This notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection for activities associated with administering emergency allotments (EA) waivers issued by USDA based on a public health emergency declaration by the Secretary of Health and Human Services related to an outbreak of COVID-19.
This waiver facilitates state agencies abilities to conduct a school meal programs administrative review when a school food authority is only operating the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option in SY 2021-22.
FNS waives, for all state agencies and school food authorities, school meal programs onsite monitoring requirements. This waiver extends the Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meals Programs – Revised – Extension 2 granted on Aug. 4, 2020 that expires on June 30, 2021.
FNS is waiving certain requirements for administrative reviews in cases where an insufficient number of the school food authorities’ schools are operating.
This extension of Nationwide Waiver of Onsite Monitoring Requirements in the School Meals Programs – Extension, issued June 8, 2020 to waive the requirements until Aug. 31, 2020 applies to the NSLP and the School Breakfast Program. The onsite monitoring portion of this waiver remains in effect through June 30, 2021.
This rulemaking proposes changes to simplify meal pattern and monitoring requirements in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The proposed changes, including optional flexibilities, are customer-focused and intended to help State and local Program operators overcome operational challenges that limit their ability to manage these Programs efficiently. In the National School Lunch Program, the proposed rule would add flexibility to the existing vegetable subgroups requirement.
The Food and Nutrition Service seeks to prevent firms authorized to participate in SNAP from delaying administrative actions, such as disqualification or civil money penalties, through submission of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests or appeals. As such, FNS is proposing that FOIA requests and FOIA appeals be processed separately from administrative actions FNS takes against retail food stores. This proposed rule would ensure that retail food stores can no longer use the FOIA process to delay FNS' administrative actions to sanction a retail food store for SNAP violations.
The final rule titled Administrative Reviews in the School Nutrition Programs was published on July 29, 2016. The Office of Management and Budget cleared the associated information collection requirements on Sept. 12, 2016. This document announces approval of the ICR.
This final rule revises the state agency's administrative review process in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program to establish a unified accountability system designed to ensure that school food authorities offering school meals comply with program requirements.
This final rule amends regulations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children by adding three requirements mandated by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 in amendments to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 concerning retail vendors authorized by WIC state agencies to provide supplemental food to WIC participants in exchange for WIC food instruments.