[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-9491] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: April 20, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Food Stamp Program; Public Hearing To Discuss a Test To Measure the Impact of Regulation E on Electronic Benefit Transfer AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public hearing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, May 10, 1994, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. LOCATION: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Cohen, Supervisor, Demonstration Projects Section, room 718, Program Development Division, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, (703) 305-2517. To confirm attendance, please contact Lillian Clemena at (703) 305-1119. Confirmation of attendance is encouraged, but is not mandatory for participation in the public hearing. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of that Act. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3507), no new recordkeeping or reporting requirements have been included that are subject to approval from the Office of Management and Budget. This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under No. 10.551. For the reasons set forth in the final rule and related Notice(s) to 7 CFR part 3105, subpart V (48 FR 29115, June 24, 1983; or 48 FR 54317, December 1, 1983, as appropriate), this Program is excluded from the scope of Executive Order 12372 which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. PURPOSE OF HEARING: The Federal Reserve Board published a final rule (59 FR 10678, March 7, 1994) which applies the provisions of Regulation E and the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693) to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems. Regulation E provides a basic framework establishing the rights, liabilities and responsibilities of participants such as financial institutions and their customers in electronic funds transfer systems. EBT systems are benefit delivery systems that utilize plastic access cards and electronic funds transfer technologies to deliver food stamp and various cash benefits to eligible participants. The final rule gives States and Federal agencies until March 1, 1997 to comply with the provisions of Regulation E. During the three years until mandatory compliance, the Department is planning a test of the impact of this regulation on EBT. The test will be coordinated by the Department, the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Financial Management Service of the Department of the Treasury. The purpose of the public hearing is to offer State agencies, advocacy groups, financial institutions, and other interested parties an opportunity for public dialogue on issues concerning the design and subsequent assessment of the test. Dated: April 14, 1994. William E. Ludwig, Administrator. [FR Doc. 94-9491 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-30-M