[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 1, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 12184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03713]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 39 / Wednesday, March 1, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 12184]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

7 CFR Parts 271, 272 and 273

[FNS 2015-0038]
RIN 0584-AE41


Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Student Eligibility, 
Convicted Felons, Lottery and Gambling, and State Verification 
Provisions of the Agricultural Act of 2014; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Proposed rule. Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) is re-opening the comment period for the proposed rule published 
December 1, 2016. The proposed action would implement four sections of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill), affecting eligibility, 
benefits, and program administration requirements for the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Section 4007 clarifies that 
participants in a SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) program are eligible 
for benefits if they are enrolled or participate in specific programs 
that will assist SNAP recipients in obtaining the skills needed for the 
current job market. Section 4008 prohibits anyone convicted of Federal 
aggravated sexual abuse, murder, sexual exploitation and abuse of 
children, sexual assault, or similar State laws, and who are also not 
in compliance with the terms of their sentence or parole or are a 
fleeing felon, from receiving SNAP benefits. Section 4009 prohibits 
households containing a member with substantial lottery and gambling 
winnings from receiving SNAP benefits, until the household meets the 
allowable financial resources and income eligibility requirements of 
the program. Section 4009 also provides that State SNAP agencies are 
required, to the maximum extent practicable, to establish cooperative 
agreements with gaming entities in the State to identify SNAP 
recipients with substantial winnings. Section 4015 requires all State 
agencies to have a system in place to verify income, eligibility and 
immigration status.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published December 1, 
2016 (81 FR 86614) is re-opened until March 31, 2017. Written comments 
must be received on or before March 31, 2017, to be assured of 
consideration.

ADDRESSES: The Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, invites interested 
persons to submit written comments on this proposed rule. Comments may 
be submitted in writing by one of the following methods:
     Preferred Method: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Fax: Submit comments by facsimile transmission to: Sasha 
Gersten-Paal, Certification Policy Branch, Fax number 703-305-2486.
     Mail: Send comments to Sasha Gersten-Paal, Branch Chief, 
Certification Policy Branch, Program Development Division, FNS, 3101 
Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, 703-305-2507.
    All written comments submitted in response to this proposed rule 
will be included in the record and made available to the public. Please 
be advised that the substance of comments and the identity of 
individuals or entities submitting the comments will be subject to 
public disclosure. FNS will make written comments publicly available 
online at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sasha Gersten-Paal, Branch Chief, 
Certification Policy Branch, Program Development Division, Food and 
Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, 
703-305-2507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FNS is re-opening the comment period for 30 
days as noted under the DATES section to ensure that the public has 
sufficient time to review and comment on the proposed rule. To the 
extent that 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A) applies to this action, it is exempt 
from notice and comment rulemaking for good cause and for reasons cited 
above, FNS finds that notice and solicitation of comment regarding the 
brief extension of the comment period is impracticable, unnecessary, or 
contrary to the public interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). FNS 
believes that affected parties need to be informed as soon as possible 
of the extensions and their length.

    Dated: February 16, 2017.
Jessica Shahin,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03713 Filed 2-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P