[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 29, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 32183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12688]
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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. 78, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 29, 2013 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 32183]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
7 CFR Part 246
RIN 0584-AE21
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children (WIC): Implementation of the Electronic Benefit Transfer-
Related Provisions of Public Law 111-296; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would revise regulations governing the WIC
Program, incorporating the provisions set forth in the Healthy, Hunger-
Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) related to Electronic Benefit Transfer
(EBT) for the WIC Program. The comment period is being extended to
provide additional time for interested parties to review the proposed
rule, to June 29, 2013.
DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule that was published on
February 28, 2013 (78 FR 13549) has been extended from May 29, 2013 to
June 29, 2013. To be assured of consideration, comments must be
postmarked on or before June 29, 2013.
ADDRESSES: FNS invites interested persons to submit comments on this
proposed rule. Comments may be submitted by any of the following
methods:
Mail: Send written comments to Debra R. Whitford,
Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition
Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 520, Alexandria, Virginia
22302, (703) 305-2746.
Web site: Go to http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic. Follow the
online instructions for submitting comments through the link at the
Supplemental Food Programs Division Web site.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
All comments submitted in response to this proposed rule will be
included in the record and will be made available to the public. Please
be advised that the substance of the comments and the identities of the
individuals or entities submitting the comments will be subject to
public disclosure. All written submissions will be available for public
inspection at the address above during regular business hours (8:30
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra R. Whitford, Director,
Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA,
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 528, Alexandria, Virginia 22302, (703)
305-2746.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This proposed rule would amend the WIC regulations to implement
provisions related to EBT in the WIC Program included in Public Law
111-296, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), signed into
law on December 13, 2010. The HHFKA amended provisions of the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) (CNA). The EBT
provisions of the HHFKA that are included in this proposed rule are:
(1) A definition of EBT; (2) a mandate that all WIC State agencies
implement EBT systems by October 1, 2020; (3) a requirement for State
agencies to submit annual EBT status reports on their progress toward
EBT implementation; (4) revisions to current provisions that prohibit
imposition of costs on retail vendors; (5) a requirement for the
Secretary of Agriculture to establish minimum lane equipage standards;
(6) a requirement for the Secretary of Agriculture to establish
technical standards and operating rules; and (7) a requirement that
State agencies use the National Universal Product Code (NUPC) database.
FNS issued policy and guidance to WIC State agencies on the
implementation of the legislative requirements addressed in this
rulemaking that were effective on October 1, 2010. However, selected
areas of the law are discretionary and therefore, FNS is seeking public
comment on several of the requirements contained in this proposed rule.
The comment period is extended to provide additional time for
interested parties to review and submit comments on the proposed EBT
changes until June 29, 2013.
Dated: May 22, 2013.
Jeffrey J. Tribiano,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12688 Filed 5-28-13; 8:45 am]
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