81_FR_14876 81 FR 14823 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Understanding the Anti-Fraud Measures of Large SNAP Retailers

81 FR 14823 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Understanding the Anti-Fraud Measures of Large SNAP Retailers

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 53 (March 18, 2016)

Page Range14823-14826
FR Document2016-05896

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for the purpose of learning about the types of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) related fraud activity observed by large retailers and the methods they use to prevent fraud and minimize their losses. The goal of the information collection is to learn more about the types of SNAP fraud that occur in large retailer settings; document retailer practices to detect, deter, and deal with fraud (collectively known as loss prevention or loss prevention practices); and determine which practices could provide information that would help FNS in detecting and preventing SNAP fraud.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 53 (Friday, March 18, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14823-14826]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05896]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Understanding the Anti-Fraud Measures of Large SNAP 
Retailers

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) invites the general public and 
other public agencies to comment on this proposed information 
collection. This is a new collection for the purpose of learning about 
the types of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) related 
fraud activity observed by large retailers and the methods they use to 
prevent fraud and minimize their losses. The goal of the information 
collection is to learn more about the types of SNAP fraud that occur in 
large retailer settings; document retailer practices to detect, deter, 
and deal with fraud (collectively known as loss prevention or loss 
prevention practices); and determine which practices could provide 
information that would help FNS in detecting and preventing SNAP fraud.

DATES: Written comments must be received by May 17, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the reporting burden on those who are asked to respond, 
including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments may be sent to Eric Sean Williams, Food and Nutrition 
Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22312. 
Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of Eric Sean 
Williams at (703) 305-2576 or via email to [email protected].
    Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments electronically.
    All written comments will be open for public inspection at the 
office of FNS during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 
Monday through Friday) located at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22312.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will be a matter of public 
record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collected should be directed to Eric Sean 
Williams, Office of Policy Support, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Understanding the Anti-Fraud Measures of Large SNAP 
Retailers.
    OMB Number: 0584--NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Abstract: FNS is responsible for authorizing retailers for 
participation in SNAP as well as monitoring their compliance with 
applicable regulations. Fraud in the context of SNAP can come from 
client-level program violations or retailer-level fraud. The latter, 
which is the focus of this study, can involve different actions such as 
the buying and selling of benefits or selling ineligible items like 
alcohol and tobacco. FNS believes that any type of fraud in SNAP 
weakens the program by diverting benefits from the intended purpose of 
helping low-income Americans purchase food and undermining the public 
confidence in the program. Thus, the Agency continually seeks new ways 
to detect and prevent fraud.
    Research has consistently demonstrated that fraud rates are lowest 
among large retailers. There are several theories for why this may be 
true, one of which is that large regional or national retail chains of 
stores have sophisticated loss prevention systems that prevent or 
detect numerous types of fraud. Thus, a loss prevention system built to 
discover an employee engaging in credit card fraud could easily be 
modified to detect an employee engaging in SNAP benefit fraud. 
Similarly, a system built to prevent internal theft may be able to 
detect the sale of ineligible items.
    Despite theories as to why large stores have low SNAP fraud rates, 
there is limited understanding of how they prevent SNAP fraud. If 
internal loss prevention systems prevent SNAP fraud, then it is 
possible that a better understanding of large store procedures could 
help FNS refine its procedures for detecting and reducing retailer-
level fraud. Thus, FNS desires to understand more about the steps large 
retailers take to protect themselves from fraud in general and SNAP 
fraud specifically.
    The information collection activities to be undertaken subject to 
this notice include: Survey of Companies that own/franchise large SNAP 
authorized retail chains: Surveys will be administered to company SNAP 
representatives in companies that own, franchise and/or have 
cooperative agreements with the largest chains of SNAP-authorized 
stores. These include super store chains, large supermarket chains, 
convenience store chains, and other chain stores that sell a 
combination of food and other products, such as household products, 
pharmaceuticals, or gasoline. The surveys will address the loss 
prevention systems used by these companies.
    Survey of SNAP Authorized Stores owned/franchised/affiliated with 
large retail chains: Surveys will be administered to managers of super 
stores, large supermarkets, convenience stores and other chain stores 
that sell a combination of food and other products. The surveys will 
address fraud detection and prevention policies and practices.
    This study does not seek to represent all SNAP retailers. It 
targets the practices of one segment of the SNAP authorized retailer 
population--the largest retail chains. These chains are likely to have 
the most sophisticated loss prevention systems. Therefore, the study 
includes the large national and regional chain retailers responsible 
for transacting about half of all SNAP redemptions. A total of the 35 
largest retail corporations and a sample of 2,000 of their store 
outlets are expected to respond to surveys.

[[Page 14824]]

    Company SNAP representatives and store managers will be asked 
questions regarding organizational structure, roles and 
responsibilities, and tactics used to limit or eliminate fraud in 
general and SNAP fraud in particular. At a minimum the following fraud 
abatement methods will be studied at the corporate and store levels: 
Point of sale systems, analytics, training, surveillance, 
investigation, and liaison with law enforcement. The surveys will be 
administered using a web-based survey tool.
    Companies and SNAP authorized stores that do not respond to the 
web-based surveys will receive internet reminders. Those that still do 
not respond will receive a telephone call through a Computer Aided 
Telephone Interviewing (CATI) system where trained interviewers will 
prompt the participant to respond to the survey online or to complete 
the survey by telephone via CATI.
    Affected Public: Businesses-for-and-not-for-profit (4,054):
    A total of 45 large companies with stores participating in SNAP, 
and 4,000 SNAP authorized company owned and operate stores, franchised 
stores or affiliated stores and 5 pretest companies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,054.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.4430.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 9,904.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.11378.
    Pretesting the company surveys will take a total of 10 hours (four 
2.5-hour interviews), and pretesting the store surveys will take 5 
hours (five 1-hour interviews).
    FNS plans to contact 45 companies. We anticipate the SNAP 
representative at 35 companies will respond and spend 1.65 hours 
identifying key informants and compiling information from various 
organizational units involved in SNAP. They are likely to include human 
resources (for training), loss prevention (for loss prevention 
management and loss prevention procedures used), point of sale 
management and analytics. The company SNAP representative will spend 
between .25 (web-based response) to .33 (CATI survey response) hours 
completing the survey, including time to report on SNAP-specific 
activities and policies carried out by the SNAP representative and 
information compiled from other units involved in SNAP. Managers of 
2,000 stores will spend an average of .4 hours each to respond to the 
Store Manager Survey.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,126.9 hours.
    See the burden table below for estimated total burden for each type 
of business respondent and non-respondents.

[[Page 14825]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18MR16.002



[[Page 14826]]


    Dated: March 8, 2016.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05896 Filed 3-17-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P



                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Notices                                           14823

                                                    the methodology and assumptions used;                   proposed collection, including the                    among large retailers. There are several
                                                    (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility,               validity of the methodology and                       theories for why this may be true, one
                                                    and clarity of the information collected;               assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance                 of which is that large regional or
                                                    and (4) ways to minimize the burden of                  the quality, utility, and clarity of the              national retail chains of stores have
                                                    the collection of information on those                  information to be collected; (d) ways to              sophisticated loss prevention systems
                                                    who respond, including through the use                  minimize the reporting burden on those                that prevent or detect numerous types of
                                                    of appropriate automated, electronic,                   who are asked to respond, including the               fraud. Thus, a loss prevention system
                                                    mechanical, or other technological                      use of appropriate automated,                         built to discover an employee engaging
                                                    collection techniques or other forms of                 electronic, mechanical, or other                      in credit card fraud could easily be
                                                    information technology.                                 technological collection techniques or                modified to detect an employee
                                                      All responses to this notice will be                  other forms of information technology.                engaging in SNAP benefit fraud.
                                                    summarized and included in the request                     Comments may be sent to Eric Sean                  Similarly, a system built to prevent
                                                    for OMB approval. All comments will                     Williams, Food and Nutrition Service,                 internal theft may be able to detect the
                                                    become a matter of public record.                       USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room                    sale of ineligible items.
                                                      Dated: March 15, 2016.                                1014, Alexandria, VA 22312. Comments                     Despite theories as to why large stores
                                                    Elanor Starmer,                                         may also be submitted via fax to the                  have low SNAP fraud rates, there is
                                                    Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing            attention of Eric Sean Williams at (703)              limited understanding of how they
                                                    Service.                                                305–2576 or via email to Eric.Williams@               prevent SNAP fraud. If internal loss
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–06144 Filed 3–17–16; 8:45 am]             fns.usda.gov.                                         prevention systems prevent SNAP
                                                    BILLING CODE P
                                                                                                               Comments will also be accepted                     fraud, then it is possible that a better
                                                                                                            through the Federal eRulemaking Portal.               understanding of large store procedures
                                                                                                            Go to http://www.regulations.gov and                  could help FNS refine its procedures for
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               follow the online instructions for                    detecting and reducing retailer-level
                                                                                                            submitting comments electronically.                   fraud. Thus, FNS desires to understand
                                                    Food and Nutrition Service                                 All written comments will be open for              more about the steps large retailers take
                                                                                                            public inspection at the office of FNS                to protect themselves from fraud in
                                                    Agency Information Collection                           during regular business hours (8:30 a.m.              general and SNAP fraud specifically.
                                                    Activities: Proposed Collection;                        to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday)                     The information collection activities
                                                    Comment Request—Understanding the                       located at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room               to be undertaken subject to this notice
                                                    Anti-Fraud Measures of Large SNAP                       1014, Alexandria, Virginia 22312.                     include: Survey of Companies that own/
                                                    Retailers                                                  All responses to this notice will be               franchise large SNAP authorized retail
                                                    AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service                      summarized and included in the request                chains: Surveys will be administered to
                                                    (FNS), USDA.                                            for OMB approval. All comments will                   company SNAP representatives in
                                                    ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                            be a matter of public record.                         companies that own, franchise and/or
                                                                                                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      have cooperative agreements with the
                                                    SUMMARY:   In accordance with the                       Requests for additional information or                largest chains of SNAP-authorized
                                                    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the                    copies of this information collected                  stores. These include super store chains,
                                                    USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)                   should be directed to Eric Sean                       large supermarket chains, convenience
                                                    invites the general public and other                    Williams, Office of Policy Support,                   store chains, and other chain stores that
                                                    public agencies to comment on this                      Food and Nutrition Service, USDA,                     sell a combination of food and other
                                                    proposed information collection. This is                3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014,                    products, such as household products,
                                                    a new collection for the purpose of                     Alexandria, VA 22302.                                 pharmaceuticals, or gasoline. The
                                                    learning about the types of                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            surveys will address the loss prevention
                                                    Supplemental Nutrition Assistance                          Title: Understanding the Anti-Fraud                systems used by these companies.
                                                    Program (SNAP) related fraud activity                   Measures of Large SNAP Retailers.                        Survey of SNAP Authorized Stores
                                                    observed by large retailers and the                        OMB Number: 0584—NEW.                              owned/franchised/affiliated with large
                                                    methods they use to prevent fraud and                      Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.               retail chains: Surveys will be
                                                    minimize their losses. The goal of the                     Abstract: FNS is responsible for                   administered to managers of super
                                                    information collection is to learn more                 authorizing retailers for participation in            stores, large supermarkets, convenience
                                                    about the types of SNAP fraud that                      SNAP as well as monitoring their                      stores and other chain stores that sell a
                                                    occur in large retailer settings;                       compliance with applicable regulations.               combination of food and other products.
                                                    document retailer practices to detect,                  Fraud in the context of SNAP can come                 The surveys will address fraud
                                                    deter, and deal with fraud (collectively                from client-level program violations or               detection and prevention policies and
                                                    known as loss prevention or loss                        retailer-level fraud. The latter, which is            practices.
                                                    prevention practices); and determine                    the focus of this study, can involve                     This study does not seek to represent
                                                    which practices could provide                           different actions such as the buying and              all SNAP retailers. It targets the
                                                    information that would help FNS in                      selling of benefits or selling ineligible             practices of one segment of the SNAP
                                                    detecting and preventing SNAP fraud.                    items like alcohol and tobacco. FNS                   authorized retailer population—the
                                                    DATES: Written comments must be                         believes that any type of fraud in SNAP               largest retail chains. These chains are
                                                    received by May 17, 2016.                               weakens the program by diverting                      likely to have the most sophisticated
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                                                    ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on:                     benefits from the intended purpose of                 loss prevention systems. Therefore, the
                                                    (a) Whether the proposed collection of                  helping low-income Americans                          study includes the large national and
                                                    information is necessary for the proper                 purchase food and undermining the                     regional chain retailers responsible for
                                                    performance of the functions of the                     public confidence in the program. Thus,               transacting about half of all SNAP
                                                    agency, including whether the                           the Agency continually seeks new ways                 redemptions. A total of the 35 largest
                                                    information shall have practical utility;               to detect and prevent fraud.                          retail corporations and a sample of
                                                    (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate                  Research has consistently                          2,000 of their store outlets are expected
                                                    of the time and cost burden for this                    demonstrated that fraud rates are lowest              to respond to surveys.


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                                                    14824                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Notices

                                                       Company SNAP representatives and                        Affected Public: Businesses-for-and-               and compiling information from various
                                                    store managers will be asked questions                  not-for-profit (4,054):                               organizational units involved in SNAP.
                                                    regarding organizational structure, roles                  A total of 45 large companies with                 They are likely to include human
                                                    and responsibilities, and tactics used to               stores participating in SNAP, and 4,000               resources (for training), loss prevention
                                                    limit or eliminate fraud in general and                 SNAP authorized company owned and                     (for loss prevention management and
                                                    SNAP fraud in particular. At a                          operate stores, franchised stores or                  loss prevention procedures used), point
                                                    minimum the following fraud abatement                   affiliated stores and 5 pretest                       of sale management and analytics. The
                                                    methods will be studied at the corporate                companies.                                            company SNAP representative will
                                                    and store levels: Point of sale systems,                   Estimated Number of Respondents:                   spend between .25 (web-based response)
                                                    analytics, training, surveillance,                      4,054.                                                to .33 (CATI survey response) hours
                                                    investigation, and liaison with law                        Estimated Number of Responses per                  completing the survey, including time
                                                    enforcement. The surveys will be                        Respondent: 2.4430.                                   to report on SNAP-specific activities
                                                    administered using a web-based survey                      Estimated Number of Annual                         and policies carried out by the SNAP
                                                    tool.                                                   Responses: 9,904.                                     representative and information
                                                       Companies and SNAP authorized                           Estimated Time per Response:                       compiled from other units involved in
                                                    stores that do not respond to the web-                  0.11378.                                              SNAP. Managers of 2,000 stores will
                                                    based surveys will receive internet                        Pretesting the company surveys will                spend an average of .4 hours each to
                                                    reminders. Those that still do not                      take a total of 10 hours (four 2.5-hour               respond to the Store Manager Survey.
                                                    respond will receive a telephone call                   interviews), and pretesting the store
                                                    through a Computer Aided Telephone                      surveys will take 5 hours (five 1-hour                   Estimated Total Annual Burden on
                                                    Interviewing (CATI) system where                        interviews).                                          Respondents: 1,126.9 hours.
                                                    trained interviewers will prompt the                       FNS plans to contact 45 companies.                    See the burden table below for
                                                    participant to respond to the survey                    We anticipate the SNAP representative                 estimated total burden for each type of
                                                    online or to complete the survey by                     at 35 companies will respond and spend                business respondent and non-
                                                    telephone via CATI.                                     1.65 hours identifying key informants                 respondents.
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                                                                                                   Estimated Sample Size and Response Burden
                                                                                                                                                                            Grand
                                                                                  Responses                                            Non—Responses                        Total
                                                                                              u               2                                                       —
                                                                        5         —           g           c    5                   5           ~                   5 ‘E
                                                                        3         s           3           8 3         .            a $         2 y         5       g§       5t
                                                               £        5 u       4,          &           a 2         5 £          5 5         & 5         2       & §      Grand
                                                           wo oS5       s §       m5 $5       5o          3B5
                                                                                                            &         2o $C        so 2o       m§ 2e       58 §    $5 oc§   Total
                                                  sample €& &§          &a &§ °& 2§           g           °5          |#5          |E¢€        |6%         55 4& Z2$ Burden
                                                                        ® C                                                                                2 C




                                                                                                                                                                                           saonoN/9I0Z ‘g1 YoJrep| ‘AepWU4/£S ‘ON ‘IG OA /JajstSay Jfe1apaq
Affected Public   Respondent (Appendix)           Size                                        2           a 2         & &          a 2         a 2         2 &       Hours
                  Company—Pretest                      4            4         1           4         2.5       10.00            0           1           0       0        0       10.00
                  Company—Invitation Email            45        35            1        35          0.06        2.10           10           1        10     0.02      0.2            2.30
                  Company—Reminder Email              40        30            1        30          0.03        0.90           10           1        10     0.01      0.1            1.00
                  Company—Reminder Telephone
                  Call                                30        20            1        20          0.06        1.20           10           1        10     0.01      0.1            1.30
                  Company—Compile Information
                  on Organization and Mgmt.           35        35            1        35           0.5       17.50            0           1           0       0        0       17.50
                  Company—Compile Information
                  on Training                         35        35            1        35           0.2        7.00            0           1           0       0        0           7.00
                  Company—Compile Information
                  on Surveillance Systems             35        35            1        35          0.15        5.25            0           1           0       0        0           5.25
                  Company—Compile Information
                  on Investigation                    35        35            1        35          0.15        5.25            0           1           0       0        0           5.25
                  Company—Compile Information
Profit/Nonprof    on Liaison with Law
 it Businesses:   Enforcement                         35        35            1        35          0.15        5.25            0           1           0       0        0           5.25
   Retailers—     Company— Compile Information
    large food    on Point of Sale Systems            35        35            1        35          0.25        8.75            0           1           0       0        0           8.75
  retail chains   Company—Compile Information
                  on Analytics                        35        35            1        35          0.25        8.75            0           1           0       0        0           8.75
                  Company—Input Data via Web—
                  based Survey                        25        25            1        25          0.25        6.25            0           1           0       0        0           6.25
                  Company—Respond via
                  Computer—Assisted Telephone
                  Interview Survey                    10        10            1        10          0.33        3.30            0           1           0       0        0           3.30
                  Store—Pretest                        5       5              1       5               1      5.00           0              1       0          0        0         5.00
                  Store—Invitation Email            4000    2000              1    2000            0.06    120.00        2000              1    2000       0.02       40       160.00
                  Store—Reminder Email              2500    1000              1    1000            0.03     30.00        1500              1    1500       0.01       15        45.00
                  Store—Reminder Telephone Call     1000      500             1       500          0.06       30.00       500              1       500     0.01         5       35.00
                  Store—Respond via Web—based
                  Survey                            1500     1500             1    1500             0.4    600.00              0           1           0       0        0      600.00
                  Store—Respond via Computer—
                  Assisted Telephone Interview       500      500             1       500           0.4    200.00              0           1           0       0        0      200.00




                                                                                                                                                                                                          Se8PHL


                                                    14826                           Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Notices

                                                     Dated: March 8, 2016.                                  Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                          Section 246.7(d)(1) of the WIC
                                                    Audrey Rowe,                                                                                                  regulations (Title 7, Code of Federal
                                                                                                              This notice does not contain reporting              Regulations) specifies that State
                                                    Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
                                                                                                            or recordkeeping requirements subject                 agencies may prescribe income
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–05896 Filed 3–17–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                            to approval by the Office of                          guidelines either equaling the income
                                                    BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
                                                                                                            Management and Budget in accordance                   guidelines established under section 9
                                                                                                            with the Paperwork Reduction Act of                   of the Richard B. Russell National
                                                                                                            1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507).                                School Lunch Act for reduced-price
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                                                                                                            Executive Order 12372                                 school meals, or identical to State or
                                                    Food and Nutrition Service                                                                                    local guidelines for free or reduced-
                                                                                                              This program is listed in the Catalog               price health care. However, in
                                                    Special Supplemental Nutrition                          of Federal Domestic Assistance                        conforming WIC income guidelines to
                                                    Program for Women, Infants and                          Programs under No. 10.557, and is                     State or local health care guidelines, the
                                                    Children (WIC): 2016/2017 Income                        subject to the provisions of Executive                State cannot establish WIC guidelines
                                                    Eligibility Guidelines                                  Order 12372, which requires                           which exceed the guidelines for
                                                                                                            intergovernmental consultation with                   reduced-price school meals, or which
                                                    AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service
                                                                                                            State and local officials (7 CFR part                 are less than 100 percent of the Federal
                                                    (FNS), USDA.
                                                                                                            3015, subpart V, 48 FR 29100, June 24,                poverty guidelines. Consistent with the
                                                    ACTION: Notice.                                         1983, and 49 FR 22675, May 31, 1984).                 method used to compute income
                                                    SUMMARY:    The U.S. Department of                      Description                                           eligibility guidelines for reduced-price
                                                    Agriculture (‘‘Department’’) announces                                                                        meals under the National School Lunch
                                                    adjusted income eligibility guidelines to                  Section 17(d)(2)(A) of the Child                   Program, the poverty guidelines were
                                                    be used by State agencies in                            Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42                 multiplied by 1.85 and the results
                                                    determining the income eligibility of                   U.S.C. 1786(d)(2)(A)), requires the                   rounded upward to the next whole
                                                    persons applying to participate in the                  Secretary of Agriculture to establish                 dollar.
                                                    Special Supplemental Nutrition                          income criteria to be used with                          At this time, the Department is
                                                    Program for Women, Infants and                          nutritional risk criteria in determining a            publishing the maximum and minimum
                                                    Children Program (WIC). These income                    person’s eligibility for participation in             WIC income eligibility guidelines by
                                                    eligibility guidelines are to be used in                the WIC Program. The law provides that                household size for the period of July 1,
                                                    conjunction with the WIC Regulations.                   persons will be income-eligible for the               2016 through June 30, 2017. Consistent
                                                    DATES: Effective date July 1, 2016.                     WIC Program only if they are members                  with section 17(f)(17) of the Child
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                            of families that satisfy the income                   Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42
                                                    Kurtria Watson, Chief, Policy Branch,                   standard prescribed for reduced-price                 U.S.C. 1786(f)(17)), a State agency may
                                                    Supplemental Food Programs Division,                    school meals under section 9(b) of the                implement the revised WIC income
                                                    FNS, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive,                      Richard B. Russell National School                    eligibility guidelines concurrently with
                                                    Alexandria, Virginia 22302, (703) 605–                  Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)). Under                  the implementation of income eligibility
                                                    4387.                                                   section 9(b), the income limit for                    guidelines under the Medicaid Program
                                                                                                            reduced-price school meals is 185                     established under Title XIX of the Social
                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                            percent of the Federal poverty                        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396, et seq.).
                                                    Executive Order 12866                                   guidelines, as adjusted.                              State agencies may coordinate
                                                      This notice is exempt from review by                     Section 9(b) also requires that these              implementation with the revised
                                                    the Office of Management and Budget                     guidelines be revised annually to reflect             Medicaid guidelines, i.e., earlier in the
                                                    under Executive Order 12866.                            changes in the Consumer Price Index.                  year, but in no case may
                                                                                                            The annual revision for 2016/2017 was                 implementation take place later than
                                                    Regulatory Flexibility Act                              published by the Department of Health                 July 1, 2016. State agencies that do not
                                                      This action is not a rule as defined by               and Human Services (HHS) at 81 FR                     coordinate implementation with the
                                                    the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.                4036, January 25, 2016. The guidelines                revised Medicaid guidelines must
                                                    601–612) and thus is exempt from the                    published by HHS are referred to as the               implement the WIC income eligibility
                                                    provisions of this Act.                                 ‘‘poverty guidelines.’’                               guidelines on or before July 1, 2016.
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 15:13:52
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 15:13:52
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesWritten comments must be received by May 17, 2016.
ContactRequests for additional information or copies of this information collected should be directed to Eric Sean Williams, Office of Policy Support, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302.
FR Citation81 FR 14823 

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