Pilot projects to improve Federal-State cooperation in identifying and reducing fraud in the supplemental nutrition assistance program
(1) Pilot projects required
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(A) In general The Secretary shall carry out, under such terms and conditions as are determined by the Secretary, pilot projects to test innovative Federal-State partnerships to identify, investigate, and reduce fraud by retail food stores and wholesale food concerns in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, including allowing States to operate programs to investigate that fraud.
(B) Requirement At least 1 pilot project described in subparagraph (A) shall be carried out in an urban area that is among the 10 largest urban areas in the United States (based on population), if— (i) the supplemental nutrition assistance program is separately administered in the area; and (ii) if the administration of the supplemental nutrition assistance program in the area complies with the other applicable requirements of the program.
Pilot projects shall be selected based on criteria the Secretary establishes, which shall include—
(A) enhancing existing efforts by the Secretary to reduce fraud described in paragraph (1)(A);
(B) requiring participant States to maintain the overall level of effort of the States at addressing recipient fraud, as determined by the Secretary, prior to participation in the pilot project;
(C) collaborating with other law enforcement authorities as necessary to carry out an effective pilot project;
(D) commitment of the participant State agency to follow Federal rules and procedures with respect to investigations described in paragraph (1)(A); and
(E) the extent to which a State has committed resources to recipient fraud and the relative success of those efforts.
(A) In general The Secretary shall evaluate the pilot projects selected under this subsection to measure the impact of the pilot projects.
(B) Requirements The evaluation shall include— (i) the impact of each pilot project on increasing the capacity of the Secretary to address fraud described in paragraph (1)(A); (ii) the effectiveness of the pilot projects in identifying, preventing and reducing fraud described in paragraph (1)(A); and (iii) the cost effectiveness of the pilot projects.
Not later than September 30, 2017 , the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a report that includes a description of the results of each pilot project, including—
(A) an evaluation of the impact of the pilot project on fraud described in paragraph (1)(A); and
(B) the costs associated with the pilot project.
Any costs incurred by a State to operate pilot projects under this subsection that are in excess of the amount expended under this chapter to identify, investigate, and reduce fraud described in paragraph (1)(A) in the respective State in the previous fiscal year shall not be eligible for Federal reimbursement under this chapter.