§ 2011. Congressional declaration of policy

“(1)

consider the benefit increases described in subsection (a) to be a ‘mass change’;

“(2)

require a simple process for States to notify households of the increase in benefits;

“(3)

consider section 16(c)(3)(A) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025(c)(3)(A)) to apply to any errors in the implementation of this section without regard to the 120-day limit described in that section; and

“(4)

disregard the additional amount of benefits that a household receives as a result of this section in determining the amount of overissuances under section 13 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2022).

“(1)

In general.—

For the costs of State administrative expenses associated with carrying out this section and administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Secretary shall make available $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.

“(2)

Timing.—

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [

], the Secretary shall make available to States amounts for fiscal year 2021 under paragraph (1).

“(3)

Allocation of funds.—

Funds described in paragraph (1) shall be made available as grants to State agencies for fiscal year 2021 as follows:

“(1)

In general.—

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 20 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, eligibility for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits shall not be limited under section 6(e) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(e)) for an individual who—

“(2)

Sunset.—

“(3)

Guidance.—

“(1)

In general.—

To facilitate implementation of this section, the Secretary of Agriculture may approve waivers of the limits on certification periods otherwise applicable under section 3(f) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(f)), reporting requirements otherwise applicable under section 6(c) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2015(c)), and other administrative requirements otherwise applicable to State agencies under such Act.

“(2)

Simplifying assumptions for school year 2020-2021.—

For purposes of this section, a State agency may develop and use simplifying assumptions (including a State or local public health ordinance developed in response to COVID–19) and the best feasibly available data to determine the status of a school or covered child care facility as opened, closed, or operating with a reduced number of days or hours, establish State or regionally-based benefits levels, identify eligible children and children eligible for assistance under subsection (h), and establish eligibility periods for eligible children and children eligible for assistance under subsection (h).

“(1)

In general.—

Beginning on

, subject to an approved State agency plan under subsection (b) or an approved amendment to such a plan, in any case in which, during a public health emergency designation, a covered child care facility is closed or has reduced attendance or hours for at least 5 consecutive days, or 1 or more schools in the area of a covered child care facility or the area of a child’s residence are closed or have reduced attendance or hours for at least 5 consecutive days, each household containing at least 1 child enrolled in such a covered child care facility and either the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) or a Department of Agriculture grant-funded nutrition assistance program in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or American Samoa shall be eligible to receive assistance, in accordance with paragraph (2), until covered child care facilities or schools in the area reopen or operate at full attendance and hours, as applicable, as determined by the State agency.

“(2)

Assistance.—

A household shall receive benefits under paragraph (1) in an amount that is equal to at least 1 breakfast and 1 lunch at the free rate for each child enrolled in a covered child care facility for each day that the child does not attend the facility because the facility is closed or operating with reduced attendance or hours or for each day that a school in the area of a covered child care facility or the area of the child’s residence is closed or has reduced attendance or hours for at least 5 consecutive days.

“(3)

State option.—

A State shall not be required to provide assistance under this subsection in order to provide assistance to eligible children under a State agency plan under subsection (b).

“(4)

Deemed population.—

For purposes of an approved State agency plan described in paragraph (1) or an approved amendment to such a plan described in such paragraph, the Secretary of Agriculture shall deem any child who has not attained the age of 6 as a child who is enrolled in a covered child care facility.

“(1)

Covered child care facility.—

The term ‘covered child care facility’ means—

“(2)

Covered summer period.—

The term ‘covered summer period’ means a summer period that follows a school year during which there was a public health emergency designation.

“(3)

Eligible child.—

The term ‘eligible child’ means a child (as defined in section 12(d) or served under section 11(a)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d), 1759(a)(1) [1759a(a)(1)]) who, if not for the closure or reduced attendance or hours of the school attended by the child during a public health emergency designation and due to concerns about a COVID–19 outbreak, would receive free or reduced price school meals under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 175l et seq.) at the school.

“(4)

Free rate.—

The term ‘free rate’ means—

“(5)

Public health emergency designation.—

The term ‘public health emergency designation’ means the declaration of a public health emergency, based on an outbreak of SARS–CoV–2, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).

“(6)

School.—

The term ‘school’ has the meaning given the term in section 12(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d)).

“(7)

State.—

The term ‘State’ has the meaning given the term in section 12(d) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(d)).

“(1)

analyze available data to determine—

“(2)

survey the States to determine how the States are enforcing the prohibition on recipients receiving assistance in more than one State under Federal means-tested public assistance programs;

“(3)

determine the functional requirements of each available option for a national database; and

“(4)

ensure that all options provide safeguards to protect against the unauthorized use or disclosure of information in the national database.

“(1)

Establisment [sic].—

There is established an Advisory Committee on Welfare Simplification and Coordination (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’) consisting of not fewer than 7, nor more than 11, members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘Secretary’), after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and with the advice of State and local officials responsible for administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program, cash and medical assistance programs for low-income families and individuals under the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.], and programs providing housing assistance to needy families and individuals, and representatives of recipients and recipient advocacy organizations associated with such programs.

“(2)

Qualifications.—

The members of the Committee shall be individuals who are familiar with the rules, goals, and limitations of Federal supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, cash, medical, and housing assistance programs for low-income families and individuals, and may include individuals who have demonstrated expertise in evaluating the operations of and interaction among such programs as they affect administrators and recipients, persons who have experience in administering such programs at the Federal, State, or local level, and representatives of administrators and recipients affected by such programs.

“(1)

to identify the significant policies implemented in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, cash and medical assistance programs under the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.], and housing assistance programs (whether resulting from law, regulations, or administrative practice) that, because they differ substantially, make it difficult for those eligible to apply for and obtain benefits from more than one program and restrict the ability of administrators of such programs to provide efficient, timely, and appropriate benefits to those eligible for more than one type of assistance, drawing, where appropriate, on previous efforts to coordinate and simplify such programs and policies;

“(2)

to examine the major reasons for such different programs and policies;

“(3)

to evaluate how and the extent to which such different programs and policies hinder, to a significant degree, the receipt of benefits from more than one program and substantially restrict administrators’ ability to provide efficient, timely, and appropriate benefits;

“(4)

to recommend common or simplified programs and policies (including recommendations for changes in law, regulations, and administrative practice and for policies that do not currently exist in such programs) that would substantially reduce difficulties in applying for and obtaining benefits from more than one program and significantly increase the ability of administrators of such programs to efficiently provide timely and appropriate assistance to those eligible for more than one type of assistance; and

“(5)

to describe the major effects of such common or simplified programs and policies (including how such common or simplified programs and policies would enhance or conflict with the purposes of such programs, how they would ease burdens on administrators and recipients, how they would affect program costs and participation, and the degree to which they would change the relationships between the Federal Government and the States in such programs) and the reasons for recommending such programs and policies (including reasons, if any, that might be sufficient to override special rules derived from the purposes of individual programs).