110 STAT. 2340 PUBLIC LAW 104-193—AUG. 22, 1996 SEC. 854. SIMPLIFIED FOOD STAMP PROGRAM. (a) IN GENERAL.— The Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 7 USC 2035. "SEC. 26. SIMPLIFIED FOOD STAMP PROGRAM. "(a) DEFINITION OF FEDERAL COSTS.— In this section, the term 'Federal costs' does not include any Federal costs incurred under section 17. "(b) ELECTION. —Subject to subsection (d), a State may elect to carry out a Simplified Food Stamp Program (referred to in this section as a 'Program'), statewide or in a political subdivision of the State, in accordance with this section. "(c) OPERATION OF PROGRAM.—I f a State elects to carry out a Program, within the State or a political subdivision of the State— "(1) a household in which no members receive assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) may not participate in the Program; "(2) a household in which all members receive assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) shall automatically be eligible to participate in the Program; "(3) if approved by the Secretary, a household in which 1 or more members but not all members receive assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) may be eligible to participate in the Program; and "(4) subject to subsection (f), benefits under the Program shall be determined under rules and procedures established by the State under— "(A) a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); "(B) the food stamp program; or "(C) a combination of a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and the food stamp program. " (d) APPROVAL OF PROGRAM.— "(1) STATE PLAN. —^A State agency may not operate a Program unless the Secretary approves a State plan for the operation of the Program under paragraph (2). "(2) APPROVAL OF PLAN.—The Secretary shall approve any State plan to carry out a Program if the Secretary determines that the plan— "(A) complies with this section; and "(B) contains sufficient documentation that the plan will not increase Federal costs for any fiscal year. "(e) INCREASED FEDERAL COSTS.— " (1) DETERMINATION.— "(A) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary shall determine whether a Program being carried out by a State agency is increasing Federal costs under this Act. "(B) No EXCLUDED HOUSEHOLDS. —In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall not require the State agency to collect or report any information on households not included in the Program. "(C) ALTERNATIVE ACCOUNTING PERIODS.— The Secretary may approve the request of a State agency to apply
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