Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 1.djvu/41

 PUBLIC LAW 106-171—FEB. 11, 2000 114 STAT. 5 "(5) EXEMPTIONS. — "(A) CONTRACTS.— The requirements of paragraph (2) shall not apply to the transfer of benefits under an electronic benefit transfer contract before the expiration of the term of the contract if the contract— "(i) is entered into before the date that is 30 days after the regulations are promulgsited under paragraph (4); and "(ii) expires after October 1, 2002. "(B) WAIVER.— At the request of a State agency, the Secretary may provide 1 waiver to temporarily exempt, for a period ending on or before the date specified under clause (iii), the State agency from complying with the requirements of paragraph (2), if the State agency— "(i) establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the State agency faces unusual technological barriers to achieving by October 1, 2002, the interoperability and portability required under paragraph (2); "(ii) demonstrates that the best interest of the food stamp program would be served by granting the waiver with respect to the electi-onic benefit transfer system used by the State agency to administer the food stamp program; and "(iii) specifies a date by which the State agency will achieve the interoperability and portability required under paragraph (2). "(C) SMART CARD SYSTEMS.—The Secretary shall allow a State agency that is using smart cards for the delivery of food stamp program benefits to comply with the requirements of paragraph (2) at such time Jifter October 1, 2002, as the Secretary determines that a prEicticable technological method is available for interoperability with electronic benefit transfer cards. "(6) FUNDING. — "(A) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, the Secretary shall pay 100 percent of the costs incurred by a State agency under this Act for switching and settling int<jrstate transactions— "(i) incurred after the date of enactment of this subsection and before October 1, 2002, if the State agency uses the standard of interoperability and portability adopted by a majority of State agencies; and "(ii) incurred after September 30, 2002, if the State agency uses the uniform national standard of interoperability and portability adopted under paragraph (4)(A). "(B) LIMITATION. —The total amount paid to State agencies for each fiscal year under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed $500,000.".

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