Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 3.djvu/612

 110 STAT. 2342 PUBLIC LAW 104-193—AUG. 22, 1996 (b) STATE PLAN PROVISIONS. —Section 11(e) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)), as amended by sections 819(b) and 835, is amended by adding at the end the following: "(25) if a State elects to carry out a Simplified Food Stamp Program under section 26, the plans of the State agency for operating the program, including— "(A) the rules and procedures to be followed by the State agency to determine food stamp benefits; "(B) how the State agency will address the needs of households that experience high shelter costs in relation to the incomes of the households; and "(C) a description of the method by which the State agency will carry out a quality control system under section 16(c).". (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— (1) Section 8 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2017), as amended by section 830, is amended— (A) by striking subsection (e); and (B) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (e). (2) Section 17 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is amended— (A) by striking subsection (i); and (B) by redesignating subsections (j) through (1) as subsections (i) through (k), respectively. 7 USC 2026 note. SEC. 855. STUDY OF THE USE OF FOOD STAMPS TO PURCHASE VITAMINS AND MINERALS. (a) IN GENERAL. —The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, shall conduct a study on the use of food stamps provided under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) to purchase vitamins and minerals. (b) ANALYSIS. —The study shall include— (1) an analysis of scientific findings on the efficacy of and need for vitamins and minerals, including— (A) the adequacy of vitsmiin and mineral intakes in low-income populations, as shown by research and surveys conducted prior to the study; and (B) the potential value of nutritional supplements in filling nutrient gaps that may exist in the United States population as a whole or in vulnerable subgroups in the population; (2) the impact of nutritional improvements (including vitamin or mineral supplementation) on the health status and health care costs of women of childbearing age, pregnant or lactating women, and the elderly; (3) the cost of commercially available vitamin and mineral supplements; (4) the purchasing habits of low-income populations with regard to vitamins and minerals; (5) the impact of using food stamps to purchase vitamins and minerals on the food purchases of low-income households; and (6) the economic impact on the production of agricultural commodities of using food stamps to purchase vitamins and minerals.

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