HR 4366

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 31, 1998

Mr. Goodlatte introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into an agreement with the Commissioner of Social Security to take certain actions ensure that food stamp benefits are not provided for deceased individuals; and to amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require State agencies to verify that such benefits are not provided for such individuals.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Food Stamp Verification Act of 1998”.

SEC. 2. AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.

The Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall enter into an agreement with the Commissioner of Social Security (in this section referred to as the “Commissioner”) that provides that the Commissioner shall establish a cooperative arrangement that meets the requirements of section 205(r)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(3)(A)), with each State agency (as defined in section 3(n) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2012(n))) that administers the food stamp program (as defined in section 3(h) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2012(h))) under which—

(1) the State agency shall provide information to the Commissioner, in such form and manner as the Commissioner determines necessary, regarding individuals receiving benefits under the food stamp program; and

(2) the Commissioner shall compare information received under section 205(r)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(r)(1)) with information obtained under paragraph (1) and shall notify the State agency of the individuals who are deceased.

(b) Report.—Not later than 180 days, 1 year, and 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to—

(1) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives;

(2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;

(3) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives;

(4) the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and

(5) the Secretary of the Treasury; a report regarding the progress and effectiveness, during the respective period for which such report is submitted, of the cooperative arrangements established under subsection (a) with State agencies.

SEC. 3. PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO ENSURE NONISSUANCE OF FOOD STAMP COUPONS FOR DECEASED INDIVIDUALS.

Section 11(e)(20) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(20)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(C) to provide such information to the Commissioner of Social Security as the Commissioner determines is necessary to enable the Commissioner to use the information provided under the arrangement established under section 2 of the Food Stamp Verification Act of 1998 to verify and otherwise ensure that coupons are not issued for deceased individuals;”.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act and the amendments made by this Act take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. <all>