117 HR 6203 IH: Emergency SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2021 U.S. House of Representatives 2021-12-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 6203IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 9, 2021Mr. Bacon introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on AgricultureA BILLTo amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow for blended workforces to carry out the supplemental nutrition assistance program under certain conditions.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Emergency SNAP Staffing Flexibility Act of 2021.

2.

Temporary emergency SNAP staffing flexibility

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding section 11(e)(6)(B) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, a State agency (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008) may, by contract with the State agency at a reasonable cost in accordance with the State agency’s standard contracting rules, hire a contractor to undertake supplemental nutrition assistance program certification or carry out any other function of the State agency under such program.(b)

Use

A State agency may use the authority provided in subsection (a) when the State experiences increases in supplemental nutrition assistance program applications or an inability to timely process such applications from causes that include—(1)pandemics and other health emergencies,(2)seasonal workforce cycles,(3)temporary staffing shortages, and(4)weather or other natural disasters.(c)

Requirements

A State agency that hires a contractor under subsection (a) shall ensure such action—(1)is consistent with all principles under section 900.603 of title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations; and(2)does not supplant existing merit-based personnel in the State.(d)

Notification

A State agency shall notify the Secretary of Agriculture of the intent to use the authority provided in this section.(e)

Duration

To the maximum extent practicable, any new contract entered into, or any contract modified, under subsection (a) shall terminate not later than the date on which the cause for the increase in supplemental nutrition assistance program applications or an inability to timely process such applications subsides.(f)

Program design

Any action taken by a State agency under subsection (a) shall not be—(1)considered to be a major change in the operations of such State agency for the purposes of section 11(a)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(a)(4)), or(2)subject to any requirement specified in such section.