after the date of application to any house- hold that has a combined gross income and liquid resources that is less than the month- ly rent, or mortgage, and utilities of the household; and (C) to the extent practicable, verify the in- come and liquid resources of a household re- ferred to in subparagraph (A) or (B) prior to issuance of benefits to the household; (10) for the granting of a fair hearing and a prompt determination thereafter to any household aggrieved by the action of the State agency under any provision of its plan of oper- ation as it affects the participation of such household in the supplemental nutrition as- sistance program or by a claim against the household for an overissuance: Provided, That any household which timely requests such a fair hearing after receiving individual notice of agency action reducing or terminating its benefits within the household’s certification period shall continue to participate and re- ceive benefits on the basis authorized imme- diately prior to the notice of adverse action until such time as the fair hearing is com- pleted and an adverse decision rendered or until such time as the household’s certifi- cation period terminates, whichever occurs earlier, except that in any case in which the State agency receives from the household a written statement containing information that clearly requires a reduction or termi- nation of the household’s benefits, the State agency may act immediately to reduce or ter- minate the household’s benefits and may pro- vide notice of its action to the household as late as the date on which the action becomes effective. At the option of a State, at any time prior to a fair hearing determination under this paragraph, a household may withdraw, orally or in writing, a request by the house- hold for the fair hearing. If the withdrawal re- quest is an oral request, the State agency shall provide a written notice to the household Page 1313 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 confirming the withdrawal request and pro- viding the household with an opportunity to request a hearing; (11) upon receipt of a request from a house- hold, for the prompt restoration in the form of benefits to a household of any allotment or portion thereof which has been wrongfully de- nied or terminated, except that allotments shall not be restored for any period of time more than one year prior to the date the State agency receives a request for such restoration from a household or the State agency is noti- fied or otherwise discovers that a loss to a household has occurred; (12) for the submission of such reports and other information as from time to time may be required by the Secretary; (13) for indicators of expected performance in the administration of the program; (14) that the State agency shall specify a plan of operation for providing supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits for households that are victims of a disaster; that such plan shall include, but not be limited to, procedures for informing the public about the disaster program and how to apply for its ben- efits, coordination with Federal and private disaster relief agencies and local government officials, application procedures to reduce hardship and inconvenience and deter fraud, and instruction of caseworkers in procedures for implementing and operating the disaster program; (15) notwithstanding paragraph (8) of this subsection, for the immediate reporting to the Immigration and Naturalization Service by the State agency of a determination by per- sonnel responsible for the certification or re- certification of households that any member of a household is ineligible to receive supple- mental nutrition assistance program benefits because that member is present in the United States in violation of the Immigration and Na- tionality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.]; (16) at the option of the State agency, for the establishment and operation of an auto- matic data processing and information re- trieval system that meets such conditions as the Secretary may prescribe and that is de- signed to provide efficient and effective ad- ministration of the supplemental nutrition as- sistance program; (17) at the option of the State agency, that information may be requested and exchanged for purposes of income and eligibility verification in accordance with a State system which meets the requirements of section 1137 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1320b–7] and that any additional information available from agencies administering State unemploy- ment compensation laws under the provisions of section 303(d) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 503(d)] may be requested and utilized by the State agency described in section 2012(s)(1) of this title to the extent permitted under the provisions of section 303(d) of the Social Secu- rity Act; (18) that the State agency shall establish a system and take action on a periodic basis— (A) to verify and otherwise ensure that an individual does not receive benefits in more than 1 jurisdiction within the State; and (B) to verify and otherwise ensure that an individual who is placed under detention in a Federal, State, or local penal, correc- tional, or other detention facility for more than 30 days shall not be eligible to partici- pate in the supplemental nutrition assist- ance program as a member of any household, except that— (i) the Secretary may determine that ex- traordinary circumstances make it im- practicable for the State agency to obtain information necessary to discontinue in- clusion of the individual; and (ii) a State agency that obtains in- formation collected under section 1611(e)(1)(I)(i)(I) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(1)(I)(i)(I)) pursuant to section 1611(e)(1)(I)(ii)(II) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(1)(I)(ii)(II)), or under another program determined by the Secretary to be comparable to the program carried out under that section, shall be considered in compliance with this subparagraph. (19) the plans of the State agency for car- rying out employment and training programs under section 2015(d)(4) of this title, including the nature and extent of such programs, the geographic areas and households to be covered under such program, the extent to which such programs will be carried out in coordination with the activities carried out under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.), and the basis, in- cluding any cost information, for exemptions of categories and individuals and for the choice of employment and training program components reflected in the plans; (20) in a project area in which 5,000 or more households participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, for the estab- lishment and operation of a unit for the detec- tion of fraud in the supplemental nutrition as- sistance program, including the investigation, and assistance in the prosecution, of such fraud; (21) at the option of the State, for procedures necessary to obtain payment of uncollected overissuance of benefits from unemployment compensation pursuant to section 2022(c) of this title; (22) the guidelines the State agency uses in carrying out section 2015(i) of this title; (23) if a State elects to carry out a simplified supplemental nutrition assistance program under section 2035 of this title, the plans of the State agency for operating the program, in- cluding— (A) the rules and procedures to be followed by the State agency to determine supple- mental nutrition assistance program bene- fits; (B) how the State agency will address the needs of households that experience high shelter costs in relation to the incomes of the households; and (C) a description of the method by which the State agency will carry out a quality control system under section 2025(c) of this title; (24) that the State agency shall request wage data directly from the National Directory of Page 1314 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 New Hires established under section 453(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(i)) rel- evant to determining eligibility to receive supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits and determining the correct amount of those benefits at the time of certification; (25) if the State elects to carry out a pro- gram to contract with private establishments to offer meals at concessional prices, as de- scribed in paragraphs (3), (4), and (9) of section 2012(k) of this title— (A) the plans of the State agency for oper- ating the program, including— (i) documentation of a need that eligible homeless, elderly, and disabled clients are underserved in a particular geographic area; (ii) the manner by which the State agen- cy will limit participation to only those private establishments that the State de- termines necessary to meet the need iden- tified in clause (i); and (iii) any other conditions the Secretary may prescribe, such as the level of secu- rity necessary to ensure that only eligible recipients participate in the program; and (B) a report by the State agency to the Secretary annually, the schedule of which shall be established by the Secretary, that includes— (i) the number of households and indi- vidual recipients authorized to participate in the program, including any information on whether the individual recipient is el- derly, disabled, or homeless; and (ii) an assessment of whether the pro- gram is meeting an established need, as documented under subparagraph (A)(i); and (26) that for a household participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the State agency shall pursue clarification and verification, if applicable, of information relating to the circumstances of the household received from data matches for the purpose of ensuring an accurate eligibility and benefit determination, only if the information— (A) appears to present significantly con- flicting information from the information that was used by the State agency at the time of certification of the household; (B) is obtained from data matches carried out under subsection (q), (r), or (x); or (C)(i) is less than 60 days old relative to the current month of participation of the household; and (ii) if accurate, would have been required to be reported by the household based on the reporting requirements assigned to the household by the State agency under section 2015(c) of this title. (f) Repealed. Pub. L. 111–296, title II, § 241(b)(2), Dec. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 3236 (g) State noncompliance; correction of failures If the Secretary determines, upon information received by the Secretary, investigation initi- ated by the Secretary, or investigation that the Secretary shall initiate upon receiving suffi- cient information evidencing a pattern of lack of compliance by a State agency of a type speci- fied in this subsection, that in the administra- tion of the supplemental nutrition assistance program there is a failure by a State agency without good cause to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter, the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter, the State plan of oper- ation submitted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the State plan for automated data processing submitted pursuant to subsection (o)(2) of this section, or the requirements estab- lished pursuant to section 2032 of this title the Secretary shall immediately inform such State agency of such failure and shall allow the State agency a specified period of time for the correc- tion of such failure. If the State agency does not correct such failure within that specified period, the Secretary may refer the matter to the At- torney General with a request that injunctive relief be sought to require compliance forthwith by the State agency and, upon suit by the Attor- ney General in an appropriate district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the geo- graphic area in which the State agency is lo- cated and a showing that noncompliance has oc- curred, appropriate injunctive relief shall issue, and, whether or not the Secretary refers such matter to the Attorney General, the Secretary shall proceed to withhold from the State such funds authorized under sections 2025(a), 2025(c), and 2025(g) of this title as the Secretary deter- mines to be appropriate, subject to administra- tive and judicial review under section 2023 of this title. (h) Deposit by State to cover fraudulently or neg- ligently issued benefits If the Secretary determines that there has been negligence or fraud on the part of the State agency in the certification of applicant house- holds, the State shall, upon request of the Sec- retary, deposit into the Treasury of the United States, a sum equal to the face value of any ben- efits issued as a result of such negligence or fraud. (i) Application and denial procedures (1) Application procedures Notwithstanding any other provision of law, households in which all members are appli- cants for or recipients of supplemental secu- rity income shall be informed of the avail- ability of benefits under the supplemental nu- trition assistance program and be assisted in making a simple application to participate in such program at the social security office and be certified for eligibility utilizing informa- tion contained in files of the Social Security Administration. (2) Denial and termination Except in a case of disqualification as a pen- alty for failure to comply with a public assist- ance program rule or regulation, no household shall have its application to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program de- nied nor its benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program terminated sole- ly on the basis that its application to partici- pate has been denied or its benefits have been terminated under any of the programs carried out under the statutes specified in the second Page 1315 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 sentence of section 2014(a) of this title and without a separate determination by the State agency that the household fails to satisfy the eligibility requirements for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance pro- gram. (j) Notice of availability of benefits and applica- tions; revision of memorandum of under- standing (1) Any individual who is an applicant for or recipient of supplemental security income or so- cial security benefits (under regulations pre- scribed by the Secretary in conjunction with the Commissioner of Social Security) shall be in- formed of the availability of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and informed of the availability of a simple applica- tion to participate in such program at the social security office. (2) The Secretary and the Commissioner of So- cial Security shall revise the memorandum of understanding in effect on December 23, 1985, re- garding services to be provided in social security offices under this subsection and subsection (i), in a manner to ensure that— (A) applicants for and recipients of social se- curity benefits are adequately notified in so- cial security offices that assistance may be available to them under this chapter; (B) applications for assistance under this chapter from households in which all members are applicants for or recipients of supple- mental security income will be forwarded im- mediately to the State agency in an efficient and timely manner; and (C) the Commissioner of Social Security re- ceives from the Secretary reimbursement for costs incurred to provide such services. (k) Use of post offices Subject to the approval of the President, post offices in all or part of the State may provide, on request by the State agency, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to eligible households. (l) Special financial audit review of high partici- pation States Whenever the ratio of a State’s average sup- plemental nutrition assistance program partici- pation in any quarter of a fiscal year to the State’s total population in that quarter (esti- mated on the basis of the latest available popu- lation estimates as provided by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Series P–25, Current Population Reports (or its successor se- ries)) exceeds 60 per centum, the Office of the In- spector General of the Department of Agri- culture shall immediately schedule a financial audit review of a sample of project areas within that State. Any financial audit review subse- quent to the first such review, required under the preceding sentence, shall be conducted at the option of the Office of the Inspector General. (m) Alaskan fee agents; use and services The Secretary shall provide for the use of fee agents in rural Alaska. As used in this sub- section ‘‘fee agent’’ means a paid agent who, al- though not a State employee, is authorized by the State to make applications available to low- income households, assist in the completion of applications, conduct required interviews, se- cure required verification, forward completed applications and supporting documentation to the State agency, and provide other services as required by the State agency. Such services shall not include making final decisions on household eligibility or benefit levels. (n) Verification by State agencies The Secretary shall require State agencies to conduct verification and implement other meas- ures where necessary, but no less often than an- nually, to assure that an individual does not re- ceive both benefits and benefits or payments re- ferred to in section 2015(g) of this title or both benefits and assistance provided in lieu of bene- fits under section 2026(b)(1) of this title. (o) Data processing systems; model plan; com- prehensive automation and computerization; State plans; evaluation and report to Con- gress; corrective measures by State; time for implementation (1) The Secretary shall develop, after consulta- tion with, and with the assistance of, an advi- sory group of State agencies appointed by the Secretary without regard to the provisions of chapter 10 of title 5, a model plan for the com- prehensive automation of data processing and computerization of information systems under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. The plan shall be developed and made available for public comment through publication of the proposed plan in the Federal Register not later than October 1, 1986. The Secretary shall com- plete the plan, taking into consideration public comments received, not later than February 1, 1987. The elements of the plan may include in- take procedures, eligibility determinations and calculation of benefits, verification procedures, coordination with related Federal and State pro- grams, the issuance of benefits, reconciliation procedures, the generation of notices, and pro- gram reporting. In developing the plan, the Sec- retary shall take into account automated data processing and information systems already in existence in States and shall provide for consist- ency with such systems. (2) Not later than October 1, 1987, each State agency shall develop and submit to the Sec- retary for approval a plan for the use of an auto- mated data processing and information retrieval system to administer the supplemental nutri- tion assistance program in such State. The State plan shall take into consideration the model plan developed by the Secretary under paragraph (1) and shall provide time frames for completion of various phases of the State plan. If a State agency already has a sufficient auto- mated data processing and information retrieval system, the State plan may, subject to the Sec- retary’s approval, reflect the existing State sys- tem. (3) Not later than April 1, 1988, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress an evalua- tion of the degree and sufficiency of each State’s automated data processing and computerized in- formation systems for the administration of the supplemental nutrition assistance program, in- cluding State plans submitted under paragraph (2). Such report shall include an analysis of ad- Page 1316 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 ditional steps needed for States to achieve effec- tive and cost-efficient data processing and infor- mation systems. The Secretary, thereafter, shall periodically update such report. (4) Based on the Secretary’s findings in such report submitted under paragraph (3), the Sec- retary may require a State agency, as necessary to rectify identified shortcomings in the admin- istration of the supplemental nutrition assist- ance program in the State, except where such direction would displace State initiatives al- ready under way, to take specified steps to auto- mate data processing systems or computerize in- formation systems for the administration of the supplemental nutrition assistance program in the State if the Secretary finds that, in the ab- sence of such systems, there will be program ac- countability or integrity problems that will sub- stantially affect the administration of the sup- plemental nutrition assistance program in the State. (5)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), in the case of a plan for an automated data processing and information retrieval system submitted by a State agency to the Secretary under paragraph (2), such State agency shall— (i) commence implementation of its plan not later than October 1, 1988; and (ii) meet the time frames set forth in the plan. (B) The Secretary shall extend a deadline im- posed under subparagraph (A) to the extent the Secretary deems appropriate based on the Sec- retary’s finding of a good faith effort of a State agency to implement its plan in accordance with subparagraph (A). (p) State verification option In carrying out the supplemental nutrition as- sistance program, a State agency shall be re- quired to use an immigration status verification system established under section 1137 of the So- cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–7), and an in- come and eligibility verification system, in ac- cordance with standards set by the Secretary. (q) Denial of benefits for prisoners The Secretary shall assist States, to the max- imum extent practicable, in implementing a system to conduct computer matches or other systems to prevent prisoners described in sub- section (e)(18)(B) from participating in the sup- plemental nutrition assistance program as a member of any household. (r) Denial of benefits for deceased individuals Each State agency shall— (1) enter into a cooperative arrangement with the Commissioner of Social Security, pursuant to the authority of the Commis- sioner under section 205(r)(3) of the Social Se- curity Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(3)), to obtain infor- mation on individuals who are deceased; and (2) use the information to verify and other- wise ensure that benefits are not issued to in- dividuals who are deceased. (s) Transitional benefits option (1) In general A State agency may provide transitional supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits— (A) to a household that ceases to receive cash assistance under a State program fund- ed under part A of title IV of the Social Se- curity Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or (B) at the option of the State, to a house- hold with children that ceases to receive cash assistance under a State-funded public assistance program. (2) Transitional benefits period Under paragraph (1), a household may re- ceive transitional supplemental nutrition as- sistance program benefits for a period of not more than 5 months after the date on which cash assistance is terminated. (3) Amount of benefits During the transitional benefits period under paragraph (2), a household shall receive an amount of supplemental nutrition assist- ance program benefits equal to the allotment received in the month immediately preceding the date on which cash assistance was termi- nated, adjusted for the change in household in- come as a result of— (A) the termination of cash assistance; and (B) at the option of the State agency, in- formation from another program in which the household participates. (4) Determination of future eligibility In the final month of the transitional bene- fits period under paragraph (2), the State agency may— (A) require the household to cooperate in a recertification of eligibility; and (B) initiate a new certification period for the household without regard to whether the preceding certification period has expired. (5) Limitation A household shall not be eligible for transi- tional benefits under this subsection if the household— (A) loses eligibility under section 2015 of this title; (B) is sanctioned for a failure to perform an action required by Federal, State, or local law relating to a cash assistance pro- gram described in paragraph (1); or (C) is a member of any other category of households designated by the State agency as ineligible for transitional benefits. (6) Applications for recertification (A) In general A household receiving transitional bene- fits under this subsection may apply for re- certification at any time during the transi- tional benefits period under paragraph (2). (B) Determination of allotment If a household applies for recertification under subparagraph (A), the allotment of the household for all subsequent months shall be determined without regard to this sub- section. (t) Grants for simplified application and eligi- bility determination systems and improved access to benefits (1) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations under section 2027(a) of this title, for each fis- Page 1317 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 cal year, the Secretary shall use not more than $5,000,000 of funds made available under section 2027(a)(1) of this title to make grants to pay 100 percent of the costs of eligible enti- ties approved by the Secretary to carry out projects to develop and implement supple- mental nutrition assistance program sim- plified application and eligibility determina- tion systems. (2) Types of projects A project under paragraph (1) may consist of— (A) coordinating application and eligi- bility determination processes, including verification practices, under the supple- mental nutrition assistance program and other Federal, State, and local assistance programs; (B) establishing enhanced technological methods that improve the administrative in- frastructure used in processing applications and determining eligibility; or (C) carrying out such other activities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (3) Limitation A grant under this subsection shall not be made for the ongoing cost of carrying out any project. (4) Eligible entities To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be— (A) a State agency administering the sup- plemental nutrition assistance program; (B) a State or local government; (C) an agency providing health or welfare services; (D) a public health or educational entity; or (E) a private nonprofit entity such as a community-based organization, food bank, or other emergency feeding organization. (5) Selection of eligible entities The Secretary— (A) shall develop criteria for the selection of eligible entities to receive grants under this subsection; and (B) may give preference to any eligible en- tity that consists of a partnership between a governmental entity and a nongovernmental entity. (u) Agreement for direct certification and co- operation (1) In general Each State agency shall enter into an agree- ment with the State agency administering the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.). (2) Contents The agreement shall establish procedures that ensure that— (A) any child receiving benefits under this chapter shall be certified as eligible for free lunches under the Richard B. Russell Na- tional School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and free breakfasts under the Child Nu- trition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), without further application; and (B) each State agency shall cooperate in carrying out paragraphs (3)(F) and (4) of sec- tion 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)). (v) Data exchange standards for improved inter- operability (1) Designation The Secretary shall, in consultation with an interagency work group established by the Of- fice of Management and Budget, and consid- ering State government perspectives, des- ignate data exchange standards to govern, under this chapter— (A) necessary categories of information that State agencies operating related pro- grams are required under applicable law to electronically exchange with another State agency; and (B) Federal reporting and data exchange required under applicable law. (2) Requirements The data exchange standards required by paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable— (A) incorporate a widely accepted, non- proprietary, searchable, computer-readable format, such as the eXtensible Markup Lan- guage; (B) contain interoperable standards devel- oped and maintained by intergovernmental partnerships, such as the National Informa- tion Exchange Model; (C) incorporate interoperable standards de- veloped and maintained by Federal entities with authority over contracting and finan- cial assistance; (D) be consistent with and implement ap- plicable accounting principles; (E) be implemented in a manner that is cost-effective and improves program effi- ciency and effectiveness; and (F) be capable of being continually up- graded as necessary. (3) Rules of construction Nothing in this subsection requires a change to existing data exchange standards for Fed- eral reporting found to be effective and effi- cient. (w) Advice regarding employment and training services For households containing at least one adult, with no elderly or disabled members and with no earned income at their last certification or re- quired report, a State agency shall, at the time of recertification, be required to advise members of the household not exempt under section 2015(d)(2) of this title regarding available em- ployment and training services. (x) National Accuracy Clearinghouse (1) Definition of indication of multiple issuance In this subsection, the term ‘‘indication of multiple issuance’’ means an indication, based on a computer match, that supplemental nu- trition assistance program benefits are being issued to an individual by more than 1 State agency simultaneously. Page 1318 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 (2) Establishment (A) In general The Secretary shall establish an interstate data system, to be known as the ‘‘National Accuracy Clearinghouse’’, to prevent mul- tiple issuances of supplemental nutrition as- sistance program benefits to an individual by more than 1 State agency simulta- neously. (B) Data matching The Secretary shall require that State agencies make available to the National Ac- curacy Clearinghouse only such information as is necessary for the purpose described in subparagraph (A). (C) Data protection The information made available by State agencies under subparagraph (B)— (i) shall be used only for the purpose de- scribed in subparagraph (A); (ii) shall be exempt from the disclosure requirements of section 552(a) of title 5 pursuant to section 552(b)(3) of title 5, to the extent such information is obtained or received by the Secretary; (iii) shall not be retained for longer than is necessary to accomplish the purpose in subparagraph (A); (iv) shall be used in a manner that pro- tects the identity and location of a vulner- able individual (including a victim of do- mestic violence) that is an applicant for, or recipient of, supplemental nutrition as- sistance program benefits; and (v) shall meet security standards as de- termined by the Secretary. (3) Issuance of interim final regulations Not later than 18 months after December 20, 2018, the Secretary shall promulgate regula- tions (which shall include interim final regula- tions) to carry out this subsection that— (A) incorporate best practices and lessons learned from the pilot program under sec- tion 2036c(c) of this title; (B) require a State agency to take appro- priate action, as determined by the Sec- retary, with respect to each indication of multiple issuance of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, or each indica- tion that an individual receiving such bene- fits in 1 State has applied to receive such benefits in another State, while ensuring timely and fair service to applicants for, and recipients of, such benefits; (C) establish standards to limit and pro- tect the information submitted through or retained by the National Accuracy Clearing- house consistent with paragraph (2)(C); (D) establish safeguards to protect— (i) the information submitted through or retained by the National Accuracy Clear- inghouse, including by limiting the period of time that information is retained to the period necessary to accomplish the pur- pose described in paragraph (2)(A); and (ii) the privacy of information that is submitted through or retained by the Na- tional Accuracy Clearinghouse consistent with subsection (e)(8); and (E) include such other rules and standards the Secretary determines appropriate to carry out this subsection. (4) Timing The initial match and corresponding actions required by paragraph (3)(B) shall occur within 3 years after December 20, 2018. (Pub. L. 88–525, § 11, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 707; Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, § 1301, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 969; Pub. L. 96–249, title I, §§ 113, 116–120, 122, 123, May 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 361–363; Pub. L. 97–35, title I, § 111(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 362; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIII, §§ 1316–1320(a), 1321–1323, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1286, 1287; Pub. L. 97–253, title I, §§ 166–174, 180(b)(1), 189(b)(2), 190(c)(1), Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 779, 780, 783, 787; Pub. L. 98–204, § 7, Dec. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 1386; Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title VI, § 2651(i), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1150; Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, §§ 1507(b), 1517(b), 1525–1531(a), (b), 1535(b)(1), 1537(b), (c), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1568, 1576, 1580–1582, 1584, 1586, 1587; Pub. L. 100–77, title VIII, §§ 808(a), 809(a), July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 536; Pub. L. 100–435, title II, § 204(a), title III, §§ 310, 311, 320, 321(a), 322, 323, 330, 352, Sept. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 1657, 1660–1662, 1665; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §§ 1736–1741, 1763(b), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3793, 3794, 3806; Pub. L. 102–237, title IX, § 941(5), (6), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1892; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13941(a), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 676; Pub. L. 103–296, title I, § 108(f)(2), (3), Aug. 15, 1994, 108 Stat. 1487; Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1011(x), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 711; Pub. L. 104–193, title VIII, §§ 809(b), 819(b), 835–840, 844(b), 848(b)(1), 854(b), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2313, 2320, 2329–2331, 2333, 2334, 2342; Pub. L. 105–33, title I, §§ 1003(a)(1), (2), (b), 1004, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 255, 256; Pub. L. 105–379, § 1(a), Nov. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 3399; Pub. L. 107–171, title IV, §§ 4114(a), 4115(a), 4116(a), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 314, 315; Pub. L. 108–265, title I, § 104(b)(2), June 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 737; Pub. L. 110–234, title IV, §§ 4001(b), 4002(a)(6), 4106, 4111(b), 4115(b)(8), 4116–4120, 4406(a)(2), title VII, § 7511(c)(5), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1092, 1093, 1101, 1102, 1107, 1110–1112, 1140, 1267; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title IV, §§ 4001(b), 4002(a)(6), 4106, 4111(b), 4115(b)(8), 4116–4120, 4406(a)(2), title VII, § 7511(c)(5), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1853, 1854, 1862, 1863, 1868, 1871–1874, 1902, 2029; Pub. L. 111–296, title II, § 241(b)(2), Dec. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 3236; Pub. L. 113–79, title IV, §§ 4013, 4014(a), 4015, 4016(a), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 793, 795; Pub. L. 115–334, title IV, §§ 4005(c), 4009–4011, 4013(a), 4022(5), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4632, 4639, 4640, 4642, 4653; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(27), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4308.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(A), is title III of Pub. L. 94–135, Nov. 28, 1975, 89 Stat. 728, which is classified generally to chap- ter 76 (§ 6101 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6101 of Title 42 and Tables. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(C), is Pub. L. 101–336, July 26, 1990, 104 Stat. 327, which is classified principally to chapter 126 (§ 12101 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Page 1319 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 12101 of Title 42 and Tables. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(D), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241. Title VI of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of chapter 21 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under sec- tion 2000a of Title 42 and Tables. The Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 450), re- ferred to in subsec. (d), is title I of Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, which was classified principally to part A (§ 450f et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 14 of Title 25, Indians, prior to editorial reclassification as subchapter I (§ 5321 et seq.) of chapter 46 of Title 25. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of Title 25 and Tables. The Immigration and Nationality Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(15), is act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, which is classified principally to chapter 12 (§ 1101 et seq.) of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1101 of Title 8 and Tables. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, re- ferred to in subsec. (e)(19), is Pub. L. 113–128, July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1425. Title I of the Act is classified gen- erally to subchapter I (§ 3111 et seq.) of chapter 32 of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1(a) of Pub. L. 113–128, set out as a Short Title note under section 3101 of Title 29 and Tables. The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (s)(1)(A), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Part A of title IV of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 601 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classi- fication of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, referred to in subsec. (u), is act June 4, 1946, ch. 281, 60 Stat. 230, which is classified generally to chapter 13 (§ 1751 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Wel- fare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1751 of Title 42 and Tables. The Child Nutrition Act of 1966, referred to in subsec. (u)(2)(A), is Pub. L. 89–642, Oct. 11, 1966, 80 Stat. 885, which is classified generally to chapter 13A (§ 1771 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1771 of Title 42 and Tables. CODIFICATION Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246. AMENDMENTS 2022—Subsec. (o)(1). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted ‘‘chap- ter 10 of title 5,’’ for ‘‘the Federal Advisory Committee Act,’’. 2018—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4022(5)(A), sub- stituted ‘‘2012(s)(1)’’ for ‘‘2012(t)(1)’’. Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4013(a)(1), sub- stituted ‘‘All records, and the entire information sys- tems in which records are contained, that are covered’’ for ‘‘Records described’’ in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(i). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4013(a)(2), amended cl. (i) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (i) read as follows: ‘‘be available for inspection and audit at any reasonable time;’’. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4022(5)(B), substituted ‘‘2012(s)(1)’’ for ‘‘2012(t)(1)’’ wherever appearing and ‘‘2012(s)(2)’’ for ‘‘2012(t)(2)’’ in two places. Subsec. (e)(17). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4022(5)(C)(i), sub- stituted ‘‘2012(s)(1)’’ for ‘‘2012(t)(1)’’. Subsec. (e)(19). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4005(c)(1), inserted ‘‘the extent to which such programs will be carried out in coordination with the activities carried out under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.),’’ before ‘‘and the basis,’’. Subsec. (e)(23). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4022(5)(C)(ii), sub- stituted ‘‘simplified supplemental nutrition assistance program’’ for ‘‘Simplified Supplemental Nutrition As- sistance Program’’ in introductory provisions. Subsec. (e)(26). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4009, added par. (26). Subsec. (t). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4010(1), substituted ‘‘sim- plified application’’ for ‘‘simple application’’ in head- ing. Subsec. (t)(1). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4010(2), substituted ‘‘implement supplemental nutrition assistance pro- gram simplified application and eligibility determina- tion systems’’ for ‘‘implement— ‘‘(A) simple supplemental nutrition assistance pro- gram application and eligibility determination sys- tems; or ‘‘(B) measures to improve access to supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits by eligible households’’. Subsec. (t)(2)(B). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4010(3)(A), amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: ‘‘establishing methods for applying for benefits and determining eligibility that— ‘‘(i) more extensively use— ‘‘(I) communications by telephone; and ‘‘(II) electronic alternatives such as the Internet; or ‘‘(ii) otherwise improve the administrative infra- structure used in processing applications and deter- mining eligibility;’’. Subsec. (t)(2)(C) to (E). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4010(3)(B), (C), redesignated subpar. (E) as (C) and struck out former subpars. (C) and (D) which read as follows: ‘‘(C) developing procedures, training materials, and other resources aimed at reducing barriers to participa- tion and reaching eligible households; ‘‘(D) improving methods for informing and enrolling eligible households; or’’. Subsec. (w). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4005(c)(2), added subsec. (w). Subsec. (x). Pub. L. 115–334, § 4011, added subsec. (x). Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 113–79, § 4013(1), inserted ‘‘and after compliance with the requirement specified in paragraph (24)’’ after ‘‘section 2025(e) of this title’’. Subsec. (e)(24). Pub. L. 113–79, § 4013(2)–(4), added par. (24). Subsec. (e)(25). Pub. L. 113–79, § 4014(a), added par. (25). Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 113–79, § 4015, added subsec. (p) and struck out former subsec. (p). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in carrying out the supplemental nutrition as- sistance program, a State agency shall not be required to use an income and eligibility or an immigration sta- tus verification system established under section 1137 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–7).’’ Subsec. (v). Pub. L. 113–79, § 4016(a), added subsec. (v). 2010—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111–296 struck out subsec. (f) which related to nutrition education. 2008—Pub. L. 110–246, § 4001(b), substituted ‘‘supple- mental nutrition assistance program’’ for ‘‘food stamp program’’ wherever appearing in subsecs. (d), (e) (ex- cept par. (25)), (f), (g), (i), (j), (o) to (q), and (t). Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4116, added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: ‘‘The State agency of each participating State shall as- sume responsibility for the certification of applicant households and for the issuance of coupons and the con- trol and accountability thereof. There shall be kept such records as may be necessary to ascertain whether the program is being conducted in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter. Such records shall be avail- able for inspection and audit at any reasonable time and shall be preserved for such period of time, not less than three years, as may be specified in the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter.’’ Page 1320 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4117, added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which read as follows: ‘‘In the certification of applicant households for the food stamp program, there shall be no discrimination by reason of race, sex, religious creed, national origin, or political beliefs.’’ Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(A), substituted ‘‘section 2012(t)(1)’’ for ‘‘section 2012(n)(1)’’ wherever ap- pearing and ‘‘section 2012(t)(2)’’ for ‘‘section 2012(n)(2)’’ in two places. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(E), substituted ‘‘benefits’’ for ‘‘coupons’’ wherever appearing in pars. (2)(B)(vi), (8), (9), (11), (18), and (21). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(A)(i), (ii), substituted ‘‘sup- plemental nutrition assistance program benefits’’ for ‘‘food stamps’’ wherever appearing and ‘‘supplemental nutrition assistance program offices’’ for ‘‘food stamp offices’’ in two places. Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4118, realigned mar- gins and in subpar. (B) substituted ‘‘comply with regu- lations of the Secretary requiring the use of’’ for ‘‘use’’. Subsec. (e)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(A)(iii), substituted ‘‘supplemental nutrition assistance program office’’ for ‘‘food stamp office’’. Subsec. (e)(2)(C). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4119, inserted sub- par. heading, designated existing provisions as cl. (i), inserted cl. heading, and added cls. (ii) and (iii). Subsec. (e)(7). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(D), sub- stituted ‘‘benefit’’ for ‘‘coupon’’. Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4120(1), in introduc- tory provisions, substituted ‘‘safeguards which prohibit the use or disclosure of information obtained from ap- plicant households’’ for ‘‘safeguards which limit the use or disclosure of information obtained from applicant households to persons directly connected with the ad- ministration or enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, regulations issued pursuant to this chapter, Federal assistance programs, or federally assisted State programs’’. Subsec. (e)(8)(A) to (D). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4120(2), (3), added subpar. (A) and redesignated former subpars. (A) to (C) as (B) to (D), respectively. Former subpar. (D) re- designated (E). Subsec. (e)(8)(E). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4120(2), redesig- nated subpar. (D) as (E). Former subpar. (E) redesig- nated (F). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(B)(i), substituted ‘‘para- graph (15) or (18)(B)’’ for ‘‘paragraph (16) or (20)(B)’’. Subsec. (e)(8)(F). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4120(2), (4), redesig- nated subpar. (E) as (F) and inserted ‘‘or subsection (u)’’ before semicolon at end. Subsec. (e)(15) to (17). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(B)(ii)–(iv), redesignated pars. (16) to (18) as (15) to (17), respectively, in par. (17), substituted ‘‘de- scribed in section 2012(t)(1) of this title’’ for ‘‘(described in section 2012(n)(1) of this title)’’, and struck out former par. (15) which read as follows: ‘‘that the State agency shall require each household certified as eligi- ble to participate by methods other than the out-of-of- fice methods specified in the fourth sentence of para- graph (2) of this subsection in those project areas or parts of project areas in which the Secretary, in con- sultation with the Department’s Inspector General, finds that it would be useful to protect the program’s integrity and would be cost effective, to present a pho- tographic identification card when using its authoriza- tion card in order to receive its coupons. The State agency may permit a member of a household to comply with this paragraph by presenting a photographic iden- tification card used to receive assistance under a wel- fare or public assistance program;’’. Subsec. (e)(18) to (24). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(B)(ii), (iii), redesignated pars. (20) to (25) as (18) to (23), respectively, and struck out former par. (19) which read as follows: ‘‘that, in project areas or parts thereof where authorization cards are used, and eligible households are required to present photographic identi- fication cards in order to receive their coupons, the State agency shall include, in any agreement or con- tract with a coupon issuer, a provision that (A) the issuer shall (i) require the presenter to furnish a photo- graphic identification card at the time the authoriza- tion card is presented, and (ii) record on the authoriza- tion card the identification number shown on the pho- tographic identification card; and (B) if the State agen- cy determines that the authorization card has been sto- len or otherwise was not received by a household cer- tified as eligible, the issuer shall be liable to the State agency for the face value of any coupons issued in the transaction in which such card is used and the issuer fails to comply with the requirements of clause (A) of this paragraph;’’. Former par. (18) redesignated (17). Subsec. (e)(25). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(B)(iii), re- designated par. (25) as (23). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(A)(iv), substituted ‘‘Sim- plified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’’ for ‘‘Simplified Food Stamp Program’’ in introductory provisions and ‘‘supplemental nutrition assistance pro- gram benefits’’ for ‘‘food stamp benefits’’ in subpar. (A). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4111(b), added subsec. (f) and struck out former subsec. (f) which related to as- signment of responsibility for nutrition education to the Cooperative Extension Service, in cooperation with the Food and Nutrition Service, and grants to eligible private nonprofit organizations and State agencies to direct a collaborative effort to coordinate and inte- grate nutrition education into other programs avail- able to food stamp program participants and other low- income households. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 7511(c)(5), which di- rected substitution of ‘‘National Institute of Food and Agriculture’’ for ‘‘Cooperative Extension Service’’, could not be executed because ‘‘Cooperative Extension Service’’ did not appear subsequent to amendment by Pub. L. 110–246, § 4111(b). See above and Effective Date of 2008 Amendment note below. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(C), substituted ‘‘benefits’’ for ‘‘coupon or coupons’’. Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(B), substituted ‘‘may provide, on request by the State agency, supple- mental nutrition assistance program benefits’’ for ‘‘may issue, upon request by the State agency, food stamps’’. Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(C), substituted ‘‘supplemental nutrition assistance program participa- tion’’ for ‘‘food stamp participation’’. Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(E), substituted ‘‘both benefits and benefits or payments’’ for ‘‘both coupons and benefits or payments’’ and ‘‘both benefits and assistance provided in lieu of benefits’’ for ‘‘both coupons and assistance provided in lieu of coupons’’. Subsec. (q). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(8)(F), substituted ‘‘subsection (e)(18)(B)’’ for ‘‘subsection (e)(20)(B)’’. Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(D), substituted ‘‘benefits’’ for ‘‘food stamps’’ in heading. Subsec. (r). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(D), substituted ‘‘benefits’’ for ‘‘food stamps’’ in heading. Subsec. (s)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4106, designated part of existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(E), substituted ‘‘supple- mental nutrition assistance program benefits’’ for ‘‘food stamp benefits’’. Subsec. (s)(2), (3). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(E), sub- stituted ‘‘supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits’’ for ‘‘food stamp benefits’’. Subsec. (t)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4406(a)(2), substituted ‘‘Subject to the availability of appropriations under section 2027(a) of this title, for each fiscal year’’ for ‘‘For each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007’’. Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(a)(6)(F), substituted ‘‘supple- mental nutrition assistance program application’’ for ‘‘food stamp application’’ in subpar. (A) and ‘‘supple- mental nutrition assistance program benefits’’ for ‘‘food stamp benefits’’ in subpar. (B). 2004—Subsec. (u). Pub. L. 108–265 added subsec. (u). 2002—Subsec. (e)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 107–171, § 4114(a), designated existing provisions as subcl. (I) and added subcl. (II). Page 1321 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 Subsec. (s). Pub. L. 107–171, § 4115(a), added subsec. (s). Subsec. (t). Pub. L. 107–171, § 4116(a), added subsec. (t). 1998—Subsec. (r). Pub. L. 105–379 added subsec. (r). 1997—Subsec. (e)(8)(E). Pub. L. 105–33, § 1003(a)(2), sub- stituted ‘‘paragraph (16) or (20)(B)’’ for ‘‘paragraph (16)’’. Subsec. (e)(20). Pub. L. 105–33, § 1003(a)(1), added par. (20) and struck out former par. (20) which read as fol- lows: ‘‘that the State agency shall establish a system and take action on a periodic basis to verify and other- wise assure that an individual does not receive coupons in more than one jurisdiction within the State;’’. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–33, § 1004, inserted subsec. heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), in- serted par. heading, and added par. (2). Subsec. (q). Pub. L. 105–33, § 1003(b), added subsec. (q). 1996—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(1)(A), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which required that each State plan of operation was to provide that each household which contacted food stamp office in person during office hours to make what could reason- ably be interpreted as oral or written request for food stamp assistance was to receive and be permitted to file, on same day that such contact was first made, simplified, uniform national application form for par- ticipation in food stamp program. Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 104–193, §§ 809(b), 835(1)(B), sub- stituted ‘‘shall’’ for ‘‘shall—’’ after ‘‘and that the State agency’’, struck out ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘provide each appli- cant household’’ and struck out subpars. (B) to (E) and concluding provisions which provided that State agen- cy was to assist each applicant household in obtaining appropriate verification and completing application process, not require any household to submit additional proof of matter on which State agency already had cur- rent verification, not deny any application for partici- pation solely because of failure of person outside house- hold to cooperate, process applications if household complied with requirements of first sentence of section 2015(c) of this title by taking appropriate steps to verify information otherwise required to be verified under this chapter, provide household, at time of each certification and recertification, with statement de- scribing reporting responsibilities of household under this chapter, and provide toll-free or local telephone number, or telephone number at which collect calls would be accepted by State agency, at which household could reach appropriate representative of State agency. Subsec. (e)(6). Pub. L. 104–193, § 836, substituted ‘‘(6) that—’’ for ‘‘(6) that’’, realigned margins of subpars. (A) and (B), in subpar. (B) substituted ‘‘Office of Personnel Management’’ for ‘‘United States Civil Service Com- mission’’, and struck out subpars. (C) to (E) which read as follows: ‘‘(C) the State agency shall provide a con- tinuing, comprehensive program of training for all per- sonnel undertaking such certification so that eligible households are promptly and accurately certified to re- ceive the allotments for which they are eligible under this chapter; (D) the State agency, at its option, may undertake intensive training to ensure that State agen- cy personnel who undertake the certification of house- holds that include a member who engages in farming are qualified to perform such certification; and (E) at its option, the State agency may provide, or contract for the provision of, training and assistance to persons working with volunteer or nonprofit organizations that provide program information activities or eligibility screening to persons potentially eligible for food stamps;’’. Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 104–193, §§ 837, 844(b), in intro- ductory provisions, substituted ‘‘except that—’’ for ‘‘except that’’, in subpar. (A), realigned margin, sub- stituted ‘‘the safeguards’’ for ‘‘such safeguards’’ and semicolon for comma at end, in subpar. (B), realigned margin and substituted ‘‘chapter;’’ for ‘‘chapter, and’’, in subpar. (C), realigned margin, substituted ‘‘the safe- guards’’ for ‘‘such safeguards’’, struck out ‘‘and exclud- ing claims arising from an error of the State agency, that has not been recovered pursuant to such section’’ before ‘‘, from Federal pay’’, and inserted before semi- colon at end ‘‘or a Federal income tax refund as author- ized by section 3720A of title 31’’, and added subpars. (D) and (E). Subsec. (e)(9). Pub. L. 104–193, § 838, in subpar. (A), substituted ‘‘7 days’’ for ‘‘five days’’, redesignated sub- par. (C) as (B), substituted ‘‘7 days’’ for ‘‘five days’’, and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: ‘‘provide coupons no later than five days after the date of application to any household in which all members are homeless individuals and that meets the income and resource criteria for coupons under this chapter;’’, and redesignated subpar. (D) as (C) and substituted ‘‘or (B)’’ for ‘‘, (B), or (C)’’. Subsec. (e)(10). Pub. L. 104–193, § 839, inserted before semicolon at end a period and ‘‘At the option of a State, at any time prior to a fair hearing determina- tion under this paragraph, a household may withdraw, 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 providing the household with an opportunity to re- quest a hearing’’. Subsec. (e)(14). Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(1)(C), (D)(i), re- designated par. (15) as (14) and struck out former par. (14) which read as follows: ‘‘that the State agency shall prominently display in all food stamp and public assist- ance offices posters prepared or obtained by the Sec- retary describing the information contained in sub- paragraphs (A) through (D) of this paragraph and shall make available in such offices for home use pamphlets prepared or obtained by the Secretary listing (A) foods that contain substantial amounts of recommended daily allowances of vitamins, minerals, and protein for children and adults; (B) menus that combine such foods into meals; (C) details on eligibility for other programs administered by the Secretary that provide nutrition benefits; and (D) general information on the relation- ship between health and diet;’’. Subsec. (e)(15) to (17). Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(1)(D)(i), re- designated pars. (16) to (18) as (15) to (17), respectively. Former par. (15) redesignated (14). Subsec. (e)(18). Pub. L. 104–193, § 840, substituted ‘‘at the option of the State agency, that information may be’’ for ‘‘that information is’’ and ‘‘may be requested’’ for ‘‘shall be requested’’. Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(1)(D)(i), redesignated par. (19) as (18). Former par. (18) redesignated (17). Subsec. (e)(19) to (22). Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(1)(D)(i), re- designated pars. (20) to (23) as (19) to (22), respectively. Former par. (19) redesignated (18). Subsec. (e)(23). Pub. L. 104–193, §§ 819(b)(1), 835(1)(D)(i), redesignated par. (24) as (23) and struck out ‘‘and’’ at end. Former par. (23) redesignated (22). Subsec. (e)(24). Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(1)(D)(ii), redesig- nated par. (26) as (24). Former par. (24) redesignated (23). Subsec. (e)(25). Pub. L. 104–193, § 854(b), added par. (25). Pub. L. 104–193, §§ 819(b)(2), 835(1)(C), substituted semi- colon for concluding period and struck out par. (25) which read as follows: ‘‘a procedure for designating project areas or parts of project areas that are rural and in which low-income persons face substantial dif- ficulties in obtaining transportation. The State agency shall designate the areas according to procedures ap- proved by the Secretary. In each area so designated, the State agency shall provide for the issuance of cou- pons by mail to all eligible households in the area, ex- cept that any household with mail losses exceeding lev- els established by the Secretary shall not be entitled to such a mailing and the State agency shall not be re- quired to issue coupons by mail in those localities within such area where the mail loss rates exceed standards set by the Secretary.’’ Subsec. (e)(26). Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(1)(D)(ii), redesig- nated par. (26) as (24). Pub. L. 104–193, § 819(b)(3), added par. (26). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104–193, § 848(b)(1), in first sen- tence, struck out ‘‘the Secretary’s standards for the ef- ficient and effective administration of the program es- Page 1322 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 tablished under section 2025(b)(1) of this title or’’ before ‘‘the requirements established pursuant to section 2032’’. Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(2)(A), inserted subsec. heading. Subsec. (i)(1). Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(2)(A), designated portion of existing provisions as par. (1), inserted head- ing, and substituted ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provi- sion of law,’’ for ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary, the Commissioner of Social Secu- rity and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall develop a system by which (1) a single interview shall be conducted to determine eligibility for the food stamp program and the aid to families with dependent children program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; (2)’’. Subsec. (i)(2). Pub. L. 104–193, § 835(2)(B), substituted a period, par. (2) designation, heading, and ‘‘Except in a case of disqualification as a penalty for failure to com- ply with a public assistance program rule or regulation, no’’ for ‘‘; (3) households in which all members are in- cluded in a federally aided public assistance or State or local general assistance grant in a State that has a sin- gle State-wide general assistance application form shall have their application for participation in the food stamp program contained in the public assistance or general assistance application form, and households applying for a local general assistance grant in a local jurisdiction in which the agency administering the gen- eral assistance program also administers the food stamp program shall be provided an application for par- ticipation in the food stamp program at the time of their application for general assistance, along with in- formation concerning how to apply for the food stamp program; and (4) new applicants, as well as households which have recently lost or been denied eligibility for public assistance or general assistance, shall be cer- tified for participation in the food stamp program based on information in the public assistance or gen- eral assistance case file to the extent that reasonably verified information is available in such case file. In addition to implementing paragraphs (1) through (4), the State agency shall inform applicants for benefits under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that such applicants may file, along with their application for such benefits, an application for benefits under this chapter, and that if such appli- cants file, they shall have a single interview for food stamps and for benefits under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act. No’’. Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 104–193, § 840(2), added subsec. (p). 1995—Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 104–66 struck out ‘‘, and shall, upon completion of the audit, provide a report to Congress of its findings and recommendations within one hundred and eighty days’’ after ‘‘within that State’’ in first sentence. 1994—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 103–296, § 108(f)(3), inserted ‘‘, the Commissioner of Social Security’’ after ‘‘the Secretary’’ in first sentence. Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 103–296, § 108(f)(2), substituted ‘‘Commissioner of Social Security’’ for ‘‘Secretary of Health and Human Services’’ wherever appearing. 1993—Subsec. (e)(8)(C). Pub. L. 103–66 added cl. (C). 1991—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–237, § 941(6), redesignated subsec. (p) as (b) and transferred it to follow subsec. (a). Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 102–237, § 941(5)(A), substituted a semicolon for period at end. Subsec. (e)(3)(D). Pub. L. 102–237, § 941(5)(B)(i), sub- stituted ‘‘section 2015 of this title)’’ for ‘‘section 2015 of this title’’. Subsec. (e)(3)(E). Pub. L. 102–237, § 941(5)(B)(ii), made technical amendment to clarify alignment of margin of concluding provisions. Subsec. (e)(15). Pub. L. 102–237, § 941(5)(C), substituted a semicolon for period at end. Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 102–237, § 941(6), redesignated sub- sec. (p) as (b) and transferred it to follow subsec. (a). 1990—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1736(1), sub- stituted ‘‘on or near its front cover) explanations’’ for ‘‘instructions’’ in third sentence. Pub. L. 101–624, § 1736(2), substituted ‘‘The State agen- cy shall require that an adult representative of each household that is applying for food stamp benefits shall certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, that the information contained in the application is true and that all members of the household are either citizens or are aliens eligible to receive food stamps under section 2015(f) of this title. The signature of the adult under this section shall be deemed sufficient to comply with any provision of Federal law requiring household mem- bers to sign the application or statements in connec- tion with the application process.’’ for ‘‘One adult member of a household that is applying for a coupon al- lotment shall be required to certify in writing, under penalty of perjury, the truth of the information con- tained in the application for the allotment.’’ Subsec. (e)(3)(E). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1737, inserted be- fore semicolon at end a period followed by ‘‘Under rules prescribed by the Secretary, a State agency shall de- velop standard estimates of the shelter expenses that may reasonably be expected to be incurred by house- holds in which all members are homeless but that are not receiving free shelter throughout the month. The Secretary may issue regulations to preclude the use of the estimates for households with extremely low shel- ter costs for whom the following sentence shall not apply. A State agency shall use the estimates in deter- mining the allotments of the households, unless a household verifies higher expenses’’. Subsec. (e)(21). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1738(1), struck out ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘within the State;’’. Subsec. (e)(22). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1738(2), substituted semicolon for period at end. Subsec. (e)(25). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1738(3)–(5), added par. (25). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1739, inserted first sen- tence and struck out former first sentence which read as follows: ‘‘To encourage the purchase of nutritious foods, the Secretary is authorized to extend food and nutrition education to reach food stamp program par- ticipants, using the methods and techniques developed in the expanded food and nutrition education and other programs.’’ Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1763(b), inserted ‘‘or the requirements established pursuant to section 2032 of this title’’ after ‘‘section 2025(b)(1) of this title’’ in first sentence. Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1740, inserted ‘‘in a State that has a single State-wide general assistance application form’’ after ‘‘grant’’ and inserted before semicolon at end ‘‘, and households applying for a local general assistance grant in a local jurisdiction in which the agency administering the general assistance pro- gram also administers the food stamp program shall be provided an application for participation in the food stamp program at the time of their application for gen- eral assistance, along with information concerning how to apply for the food stamp program’’. Subsec. (j)(1). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1741, inserted ‘‘supple- mental security income or’’ after ‘‘recipient of’’. 1988—Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 100–435, § 204(a), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: ‘‘not conduct food stamp outreach activities with funds provided under this chapter except, at the option of the State agency, food stamp informational activities directed at homeless in- dividuals; and’’. Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 100–435, § 310, inserted provi- sions relating to brief, simply-written, and readable ap- plication forms. Pub. L. 100–435, § 330, substituted ‘‘The State agency shall waive in-office interviews, on a household’s re- quest, if a household is unable to appoint an authorized representative pursuant to paragraph (7) and has no adult household members able to come to the appro- priate State agency office because such members are elderly, are mentally or physically handicapped, live in a location not served by a certification office, or have transportation difficulties or similar hardships as de- termined by the State agency (including hardships due Page 1323 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 to residing in a rural area, illness, care of a household member, prolonged severe weather, or work or training hours). If an in-office interview is waived, the State agency may conduct a telephone interview or a home visit. The State agency shall provide for telephone con- tact by, mail delivery of forms to, and mail return of forms by, households that have transportation difficul- ties or similar hardships.’’ for ‘‘The State agency shall comply with the standards established by the Secretary for telephone contact by, mail delivery of forms to and mail return of forms by, and subsequent home or tele- phone interview with, the elderly, physically or men- tally handicapped, and persons otherwise unable, solely because of transportation difficulties and similar hard- ships, to appear in person at a certification office or through a representative pursuant to paragraph (7) of this subsection, so that such persons may have an ade- quate opportunity to be certified properly;’’. Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 100–435, § 323, inserted provi- sions at end relating to dissemination of statements de- scribing reporting responsibilities and telephone num- ber to call State agency. Pub. L. 100–435, § 311, inserted cls. (A) to (E). Subsec. (e)(6)(C). Pub. L. 100–435, § 322(a), substituted ‘‘shall provide’’ for ‘‘shall undertake to provide’’ and inserted ‘‘so that eligible households are promptly and accurately certified to receive the allotments for which they are eligible under this chapter’’ after ‘‘such cer- tification’’. Subsec. (e)(6)(D). Pub. L. 100–435, § 321(a), added cl. (D). Subsec. (e)(6)(E). Pub. L. 100–435, § 322(b), added cl. (E). Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 100–435, § 352, amended second sen- tence generally. Prior to amendment, second sentence read as follows: ‘‘Each State agency shall implement clauses (1) and (2) and may implement clause (3) or (4), or both such clauses.’’ Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 100–435, § 320, added subsec. (p). 1987—Subsec. (e)(1)(A). Pub. L. 100–77, § 808(a), inserted ‘‘except, at the option of the State agency, food stamp informational activities directed at homeless individ- uals’’ after ‘‘this chapter’’. Subsec. (e)(9). Pub. L. 100–77, § 809(a), added subpars. (B) and (C), redesignated former subpar. (B) as (D), and directed the substitution of ‘‘a household referred to in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C)’’ for ‘‘the household’’ which was executed by making the substitution for the first reference to ‘‘the household’’ as the probable in- tent of Congress. 1985—Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1529, inserted pro- vision directing the State agency to provide a method of certifying and issuing coupons to eligible households that do not reside in permanent dwellings or who do not have fixed mailing addresses and to take such steps as are necessary to ensure that participation in the food stamp program is limited to eligible households. Pub. L. 99–198, § 1525, inserted requirement that one adult member of a household that is applying for a cou- pon allotment certify in writing, under penalty of per- jury, the truth of the information contained in the ap- plication for the allotment. Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1527, struck out ‘‘only’’ after ‘‘verification’’, inserted ‘‘, household size (in any case such size is questionable,’’, and substituted ‘‘such other eligibility factors as the State agency determines are necessary’’ for ‘‘any factors of eligibility involving households that fall within the State agency’s error- prone household profiles as developed by the State agency from the error rate reduction system conducted under section 2025 of this title and as approved by the Secretary’’. Subsec. (e)(16). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1528, substituted ‘‘fourth sentence’’ for ‘‘last sentence’’, inserted ‘‘and would be cost effective’’ after ‘‘integrity’’, and inserted provision authorizing the State agency to permit a member of a household to comply with this paragraph by presenting a photographic identification card used to receive assistance under a welfare or public assist- ance program. Subsec. (e)(22). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1517(b), added par. (22). Subsec. (e)(23). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1526, added par. (23). Subsec. (e)(24). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1535(b)(1), added par. (24). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1530, inserted provisions directing State agencies to encourage food stamp pro- gram participants to participate in the expanded food and nutrition education program conducted under sec- tion 343(d) of this title and any program established under sections 3175a through 3175e of this title and, at the request of personnel of such education program, allow personnel and information materials of such edu- cation program to be placed in food stamp offices. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1537(c), inserted ‘‘the State plan for automated data processing submitted pursuant to subsection (o)(2) of this section,’’ and sub- stituted ‘‘sections 2025(a), 2025(c), and 2025(g) of this title’’ for ‘‘sections 2025(a) and 2025(c) of this title’’. Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1531(a), in cl. (2) of first sentence, inserted ‘‘applicants for or’’ after ‘‘members are’’ and substituted ‘‘informed of the availability of benefits under the food stamp program and be assisted in making a simple application to participate in such program’’ for ‘‘permitted to apply for participation in the food stamp program by executing a simple applica- tion’’, effective Oct. 1, 1986. Pub. L. 99–198, § 1507(b), inserted sentence directing that no household shall have its application to partici- pate in the food stamp program denied nor its benefits under the food stamp program terminated solely on the basis that its application to participate has been denied or its benefits have been terminated under any of the programs carried out under the statutes specified in the second sentence of section 2014(a) of this title and without a separate determination by the State agency that the household fails to satisfy the eligibility re- quirements for participation in the food stamp pro- gram. Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1531(b), amended subsec. (j) generally, effective Oct. 1, 1986. Prior to amendment, subsec. (j) read as follows: ‘‘The Secretary, in conjunc- tion with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is authorized to prescribe regulations permitting appli- cants for and recipients of social security benefits to apply for food stamps at social security offices and be certified for food stamp eligibility in such offices in order that the application and certification for food stamp assistance may be accomplished as efficiently and conveniently as possible.’’ Subsec. (o). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1537(b), added subsec. (o). 1984—Subsec. (e)(19). Pub. L. 98–369 amended par. (19) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (19) read as fol- lows: ‘‘that— ‘‘(A) in any case in which information is available from agencies administering State unemployment compensation laws under section 303(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 503(d)), the information shall be requested and utilized by the State agency to the extent permitted under such section; or ‘‘(B) in any case in which information is not avail- able from agencies administering State unemploy- ment compensation laws under section 303(d) of the Social Security Act— ‘‘(i) information available from the Social Secu- rity Administration under section 6103(l)(7) of title 26 shall be requested and utilized by the State agen- cy to the extent permitted under such section; or ‘‘(ii) similar information available from other sources shall be requested and utilized by the State agency to the extent approved by the Secretary and permitted by any law controlling access to the in- formation;’’. 1983—Subsec. (e)(19). Pub. L. 98–204 amended par. (19) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (19) read as fol- lows: ‘‘that information available from the Social Se- curity Administration under the provisions of section 6103(i)(7) of title 26, and information available from agencies administering State unemployment com- pensation laws under the provisions of section 303(d) of the Social Security Act, shall be requested and utilized by the State agency (described in section 2012(n)(1) of Page 1324 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 this title), to the extent permitted under the provisions of such sections, except that the State agency shall not be required to request such information from the Social Security Administration if such information is avail- able from the agency administering the State unem- ployment compensation laws;’’. 1982—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–253, § 166, inserted provi- sion that the Secretary may not, as a part of the ap- proval process for a plan of operation, require a State to submit for prior approval by the Secretary the State agency instructions to staff, interpretations of existing policy, State agency methods of administration, forms used by the State agency, or any materials, documents, memoranda, bulletins, or other matter, unless the State determines that the materials, documents, memoranda, bulletins, or other matter alter or amend the State plan of operation or conflict with the rights and levels of benefits to which a household is entitled. Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 97–253, § 167(a), struck out ‘‘points and hours of certification, and for’’ after ‘‘Sec- retary for’’ in last sentence. Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 97–253, § 180(b)(1), substituted ‘‘section 2025(e) of this title’’ for ‘‘subsections (h) and (i) of section 2025 of this title’’ and ‘‘error rate reduc- tion system’’ for ‘‘quality control program’’, respec- tively. Subsec. (e)(7). Pub. L. 97–253, § 168, substituted ‘‘an’’ for ‘‘any’’ wherever appearing and inserted provision that the Secretary may restrict the number of house- holds which may be represented by an individual and otherwise establish criteria and verification standards for representation under this paragraph. Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 97–253, § 169, substituted ‘‘, regulations issued pursuant to this chapter, Federal assistance programs, or federally assisted State pro- grams’’ for ‘‘or the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter’’. Subsec. (e)(9). Pub. L. 97–253, § 170, added par. (9). Former par. (9), which required that the State plan of operation provide that households in immediate need because of no income as defined in section 2014(d) and (e) of this title would receive coupons on an expedited basis, was struck out. Subsec. (e)(10). Pub. L. 97–253, § 171, inserted provision that in any case in which the State agency receives from the household a written statement containing in- formation that clearly requires a reduction or termi- nation of the household’s benefits, the State agency may act immediately to reduce or terminate the house- hold’s benefits and may provide notice of its action to the household as late as the date on which the action becomes effective. Subsec. (e)(13). Pub. L. 97–253, §§ 167(b), 190(c)(1), redes- ignated par. (14) as (13) and struck out former par. (13) which provided that the State plan of operation provide for compliance with standards set by the Secretary with respect to points and hours of coupon issuance. Subsec. (e)(14) to (21). Pub. L. 97–253, § 190(c)(1), redes- ignated pars. (14) to (22) as (13) to (21), respectively. Subsec. (e)(22). Pub. L. 97–253, §§ 172, 190(c)(1), added par. (22) and redesignated it as par. (21). Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 97–253, §§ 173, 189(b)(2)(A), inserted provision requiring each State agency to implement pars. (1) and (2), and permitting each such agency to implement either par. (3) or (4), or both, and sub- stituted reference to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for former reference to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 97–253, § 189(b)(2)(B), substituted reference to the Secretary of Health and Human Serv- ices for former reference to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 97–253, § 174, added subsec. (n). 1981—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1316, struck out sub- sec. (b) which provided that certification of a household as eligible in any political subdivision, in the event of removal of such household to another political subdivi- sion in which the food stamp program is operating, re- mains valid for participation in the food stamp pro- gram for a period of sixty days from the date of such removal. Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 97–35 added cl. (A) and redesig- nated cl. (C) as (B). Former cls. (A) and (B), relating to informing low-income households about the program, and conducting other outreach activities, respectively, were struck out. Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1317, inserted provision that the application contain in understandable terms and in prominent and boldface lettering a statement that the information provided by the applicant is sub- ject to verification and if incorrect the applicant may be subject to denial of food stamps and criminal pros- ecution. Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1318, substituted ‘‘prior to’’ for ‘‘immediately prior to or at’’ and ‘‘advising the household’’ for ‘‘advising it’’. Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1319, inserted provision that such safeguards not prevent the use or disclosure of such information to the Comptroller General of the United States for audit and examination authorized by any other provision of law and that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, all information obtained under this chapter from an applicant household be available to local, State, or Federal law enforcement officials for the purpose of investigating an alleged vio- lation of this chapter or any regulation issued under this chapter. Subsec. (e)(11). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1320(a), inserted provi- sion that allotments not be restored for any period of time more than one year prior to the date the State agency receives a request for such restoration from a household or the State agency is notified or otherwise discovers that a loss to a household has occurred. Subsec. (e)(20), (21). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1321, added pars. (20) and (21). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1322, substituted ‘‘is au- thorized to extend food and nutrition education to reach food stamp participants, using methods and tech- niques developed in the expanded food and nutrition education and other programs’’ for ‘‘shall extend the expanded food and nutrition education program to the greatest extent possible to reach food stamp program participants’’ and struck out provision that the pro- gram be supplemented by the development of single concept printed materials, specifically designed for per- sons with low reading and comprehension levels, on how to buy and prepare more nutritious and economi- cal meals and on the relationship between food and good health. Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 97–98, § 1323, added subsec. (m). 1980—Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 96–249, § 116, inserted ‘‘(in part through the use of the information, if any, ob- tained under subsections (h) and (i) of section 2025 of this title)’’ after ‘‘section 2014(d) of this title’’ and ‘‘al- though the State agency may verify prior to certifi- cation, whether questionable or not, the size of any ap- plicant household and any factors of eligibility involv- ing households that fall within the State agency’s error-prone household profiles as developed by the State agency from the quality control program con- ducted under section 2025 of this title and as approved by the Secretary’’ after ‘‘sections 2014 and 2015 of this title,’’. Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 96–249, § 113, inserted proviso that the timeliness standards for submitting the notice of expiration and filing an application for recertifi- cation may be modified by the Secretary in light of sections 2014(f)(2) and 2015(c) of this title if administra- tively necessary. Subsec. (e)(17) to (19). Pub. L. 96–249, §§ 117–119, added pars. (17) to (19). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 96–249, § 120, inserted ‘‘, upon in- formation received by the Secretary, investigation ini- tiated by the Secretary, or investigation that the Sec- retary shall initiate upon receiving sufficient informa- tion evidencing a pattern of lack of compliance by a State agency of a type specified in this subsection,’’ after ‘‘the Secretary determines’’, ‘‘without good cause’’ after ‘‘to comply’’, ‘‘or the Secretary’s stand- ards for the efficient and effective administration of the program established under section 2025(b)(1) of this Page 1325 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2020 title’’ after ‘‘subsection (d) of this section,’’, and ‘‘, and whether or not the Secretary refers such matter to the Attorney General, the Secretary shall proceed to with- hold from the State such funds authorized under sec- tions 2025(a) and (c) of this title as the Secretary deter- mines to be appropriate, subject to administrative and judicial review under section 2023 of this title’’ after ‘‘relief shall issue’’. Subsec. (i)(2). Pub. L. 96–249, § 122, substituted ‘‘simple application’’ for ‘‘simplified affidavit’’. Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 96–249, § 123, added subsec. (l). 1977—Pub. L. 95–113 substituted revised provisions re- lating to the administration of the program for provi- sions relating to the disqualification of retail stores and wholesale concerns which are now covered by sec- tion 2021 of this title. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2010 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 111–296 effective Oct. 1, 2010, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 445 of Pub. L. 111–296, set out as a note under section 1751 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2008 AMENDMENT Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as other- wise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of this title. Amendment by sections 4001(b), 4002(a)(6), 4106, 4111(b), 4115(b)(8), 4116–4120, and 4406(a)(2) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective Oct. 1, 2008, see section 4407 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress. Amendment by section 7511(c)(5) of Pub. L. 110–246 ef- fective Oct. 1, 2009, see section 7511(c) of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1522 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2004 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 108–265 effective July 1, 2005, see section 502(b)(4) of Pub. L. 108–265, set out as an Ef- fective Date note under section 1754 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2002 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 107–171, title IV, § 4114(b), May 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 314, provided that: ‘‘The amendments made by this section [amending this section] take effect 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [May 13, 2002].’’ Amendment by sections 4115(a) and 4116(a) of Pub. L. 107–171 effective Oct. 1, 2002, except as otherwise pro- vided, see section 4405 of Pub. L. 107–171, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1998 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 105–379, § 1(c), Nov. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 3399, pro- vided that: ‘‘This section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note below] and the amendments made by this section take effect on June 1, 2000.’’ EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1997 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 105–33, title I, § 1003(a)(3), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 255, provided that: ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subpara- graph (B), the amendments made by this subsection [amending this section] shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1997]. ‘‘(B) EXTENSION.—The Secretary of Agriculture may grant a State an extension of time to comply with the amendments made by this subsection, not to exceed be- yond the date that is 2 years after the date of enact- ment of this Act, if the chief executive officer of the State submits a request for the extension to the Sec- retary— ‘‘(i) stating the reasons why the State is not able to comply with the amendments made by this sub- section by the date that is 1 year after the date of en- actment of this Act; ‘‘(ii) providing evidence that the State is making a good faith effort to comply with the amendments made by this subsection as soon as practicable; and ‘‘(iii) detailing a plan to bring the State into com- pliance with the amendments made by this sub- section as soon as practicable but not later than the date of the requested extension.’’ EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 103–296 effective Mar. 31, 1995, see section 110(a) of Pub. L. 103–296, set out as a note under section 401 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1993 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 103–66 effective, and to be im- plemented beginning on, Oct. 1, 1993, see section 13971(a) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as a note under sec- tion 2025 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1991 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 102–237 effective and to be im- plemented no later than Feb. 1, 1992, see section 1101(d)(1) of Pub. L. 102–237, set out as a note under sec- tion 1421 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT Amendment by sections 1736(1), 1737, 1738, 1740, and 1741 of Pub. L. 101–624 effective and implemented first day of month beginning 120 days after publication of implementing regulations to be promulgated not later than Oct. 1, 1991, amendment by section 1736(2) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective and implemented first day of month beginning 120 days after promulgation of implementing regulations to be promulgated not later than Apr. 1, 1991, and amendment by sections 1739 and 1763(b) of Pub. L. 101–624 effective Nov. 28, 1990, see section 1781(a), (b)(2), (3) of Pub. L. 101–624, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 100–435 to be effective and im- plemented on July 1, 1989, except that amendment by sections 204(a), 310, 311, 321(a), 322, 323, and 352 of Pub. L. 100–435 to become effective and implemented on Oct. 1, 1989, if final order is issued under section 902(b) of Title 2, The Congress, for fiscal year 1989 making reduc- tions and sequestrations specified in the report re- quired under section 901(a)(3)(A) of Title 2, see section 701(b)(4), (c)(2) of Pub. L. 100–435, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1987 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 100–77, title VIII, § 809(b), July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 536, provided that: ‘‘The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall become effec- tive and be implemented as soon as the Secretary of Agriculture determines is practicable after the date of enactment of this Act [July 22, 1987], but not later than 160 days after the date of enactment of this Act.’’ EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1985 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 99–198, title XV, § 1531(a), (b), Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1582, provided that the amendments made by sec- tion 1531(a), (b) are effective Oct. 1, 1986. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective Apr. 1, 1985, unless a waiver has been granted to a State to delay ef- fective date but in no event beyond Sept. 30, 1986, see section 2651(l)(2) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note Page 1326 TITLE 7—AGRICULTURE § 2021 under section 1320b–7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1982 AMENDMENT Amendments by sections 166 to 174, 189(b)(2), and 190(c)(1) of Pub. L. 97–253 effective Sept. 8, 1982, see sec- tion 193(a) of Pub. L. 97–253, set out as a note under sec- tion 2012 of this title. Amendment by section 180(b)(1) of Pub. L. 97–253 ef- fective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 193(b) of Pub. L. 97–253, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1981 AMENDMENTS Amendment by Pub. L. 97–35 effective on earlier of Sept. 8, 1982, or date such amendment became effective pursuant to section 117 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title, see section 192(a) of Pub. L. 97–253, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective on earlier of Sept. 8, 1982, or date such amendment became effective pursuant to section 1338 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title, see section 192(b) of Pub. L. 97–253, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective upon such date as Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe, taking into account need for orderly implementation, see section 1338 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 97–35 effective and imple- mented upon such dates as Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe, taking into account need for orderly im- plementation, see section 117 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1977 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, § 1301, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 958, provided that the amendment made by section 1301 is effective Oct. 1, 1977. REGULATIONS Pub. L. 113–79, title IV, § 4016(b), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 795, provided that: ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 7, 2014], the Sec- retary [of Agriculture] shall issue a proposed rule to carry out the amendments made by this section [amending this section]. ‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The rule shall— ‘‘(A) identify federally required data exchanges; ‘‘(B) include specification and timing of exchanges to be standardized; ‘‘(C) address the factors used in determining wheth- er and when to standardize data exchanges; ‘‘(D) specify State implementation options; and ‘‘(E) describe future milestones.’’ Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations necessary to implement amendment of this section by Pub. L. 105–33, not later than one year after Aug. 5, 1997, see § 1005(a) of Pub. L. 105–33 set out as a note under section 2015 of this title. ABOLITION OF IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE AND TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under section 1551 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality. AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION UNDER THE FOOD AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2008 Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, § 605, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 837, provided that: ‘‘In administering the supple- mental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture shall ensure that any safeguards that prevent the use or disclosure of in- formation obtained from applicant households shall not prevent the use of that information by, or the disclo- sure of that information to, the Secretary of Defense for purposes of determining the number of applicant households that contain one or more members of a reg- ular component or reserve component of the Armed Forces.’’ REPORT Pub. L. 105–379, § 1(b), Nov. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 3399, as amended by Pub. L. 110–234, title IV, § 4002(b)(1)(B), (2)(PP), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1096, 1098; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title IV, § 4002(b)(1)(B), (2)(PP), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1857, 1859, provided that: ‘‘Not later than September 1, 2000, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit a report regarding the progress and effective- ness of the cooperative arrangements entered into by State agencies under section 11(r) of the Food and Nu- trition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(r)) (as added by sub- section (a)) to— ‘‘(1) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives; ‘‘(2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate; ‘‘(3) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; ‘‘(4) the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and ‘‘(5) the Secretary of the Treasury.’’ AUDIT OF SIMPLIFIED FOOD STAMP APPLICATION AT SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OFFICES Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, § 1742, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3795, directed Comptroller General to conduct an audit of programs established under 7 U.S.C. 2020(i) and (j) under which an applicant for or recipient of social security benefits may make or be provided a simple ap- plication to participate in the food stamp program at social security offices, and, not later than Dec. 31, 1991, deliver a report on results of study to Committee on Agriculture of House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of Senate, and Special Committee on Aging of Senate. Executive Documents EX. ORD. NO. 12116. ISSUANCE OF FOOD STAMPS BY POSTAL SERVICE Ex. Ord. No. 12116, Jan. 19, 1979, 44 F.R. 4647, provided: By the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America by Section 11(k) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 [now the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008] (91 Stat. 974; 7 U.S.C. 2020(k)), the United States Postal Service is hereby granted approval for post of- fices in all or part of any State to issue food stamps to eligible households, upon request by the appropriate State agency, as defined in Section 3(n) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (91 Stat. 960; 7 U.S.C. 2012(n)). JIMMY CARTER. § 2021. Civil penalties and disqualification of re- tail food stores and wholesale food concerns (a) Disqualification (1) In general An approved retail food store or wholesale food concern that violates a provision of this chapter or a regulation under this chapter may be— (A) disqualified for a specified period of time from further participation in the sup- plemental nutrition assistance program; (B) assessed a civil penalty of up to $100,000 for each violation; or (C) both. (2) Regulations Regulations promulgated under this chapter shall provide criteria for the finding of a viola-