[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2738 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2738

 To amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to improve onsite inspections of 
   State food stamp programs, to provide grants to develop community 
  partnerships and innovative outreach strategies for food stamp and 
               related programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 5, 1999

 Mr. Coyne (for himself and Mr. Levin) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to 
   the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to improve onsite inspections of 
   State food stamp programs, to provide grants to develop community 
  partnerships and innovative outreach strategies for food stamp and 
               related programs, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Food Stamp 
Outreach and Research for Kids Act of 1999''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                      TITLE I--FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

Sec. 101. Food stamp participation.
Sec. 102. Food stamp inspections.
Sec. 103. Caseworker materials demonstration program.
Sec. 104. Studies.
Sec. 105. Grants for community partnerships and innovative outreach 
                            strategies.
Sec. 106. Demonstration projects for online and phone participation in 
                            food stamp program.
Sec. 107. Nutrition information.
Sec. 108. Comptroller General study.
  TITLE II--FOOD STAMP INFORMATION THROUGH TANF PROGRAM AND TAX CREDIT

Sec. 201. Information provided to individuals regarding eligibility 
                            under food stamp program.
Sec. 202. Credit for expansion of toll-free information number.

                      TITLE I--FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

SEC. 101. FOOD STAMP PARTICIPATION.

    Section 11(e)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020 
(e)(1)) is amended by striking ``at the option of the State agency.''.

SEC. 102 FOOD STAMP INSPECTIONS.

    Section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
            ``(1) Food stamp inspections.--
                    ``(1) Mandatory inspections.--Effective during the 
                5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of 
                this subsection, the Secretary shall carry out an 
                annual onsite inspection or review of the operation of 
                the food stamp program by each State agency.
                    ``(2) Visit.--In conducting any annual onsite 
                inspection or review described in paragraph (1), the 
                Secretary shall include as part of the inspection or 
                review visits to State and local agency offices and 
                consultation with current or former clients and 
                community groups.''.

SEC. 103. CASEWORKER TRAINING DEMONSTRATION.

    Section 18 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2027) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Caseworker Demonstration Program.--
            (1) There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
        be necessary for the 2000 fiscal year and each fiscal year 
        thereafter for the Secretary to conduct a demonstration 
        program, through State agencies and in consultation with State 
caseworkers, to develop training materials, guidebooks, and other 
resources focusing on issues of access and eligibility for the Food 
Stamp Program for use by State caseworkers.''.

SEC. 104. STUDIES.

    Section 18 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2027) (as 
amended in section 103) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) FNS Study.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        such sums as may be necessary for the 2000 fiscal year and each 
        fiscal year thereafter for the Secretary, through the Food and 
        Nutrition Service, to conduct studies to measure Food Stamp 
        Program impacts and integrity to assist in formulating 
        nutrition policy and to assess the potential costs and benefits 
        of legislative proposals.
            ``(2) Report to congress.--Two years after the date of 
        enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall report the 
        results of such studies to the Committee on Agriculture of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, 
        Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate.''.

SEC. 105. GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND INNOVATIVE OUTREACH 
              STRATEGIES.

    Section 18 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2027) (as 
amended by Section 104) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Grants for Community Partnerships and Innovative Outreach 
Strategies.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
        shall establish a program to award grants to eligible 
        organizations described in paragraph (2)--
                    ``(A) to develop and test innovative strategies to 
                ensure that low-income, needy families that are former 
                or current recipients of benefits under a State program 
                established under part A of title IV of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) continue to 
                receive benefits under this Act;
                    ``(B) to help ensure that families that have 
                applied for benefits under a State program established 
                under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 601 et seq.), but that did not receive the 
                benefits because of State diversion strategies or 
                ineligibility for the benefits, are aware of the 
                availability of, and are provided assistance in 
                receiving, benefits under this Act;
                    ``(C) to place special emphasis on conducting 
                outreach to families with earned income that is at or 
                above the income eligibility limits for benefits under 
                a State program established under part A of title IV of 
                the Social Security Act; and
                    ``(D) to conduct outreach to families with 
                children.
            ``(2) Eligible organizations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Grants under paragraph (1) may 
                be awarded to--
                            ``(i) food banks, food rescue, faith-based, 
                        and other community-based programs, except that 
                        the total amount awarded to such organizations 
                        shall be not less than 15 percent of the 
                        aggregate amount of grants awarded under this 
                        subsection;
                            ``(ii) schools, health clinics, non-profit 
                        day care centers, Head Start programs carried 
                        out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et 
                        seq.), Healthy Start programs carried out under 
                        section 301 of the Public Health Service Act 
                        (42 U.S.C. 241), agencies providing assistance 
                        under the special supplemental nutrition 
                        program for women, infants, and children 
                        established under section 17 of the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), and 
                        other organizations conducting Medicaid and 
                        CHIP outreach, except that the total amount 
                        awarded to such organizations, shall not be 
                        less than 15 percent of the aggregate amount of 
                        grants awarded under this subsection;
                            ``(iii) State and political subdivisions of 
                        States;
                            ``(iv) child nutrition programs (as defined 
                        in section 25(b) of the National School Lunch 
                        Act (42 U.S.C. 1769f(b)); and
                            ``(v) other organizations designated by 
the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services.
                    ``(B) Geographical distribution of recipients.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation 
                        with the Secretary of Health and Human 
                        Services, shall select, from all eligible 
                        applications received, at least 1 recipient to 
                        receive a grant under this section from each 
                        USDA region and each additional rural or urban 
                        area determined to be appropriate by the 
                        Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with 
                        the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
                            ``(ii) Exception.--The Secretary of 
                        Agriculture may not select grant recipients 
                        under clause (i) if the Secretary determines 
                        that an insufficient number of eligible grant 
                        applications has been received.
            ``(3) Selection.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
        shall develop criteria for selecting recipients of grants under 
        paragraph (1) that include the consideration of--
                    ``(A) the demonstrated track record of an 
                organization in serving low income populations;
                    ``(B) the ability of an organization to reach hard-
                to-serve populations;
                    ``(C) the level of innovation in the proposals 
                submitted in the application of an organization for a 
                grant; and
                    ``(D) the development of partnerships between the 
                public and private sector entities and linkages with 
                the community.
            ``(4) Administration.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
                consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services, shall administer the grant program under this 
                section.
                    ``(B) Administrative costs.--Not more than 5 
                percent of funds made available for the grant program 
                shall be used by the Secretary of Agriculture or the 
                Secretary of Health and Human Services for 
                administrative costs.
                    ``(C) Program evaluations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary of 
                        Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and 
                        Human Services shall jointly conduct 
                        evaluations of programs funded by grants under 
                        this section.
                            ``(ii) Limitation.--Not more than 20 
                        percent of funds made available for the grant 
                        program shall be used for program evaluations 
                        described in clause(i).''.

SEC. 106. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR ONLINE AND TELEPHONE PARTICIPATION 
              IN FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.

    Section 18 of the Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. 2027) (as amended by 
Section 105) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Online and Telephone Participation in the Food Stamp 
Program.--There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary for the 2000 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter for 
the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects to evaluate the 
feasibility and desirability of allowing eligible households to 
participate in the food stamp program through the use of the Internet 
and telephones.''.

SEC. 107. NUTRITION INFORMATION.

    Section 18 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2027) (as 
amended by section 106) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Nutrition Information.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Agriculture, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
        shall--
                    ``(A) facilitate partnerships to provide 
                information on nutrition programs described in 
                paragraph (3); and
                    ``(B) maintain a toll-free information number for 
                individuals to call to obtain information concerning 
                the nutrition programs.
            ``(2) Partnerships.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To carry out paragraph (1)(A), 
                the Secretary shall facilitate partnerships composed 
                of--
                            ``(i) public agencies and organizations; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) entities and organizations from the 
                        private sector; and
                            ``(iii) states and political subdivisions 
                        of states.
                    ``(B) Tax credit.--An entity or organization that 
                participates in a partnership under this section to 
                maintain the toll-free information numbers described in 
                paragraph (1)(B) shall be eligible to receive a tax 
                credit as provided in section 45D of part IV of 
                subchapter A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
                (relating to business related credits).
            ``(3) Information.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall provide--
                    ``(A) information concerning all Federal nutrition 
                programs, including the food stamp program and child 
                nutrition programs (as defined in section 25(b) of the 
                National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769f(b));
                    ``(B) information which complies with all 
                provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
                2020(e)(1)) regarding access for non-English speakers;
                    ``(C) access to an individual to provide 
                information and clarification that is available through 
                an automated phone information system.''.

SEC. 108. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) Catalogue of state activities.--The Comptroller General 
        of the United States shall conduct a study of State outreach 
        efforts, including extended hours for working families. On-site 
        investigations shall be used to verify when extended hours are 
        held, how often, and how such hours are advertised to eligible 
        families.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall report his 
        findings to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
        Representatives, the Finance Committee of the Senate, the 
        Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and 
        the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
        Senate.''.

  TITLE II--FOOD STAMP INFORMATION THROUGH TANF PROGRAM AND TAX CREDIT

SEC. 201. INFORMATION PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS REGARDING ELIGIBILITY 
              UNDER FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.

    (a) Development of Model State TANF Program Application.--
            (1) Development.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services shall develop a model application for 
                receiving benefits under a State TANF program (as 
                defined in subsection (e)).
                    (B) Information regarding eligibility for food 
                stamps.--The first page of the model application shall 
                clearly inform an applicant that the applicant may be 
                eligible for benefits under the food stamp program 
                under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
                seq.), and inform the applicant on procedures for 
                applying for benefits at the appropriate State agency, 
                even if the applicant--
                            (i) is determined to be ineligible for 
                        benefits under a State TANF program;
                            (ii) receives benefits under such a program 
                        and is subsequently terminated from such a 
                        program; or
                            (iii) is receiving a diversion payment 
                        under such a program.
            (2) Voluntary use by states.--Use of the model application 
        by the State agency or agencies that administer and supervise a 
        State TANF progam shall be on a voluntary basis.
    (b) Development of Notice Regarding Potential Continued Eligibility 
Under Food Stamp Program.--
            (1) Development.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall develop a 
1-page notice that provides an applicable individual with the 
information described in subsection (a)(1)(B).
            (2) Use by states.--
                    (A) Voluntary use.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
                use of the notice by the State agency or agencies that 
                administer and supervise a State TANF program shall be 
                on a voluntary basis.
                    (B) Mandatory use.--
                            (i) In general.--If the Secretary of Health 
                        and Human Services determines (for any period) 
                        that a State is providing the information 
                        described in subsection (a)(1)(B) to less than 
                        75 percent of applicable individuals, such 
                        State shall provide the notice to all 
                        applicable individuals until such time as the 
                        State demonstrates to the Secretary that the 
                        State is providing such information to such 
                        percentage of applicable individuals.
                            (ii) Applicable individual defined.--For 
                        purposes of this subparagraph, the term 
                        ``applicable individual'' means an individual--
                                    (I) who is determined to be 
                                ineligible for benefits under a State 
                                TANF program;
                                    (II) whose benefits under such a 
                                program have terminated; or
                                    (III) who is receiving a diversion 
                                payment under such a program.
    (c) Form.--The model application developed pursuant to subsection 
(a) and the notice developed pursuant to subsection (b) shall use 
language that is concise and easily understandable by applicants under 
a State TANF program.
    (d) Distribution.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
distribute the model application developed pursuant to subsection (a) 
and the notice developed pursuant to subsection (b) to the State agency 
or agencies that administer and supervise a State TANF program.
    (e) Definition of State TANF Program.--In this section, the term 
``State TANF program'' means State programs established under part A of 
title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

SEC. 202. CREDIT FOR EXPANSION OF TOLL-FREE INFORMATION NUMBER.

    (a) Tax Credit.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business related 
credits) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 45D. CREDIT FOR EXPANSION OF TOLL-FREE INFORMATION NUMBER.

    ``For purposes of section 38, the toll-free information number 
credit of any taxpayer for any taxable year is 10 percent of the 
expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer during such taxable year as a 
participant in the partnership described in section 17(o)(2) of the 
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026(o)(2)).''.
    (b) Credit Treated as Business Credit.--Section 38(b)of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to current year business 
credit) is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (11), 
by striking the period at the end of paragraph (12) and inserting ``, 
plus'', and by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) the toll-free information number credit determined 
        under section 45D.''.
    (c) Transitional Rule.--Section 39(d) of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 (relating to transitional rules) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(9) No carryback of section 45d credit before effective 
        date.--No portion of the unused business credit for any taxable 
        year which is attributable to the credit allowable under 
        section 45D may be carried back to a taxable year ending before 
        the date of the enactment of such section.''.
    (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:

                              ``Sec. 45D. Credit for expansion of toll-
                                        free number.''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to payments made or incurred in taxable years beginning after the 
date of enactment of this Act.
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