This rule finalizes provisions of an interim rule entitled "Food Stamp Program: Non-Discretionary Quality Control Provisions of Title IV of PL 107-171" published on Oct. 16, 2003, and a proposed rule entitled "Food Stamp Program: Discretionary Quality Control Provisions of Title IV ofPL 107-171'' published on Sept. 23, 2005. The Food Stamp Program is now referred to as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pursuant to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (Act). This final rule codifies the provisions concerning the Quality Control system in Sections 4118 and 4119 of the Food Stamp Reauthorization Act (FSRA) of 2002.
This rule finalizes the liability procedures and the deadlines for completing the quality control review process and announcement of error rates established in the interim rule. It eliminates enhanced administrative funding for low error rates, establishes new time frames for completing individual quality control reviews, establishes procedures for resolving liabilities following appeal decisions, revises the negative case review procedures, and provides procedures for households that separate while subject to the penalty for refusal to cooperate with a quality control review.
This rule also adopts several policy changes and technical corrections included in the proposed rule. In addition, this rule affects state agencies' quality control review operations and alters the impact on state agencies of assessment and resolution of potential liabilities for excessive payment error rates and awarding of bonuses for superior performance. Households with cases sampled for quality control review of their cases would be minimally affected by this rule.