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This final rule will remove the Coordinated Services Plan (CSP) requirement for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT or SEBT) Program under the interim final rule (IFR), Implementing Provisions From the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023: Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Food Service Program (referred to as the Summer IFR hereafter), published December 29, 2023. Under the Summer IFR, FNS requires each State which operates the SFSP and SEBT to establish , and update annually as needed, a plan to coordinate the statewide availability of services offered through these Programs. FNS offered a waiver to defer the compliance date for initial plan submissions to January 1, 2025; accordingly, 38 out of the 41 States required to comply with this provision requested and received said waiver for Program year 2025. Requesting State agencies reported needing to focus their resources on implementation and rollout activities that will best support program capacity and integrity in order to support access to nutritious meals and Summer EBT benefits. In addition, FNS received input through public comments on the Summer IFR objecting to the CSP requirement for a variety of reasons. Commenters noted that the CSP is burdensome, unnecessary, and duplicative of other reporting requirements. States have continued to provide similar feedback to FNS during webinars, conferences, and other engagements since publication of the Summer IFR.   

FNS has carefully reviewed the public’s input and SFSP and SEBT regulations at 7 CFR 225.3(e) and 7 CFR 292.10, respectively, and determined that this deregulatory action is necessary, justified, and will benefit the public. Removal of this provision will provide immediate relief for State administering agencies by decreasing administrative burden and eliminating duplicative and unnecessary paperwork in the SFSP and SEBT. FNS also expects that this action will reduce any potential burden on other organizations and program operators, from whom the State may request information to inform its plan.