Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/1007

 PUBLIC LAW 95-113—SEPT. 29, 1977 aster relief agencies and local government officials, application procedures to reduce hardship and inconvenience and deter fraud, and instruction of caseworkers in procedures for implementing and operating the disaster program. "(f) To encourage the purchase of nutritious foods, the Secretary shall extend the expanded food and nutrition education program to the greatest extent possible to reach food stamp program participants. The program shall be further supplemented by the development of single concept printed materials, specifically designed for persons with low reading and comprehension levels, on how to buy and prepare more nutritious and economical meals and on the relationship between food and good health. "(g) If the Secretary determines that in the administration of the food stamp program there is a failure by a State agency to comply with any of the provisions of this Act, the regulations issued pursuant to this Act, or the State plan of operation submitted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Secretary shall immediately inform such State agency of such failure and shall allow the State agency a specified period of time for the correction of such failure. If the State agency does not correct such failure within that specified period, the Secretary may refer the matter to the Attorney General with a request that injunctive relief be sought to require compliance forthwith by the State agency and, upon suit by the Attorney General in an appropriate district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the geographic area in which the State agency is located and a showing that noncompliance has occurred, appropriate injunctive relief shall issue. "(h) If the Secretary determines that there has been negligence or fraud on the part of the State agency in the certification of applicant households, the State shall, upon request of the Secretary, deposit into the Treasury of the United States, a sum equal to the face value of any coupon or coupons issued as a result of such negligence or fraud. "(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall develop a system by which (1) a single interview shall be conducted to determine eligibility for the food stamp program and the aid to families with dependent children program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; (2) households in which all members are recipients of supplemental security income shall be permitted to apply for participation in the food stamp program by executing a simplified affidavit at the social security office and be certified for eligibility utilizing information contained in files of the Social Security Administration; (3) households in which all members are included in a federally aided public assistance or State or local general assistance grant shall have their application for participation in the food stamp program contained in the public assistance or general assistance application form; and (4) new applicants, as well as households which have recently lost or been denied eligibility for public assistance or general assistance, shall be certified for participation in the food stamp program based on information in the public assistance or general assistance case file to the extent that reasonably verified information is available in such case file. "(j) The Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, is authorized to prescribe regulations permitting applicants for and recipients of social security benefits to apply for food stamps at social security offices and be certified for food stamp eligibility in such offices in order that the application and certification for food stamp assistance may be accomplished as efficiently and conveniently as possible.

91 STAT. 973

Food and nutrition program, extension.

State noncompliance, correction.

Injunctive relief.

Deposit by States.

System, development.

42 USC 601.

Joint regulations, USDA—HEW.

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