Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/1003

 PUBLIC LAW 95-113—SEPT. 29, 1977

91 STAT. 969

"(b) No wholesale food concern may be authorized to accept and redeem coupons unless the Secretary determines that its participation is required for the effective and efficient operation of the food stamp program. In addition, no firm may be authorized to accept and redeem coupons as both a retail food store and as a wholesale food concern at the same time. "(c) Kegulations issued pursuant to this Act shall require an Information, applicant retail food store or wholesale food concern to submit infor- submittal. mation which will permit a determination to be made as to whether such applicant qualifies, or continues to qualify, for approval under the provisions of this Act or the regulations issued pursuant to this Act. Regulations issued pursuant to this Act shall provide for safeguards Safeguards, which limit the use or disclosure of information obtained under the authority granted by this subsection to purposes directly connected with administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Act or the regulations issued pursuant to this Act. "(d) Any retail food store or wholesale food concern which has Hearing, failed upon application to receive approval to participate in the food stamp program may obtain a hearing on such refusal as provided in section 14 of this Act. a REDEMPTION OF COUPONS

"SEC. 10. Regulations issued pursuant to this Act shall provide for 7 USC 2019. the redemption of coupons accepted by retail food stores through approved wholesale food concerns or through banks, with the cooperation of the Treasury Department, except that retail food stores defined in section S(k)(4) of this Act shall be authorized to redeem their members' food coupons prior to receipt by the members of the food so purchased and private nonprofit organizations or institutions which serve meals to narcotics addicts or alcoholics in drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation programs shall not be authorized to redeem coupons through banks. u ADMINISTRATION

"SEC. 11. (a) The State agency of each participating State shall assume responsibility for the certification of applicant households and for the issuance of coupons and the control and accountability thereof. There shall be kept such records as may be necessary to ascertain whether the program is being conducted in compliance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations issued pursuant to this Act. Such records shall be available for inspection and audit at any reasonable time and shall be preserved for such period of time, not less than three years, as may be specified in the regulations issued pursuant to this Act. "(b) Certification of a household as eligible in any political subdivision shall, in the event of removal of such household to another political subdivision in which the food stamp program is operating, remain valid for participation in the food stamp program for a period of sixty days from the date of such removal. "(c) In the certification of applicant households for the food stamp program, there shall be no discrimination by reason of race, sex, religious creed, national origin, or political beliefs. "(d) The State agency (as defined in section 3(n)(1) of this Act) of each State desiring to participate in the food stamp program shall submit for approval a plan of operation specifying the manner in which such program will be conducted within the State in every politi-

7 USC 2020. Record retention. Inspection and audit.

Certification,

Plan of operation, approval,

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