[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40621-40622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17222]



[[Page 40621]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Child and Adult Care Food Program: National Average Payment 
Rates, Day Care Home Food Service Payment Rates, and Administrative 
Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring Organizations of Day Care Homes for 
the Period July 1, 2003--June 30, 2004

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the annual adjustments to: the national 
average payment rates for meals and supplements served in child care 
centers, outside-school-hours care centers, at-risk afterschool care 
centers, and adult day care centers; the food service payment rates for 
meals and supplements served in day care homes; and the administrative 
reimbursement rates for sponsoring organizations of day care homes, to 
reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Further adjustments are 
made to these rates to reflect the higher costs of providing meals in 
the States of Alaska and Hawaii. The adjustments contained in this 
notice are made on an annual basis each July, as required by the 
statutes and regulations governing the Child and Adult Care Food 
Program (CACFP).

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Churchill, Section Chief, Child 
and Adult Care and Summer Programs Section, Policy and Program 
Development Branch, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition 
Service, USDA, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302, (703) 305-2620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Definitions

    The terms used in this notice shall have the meanings ascribed to 
them in the regulations governing the CACFP (7 CFR part 226).

Background

    Pursuant to sections 4, 11 and 17 of the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act (NSLA) (42 U.S.C. 1753, 1759a and 1766), 
section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) (42 U.S.C. 1773) and 
Sec. Sec.  226.4, 226.12 and 226.13 of the regulations governing the 
CACFP (7 CFR part 226), notice is hereby given of the new payment rates 
for institutions participating in CACFP. These rates shall be in effect 
during the period July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.
    As provided for under the NSLA and the CNA, all rates in the CACFP 
must be revised annually on July 1 to reflect changes in the Consumer 
Price Index (CPI) for the most recent 12-month period. In accordance 
with this mandate, the Department last published the adjusted national 
average payment rates for centers, the food service payment rates for 
day care homes, and the administrative reimbursement rates for sponsors 
of day care homes on July 5, 2002, at 67 FR 44804 (for the period July 
1, 2002--June 30, 2003).
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[[Page 40622]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08JY03.015

    The changes in the national average payment rates for centers 
reflect a 2.19 percent increase during the 12-month period, May 2002 to 
May 2003, (from 177.6 in May 2002 to 181.5 in May 2003) in the food 
away from home series of the CPI for All Urban Consumers.
    The changes in the food service payment rates for day care homes 
reflect a 1.31 percent increase during the 12-month period, May 2002 to 
May 2003, (from 175.5 in May 2002 to 177.8 in May 2003) in the food at 
home series of the CPI for All Urban Consumers.
    The changes in the administrative reimbursement rates for 
sponsoring organizations of day care homes reflect a 2.06 percent 
increase during the 12-month period, May 2002 to May 2003, (from 179.8 
in May 2002 to183.5 in May 2003) in the series for all items of the CPI 
for All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of 
the Department of Labor.
    The total amount of payments available to each State agency for 
distribution to institutions participating in the program is based on 
the rates contained in this notice.
    This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of that 
Act. This notice has been determined to be exempt under Executive Order 
12866.
    This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.558 and is subject to the provisions of 
Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation 
with State and local officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, and 
final rule related notice published at 48 FR 29114, June 24, 1983.)
    This notice imposes no new reporting or recordkeeping provisions 
that are subject to Office of Management and Budget review in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3518).

    Authority: Sections 4(b)(2), 11a, 17(c) and 17(f)(3)(B) of the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
1753(b)(2), 1759a, 1766(f)(3)(B)) and section 4(b)(1)(B) of the 
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1773(b)(1)(B)).

    Dated: July 2, 2003.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-17222 Filed 7-7-03; 8:45 am]
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