Quiero saber acerca de...

54

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 1 / Monday, January 4, 2021 / Notices
Pamilyn Miller, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
FR Doc. 202029007 Filed 123120; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 341030P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program Food and Nutrition Service FNS, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of reestablished matching program.
AGENCY:

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture USDA Food and Nutrition Service FNS is providing notice of a reestablished computer matching program between FNS and the State agencies that administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP. The matching program allows State agencies access to the Electronic Disqualified Recipient System eDRS, a national database operated by FNS. The system maintains records of SNAP
disqualifications imposed by State agencies on individuals who have been found to have committed an intentional program violation IPV. State agencies need access to nationwide disqualification information to meet program integrity requirements because a disqualification in any State applies to SNAP nationally. Matches against eDRS
enhance program integrity by providing State agencies assistance in determining eligibility for SNAP benefits and the proper disqualification length when imposing a new disqualification.
DATES: The deadline for comments on this notice is February 3, 2021. The effective date of the reestablished matching program will be not sooner than 30 days from the publication of this notice, provided no comments are received that result in a contrary determination. The matching program will be conducted for an initial term of 18 months and, within three months of expiration, may be renewed for one additional year if the parties make no change to the matching program and certify that the program has been conducted in compliance with the agreement.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit written comments on this notice to Maribelle Balbes, Chief, State Administration Branch, Program Accountability and Administration Division, SNAP, by email at SM.FN.SNAPSAB@usda.gov, or by mail SUMMARY:

VerDate Sep<11>2014

17:28 Dec 31, 2020

Jkt 253001

at 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the matching program, you may contact Maribelle Balbes, 703 6054272.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5
U.S.C. 552a, provides certain protections for individuals applying for and receiving federal benefits. The law governs the use of computer matching by federal agencies when records in a system of records, which contains information about individuals that are retrieved by name or other personal identifier, are matched with records of other Federal, State, or local government records. The Privacy Act requires agencies involved in a matching program to:
1. Obtain approval of a Computer Matching Agreement, prepared in accordance with the Privacy Act, by the Data Integrity Board of any Federal agency participating in a matching program.
2. Enter into a written Computer Matching Agreement.
3. Provide a report of the matching program to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget OMB, and make it available to the public, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552ao, u3A, and u4.
4. Publish a notice of the matching program in the Federal Register as required by 5 U.S.C. 552ae12 after OMB and Congress complete their review of the report, as provided by OMB Circular A108, Federal Agency Responsibilities for Review, Reporting, and Publication under the Privacy Act.
5. Notify the individuals whose information will be used in the matching program that the information they provide is subject to verification through matching, as required by 5
U.S.C. 552ao1D.
6. Verify match findings before suspending, terminating, reducing, or making a final denial of an individuals benefits or payments or taking other adverse action against the individual, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552ap.
This matching program meets these requirements.
Participating Agencies: FNS and the State agencies that administer SNAP to include all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Authority for Conducting the Matching Program: The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 the Act, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2015b, provides the legal authority for conducting the matching program. Section 6b of the
PO 00000

Frm 00006

Fmt 4703

Sfmt 4703

Act, prescribes mandatory periods of ineligibility for persons found to have committed an IPV such as fraud, misrepresentation, or other violation of statute or regulation in connection with SNAP. Section 6b4 prescribes regulations to ensure that appropriate State and Federal entities forward information concerning determinations arising out of such proscribed activity by a specific individual.
Purpose: The eDRS matching program maintains program integrity and reduces payment errors by providing information to assist State agencies with establishing or verifying the eligibility of individuals for SNAP benefits and determining the appropriate disqualification period to be imposed for a new IPV as required in regulations at 7 CFR 273.16, Disqualification for intentional Program violation. Each State agency must submit information about individuals who have been disqualified from SNAP within their State to eDRS. As a participant in this matching program, each State agency has access to this national system to both submit the required information for their State and perform the required matches against information provided by all State agencies.
Categories of Individuals: SNAP
applicants and new household members are matched against eDRS as part of the eligibility determination process to ensure the individual is not currently disqualified from receiving benefits due to an IPV. Individuals who are being disqualified by a State agency due to a new IPV finding are matched against eDRS to assist the State agency in determining the appropriate duration of the new disqualification.
Categories of Records: The data elements in eDRS provide information about individuals who have been disqualified, the disqualification details, and the agency that imposed the disqualification. State agencies submit this information about disqualifications imposed in their State and this information is then available to all participating State agencies with access to eDRS. State agencies use personally identifying information to search eDRS
for the individual being matched.
1. Information about the disqualified individual:
Name Social security number or alternative ID
Date of birth Gender Alias 2. Disqualification details:
Disqualification number Disqualification decision date
E:FRFM04JAN1.SGM

04JAN1