The purpose of this memorandum is to provide state agencies operating the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children with information regarding compliance with split tender transactions. 

FNS is updating the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regulations to set implementation parameters, prerequisites and operational standards required of state agencies that intend to implement the photo Electronic Benefit Transfer card option provided under Section 7(h)(9) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

The information presented here is intended to educate state agencies about how they can make it more affordable for farmers markets to adopt EBT technology.

This final rule considers public comments submitted in response to the proposed rule published Feb. 28, 2013 and implements the provisions set forth in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 related to electronic benefit transfer (EBT) for the WIC program.

Under Section 7(h)(9) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended (the Act), states have the option to require that a SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer card contains a photo of one or more household members.