0584-AE32 201610 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0584 Food and Nutrition Service FNS 0500 Department of Agriculture USDA Restaurant Meal Program State Agency Annual Plan and Reporting Requirements, Use of Benefits for Purchase of Community Supported Agriculture Shares, and Public Disclosure of Retailer Redemption Data

Pursuant to changes in the Agriculture Act of 2014, this proposed rule will amend the SNAP regulations by requiring State agencies to submit annual Restaurant Meal Program (RMP) operations plans and reports. It is a goal of the legislation and FNS that State agency operators of the RMP regularly assess programs against need; determine if it is effective at meeting the needs of the elderly, disabled, and homeless; monitor the RMP for possible fraud and abuse; and justify the continued operation of the program. Additionally, pursuant to changes in the Agricultural Act of 2014 at section 4012, SNAP benefits are now allowed to be accepted by agricultural producers who market directly to consumers in advance of food delivery. This proposed rule will codify statutory language that allows SNAP recipients to use their benefits to purchase shares of food from Community Supported Agriculture programs operated by for-profit agricultural producers, as well as nonprofit food buying cooperatives.

]]> Substantive, Nonsignificant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Proposed Rule Stage No No 7 CFR 272 Pub. L. 113-79 No NPRM 03/00/2017 No Local State No No No Charles Watford H. Regulatory Review Specialist 0584 Food and Nutrition Service FNS 703 605-0800 charles.watford@usda.gov 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria VA 22314 Lynnette Thomas M. Chief, Planning and Regulatory Affairs Branch 0584 Food and Nutrition Service FNS 703 605-4782 lynnette.thomas@fns.usda.gov 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria VA 22302