Rule2024-08369
Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 19, 2024
Effective
December 29, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Service
Abstract
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is extending for 120 days the public comment period on the interim final rule, "Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal Programs", which published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2023. This action extends the public comment period from April 29, 2024, to August 27, 2024, to give the public additional time to prepare and submit comments.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 77 (Friday, April 19, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 28572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08369]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
7 CFR Parts 210, 220, 225, and 292
[FNS-2023-0029]
RIN 0584-AE96
Establishing the Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate
Option in the Summer Meal Programs
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Interim final rule, extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is extending for 120 days
the public comment period on the interim final rule, ``Establishing the
Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal
Programs'', which published in the Federal Register on December 29,
2023. This action extends the public comment period from April 29,
2024, to August 27, 2024, to give the public additional time to prepare
and submit comments.
DATES: The comment period of the interim final rule published December
29, 2023, at 88 FR 90230, is extended through August 27, 2024. To be
assured of consideration, written comments on this interim final rule
must be received on or before August 27, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The Food and Nutrition Service invites interested persons to
submit comments on this interim final rule. Comments may be submitted
by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
<bullet> Mail: Send comments to Community Meals Policy Division,
Food and Nutrition Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314.
<bullet> All written comments submitted in response to this interim
final rule will be included in the record and will be made available to
the public. Please be advised that the substance of the comments and
the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the comments
will be subject to public disclosure. USDA will make the written
comments publicly available on the internet via <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Kevin Maskornick, Division
Director, Community Meals Policy Division, USDA Food and Nutrition
Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: 703-305-
2537.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Food and Nutrition Service is extending
the public comment period on the interim final rule ``Establishing the
Summer EBT Program and Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Meal
Programs'', which published on December 29, 2023, at 88 FR 90230. The
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 required the Secretary of
Agriculture to make available an option to States to provide summer
meals for non-congregate meal service in rural areas with no congregate
meal service and to establish a permanent Summer Electronic Benefits
Transfer for Children Program (Summer EBT) for the purpose of ensuring
continued access to food when school is not in session for the summer.
This interim final rule amends the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
and the National School Lunch Program's Seamless Summer Option (SSO)
regulations to codify the flexibility for rural program operators to
provide non-congregate meal service in the SFSP and SSO, collectively
referred to as the summer meal programs. This rule also establishes
regulations and codifies the Summer EBT Program in the Code of Federal
Regulations.
This action extends the public comment period to August 27, 2024,
to provide additional time for the public, including State
administering agencies, Territories, and Indian Tribal Organizations,
as well as program participants and beneficiaries, and other
stakeholders, to prepare and submit comments. Because the interim final
rule became effective immediately upon publication, stakeholders are
already taking active steps to implement its provisions. Extending the
comment period ensures that these stakeholders are able to provide
robust feedback on the entirety of the interim final rule's provisions,
and that this feedback is reflective of their implementation
experiences in advance of and during Summer 2024. Receipt of informed
public input accounting for the first year of operations under the new
Program rules will be vital when the Food and Nutrition Service
considers future rulemaking to finalize the provisions of the interim
final rule.
Cynthia Long,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-08369 Filed 4-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 19, 2024.
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