Legislative History  - 2000

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Electronic Benefit Transfer Interoperability and Portability Act of 2000 P.L. 106-171 Feb. 11, 2000

Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to provide for a national standard of interoperability and portability applicable to electronic food stamp benefit transactions. Requires systems that provide for the electronic issuance, use, and redemption of coupons in the form of electronic benefit transfer cards to be interoperable, and food stamp benefits to be made portable, among all States not later than Oct. 1, 2002. States that costs of achieving interoperability and portability shall not be borne by participating wholesale or retail food concerns. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations not later than 210 days after enactment of this law, that: (1) adopt a national standard based upon a standard used by the majority of States; and (2) require any electronic benefit transfer contract (as defined by this Act) entered into 30 days or more after promulgation of such regulations be in accordance with the national standard. Exempts the transfer of benefits under an EBT contract before the expiration of the term of the contract if the contract: 1) is entered into before the date that is 30 days after the regulations are promulgated; and 2)expires after Oct. 1, 2002 from interoperability and portability requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to provide a requesting State with a temporary deadline waiver based upon unusual technological barriers. Directs the Secretary to allow a State using a smart card food stamp delivery system to continue such system after Oct. 1, 2002 until a technological method is available for electronic benefit transfer card interoperability. Secretary to pay 100 percent of the costs incurred by a State agency for switching and settling interstate transactions: 1) incurred after the date of enactment and before Oct. 1, 2002, if the State uses the standard of interoperability and portability adopted by a majority of State agencies; and 2)incurred after September 30, 2002, if the State uses the uniform national standard of interoperability and portability adopted by a majority of State agencies. Total amount paid to State agencies for each fiscal year not to exceed $500,000. Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this act, directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study of alternatives for handling food stamp benefit electronic transactions, including use of a single switching hub.

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2001 P.L. 106-387 Oct. 28, 2000

Food Stamp Employment and Training (E&T) programs are appropriated $194 million, a reduction of $25 million from the amount authorized in section 16(h)(1)(a) of the Food Stamp Act. (NOTE: This reduction will not affect States’ FY 2001 E&T spending because carry-over funds from past years are available to make up the difference.) For FY 2001 the Maximum Excess Shelter Expense Deductions are increased to $340, $543, $458, $399, and $268 per month, respectively, for the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. For FY 2002 and beyond, the deduction will be as adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding November 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The Food Stamp Vehicle Allowance is changed to allow States to substitute their TANF vehicle rules for the food stamp vehicle rules, where doing so would result in a lower attribution of resources. The amount of the FY 2001 block grant to Puerto Rico is changed from the $1,301,000,000 authorized in section 19(a)(1)(A) of the Food Stamp Act to $1,268,000,000, as adjusted by the change in the Food at Home series of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, for the most recent period ending in June. For FY 2002, the grant will equal the FY 2001 amount, as adjusted by the percentage by which the thrifty food plan is adjusted for FY 2002. The Act appropriates $8 million which the Department can use to continue and expand its efforts to improve access to the FSP and make eligible individuals aware of vital nutrition assistance. An additional $2 million is appropriated for nutrition education initiatives aimed at helping FSP participants expand their nutritional knowledge, make healthy food choices, and develop thrifty food shopping skills.

Last modified: 11/21/2008