Extension of Existing SNAP Flexibilities for COVID–19

Pub. L. 116–159, div. D, title VI, §4603(a)(1), (2), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 745 , 746 , as amended by Pub. L. 116–260, div. N, title VII, §702(g), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2094 , provided that:

"(1) State options.-

"(A) A State agency (as defined in section 3(s) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012(s) )) shall have the option, without prior approval from the Secretary of Agriculture-

"(i) to extend certification periods under section 3(f) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2012(f) ) for not more than 6 months and adjust periodic report requirements under section 6(c)(1)(D)(i) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015(c)(1)(D)(i) ) for some or all participating households with certification periods set to expire or periodic reports due on or before June 30, 2021, consistent with the extensions and adjustments provided in the Food and Nutrition Service's April 22, 2020, blanket approval for extending certification and adjusting periodic reports, unless otherwise provided in this subparagraph;

"(ii) to allow household reporting requirements under section 273.12(a)(5)(iii) of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations to satisfy the recertification requirements under section 273.14 of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations for some or all participating households with recertification periods set to expire on or before December 31, 2021; and

"(iii) to adjust the interview requirements under sections 273.2 and 273.14(b) of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations for some or all household applications or recertifications through June 30, 2021, consistent with the adjustments provided in the Food and Nutrition Service's March 26, 2020, blanket approval for adjusting interview requirements, unless otherwise provided in this subparagraph.

"(B) Not later than 5 days after exercising an option under subparagraph (A), a State agency shall notify the Secretary of Agriculture in writing of the option exercised, the categories of households affected by the option, and the duration of such option.

"(2) Adjustment .-The Secretary of Agriculture shall allow a State agency to suspend the requirements under sections 275.11(b)(1) and (2), 275.12, and 275.13 of title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations from June 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, consistent with the waivers provided in the Food and Nutrition Service's April 30, 2020, blanket approval for waiver of quality control reviews, unless otherwise provided in this paragraph."