Notice2024-18945
Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program
Primary source
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Published
August 23, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, USDA 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).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 164 (Friday, August 23, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68127-68128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18945]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice of reestablished matching program.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, USDA
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).
DATES: The deadline for comments on this notice is September 23, 2024.
The re-established matching program will become effective not
sooner than 30 days after publication of this notice, provided no
comments are received that warrant a change to this notice. The
matching program will be conducted for an initial term of 18 months and
may be renewed for up to 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 matching agreement.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit written comments by one of the
following methods:
<bullet> Preferred: Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> provides the ability to type short comments
directly into the comment field on this web page or attach a file for
lengthier comments. Follow the online instructions at that site for
submitting comments.
<bullet> By email: FNS, SNAP, State Administration Branch (SAB) at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0457492a424a2a574a455457454644717760652a636b72"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d58698fb939bfb869b948586949795a0a6b1b4fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> By mail: Maribelle Balbes, Branch Chief, SAB, SNAP, FNS,
1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314.
<bullet> Instructions: All comment submissions must include the
agency name and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments
received will be posted without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>,
including any personal information provided.
<bullet> Docket: For access to the docket to read background
documents or comments received go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions, please contact
the above individual, Maribelle Balbes, Branch Chief, SAB, SNAP, FNS at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b567a6972797e77777e35597a77797e685b6e687f7a357c746d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="155874677c77707979703b57747977706655606671743b727a63">[email protected]</span></a> or 703-605-4272.
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:
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Enter into a written Computer Matching Agreement.
<bullet> 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. 552a(o), (u)(3)(A), and (u)(4).
<bullet> Publish a notice of the matching program in the Federal
Register as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(12) after OMB and Congress
complete their review of the report, as provided by OMB Circular A-108,
Federal Agency Responsibilities for Review, Reporting, and Publication
under the Privacy Act.
<bullet> 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. 552a(o)(1)(D).
<bullet> Verify match findings before suspending, terminating,
reducing, or making a final denial of an individual's benefits or
payments or taking other adverse action against the individual, as
required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(p).
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.
2015(b), provides the legal authority for conducting the matching
program. Section 6(b) of the 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 6(b)(4) 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(s)
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
[[Page 68128]]
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.
<bullet> Information about the disqualified individual:
<bullet> Name
<bullet> Social security number or alternative ID
<bullet> Date of birth
<bullet> Gender
<bullet> Alias
<bullet> Disqualification number
<bullet> Disqualification decision date
<bullet> Disqualification start date
<bullet> Duration of disqualification period
<bullet> Offense code
<bullet> Agency information:
<bullet> Locality code
<bullet> Locality contact name, title, location, and phone number
System(s) of Records
The system of records for this data exchange comprising eDRS is
USDA/FNS-5, Information on Persons Disqualified from the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program, 75 FR 81205 (Dec. 27, 2010). This data
exchange is authorized under routine uses.
Tameka Owens,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-18945 Filed 8-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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