Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 1.djvu/410

 94 STAT. 360

7 USC 2020.

Regulations, consultation with Secretary of Health and Human Services. 42 USC 601.

PUBLIC LAW 96-249—MAY 26, 1980 categories of households to file periodic reporiis. Each household that is not required to file such periodic reports on a monthly basis shall be required to report or cause to be reported to the State agency, on a form designed or approved by the Secretary, changes in income or household circumstances which the Secretary deems necessary in order to assure accurate eligibility and benefit determinations. "(2) Any household required to file a periodic report under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall, (A) if it is eligible to participate and has filed a timely and complete report, receive its allotment, based on the reported information for a given month, within thirty days of the end of that month unless the Secretary determines that a longer period of time is necessary, (B) have available special procedures that permit the filing of the required information in the event all adult members of the household are mentally or physically handicapped or lacking in reading or writing skills to such a degree as to be unable to fill out the required forms, (C) have a reasonable period of time after the close of the month in which to file their reports on forms approved by the Secretary, and (D) be afforded prompt notice of failure to file any report timely or completely, and given a reasonable opportunity to cure that failure (with any applicable time requirements extended accordingly) and to exercise its rights under section ll(e)(10) of this Act. "(3) Reports required to be filed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be considered complete if, in accordance with standards prescribed by the Secretary, they contain sufficient information to enable the State agency to determine household eligibility and allotment levels. All report forms, including those related to periodic reports of circumstances, shall contain a description, in understandable terms in prominent and bold face lettering, of the appropriate civil and criminal provisions dealing with violations of this Act including the prescribed penalties. The reporting requirements contained in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be the sole such requirements for reporting changes in circumstances for participating households. In promulgating regulations implementing these reporting requirements, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and, wherever feasible, households that receive assistance under title IV-A of the Social Security Act and that are required to file comparable reports under that Act shall be provided the opportunity to file reports at the same time for purposes of both Acts.". CONFORMING AMENDMENTS FOR RETROSPECTIVE ACCOUNTING AND PERIODIC INCOME REPORTING

7 USC 2012. "eertification period."

SEC. 111. Section 3(c) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 is amended to read as follows: "(c) 'Certification period' means the period for which households shall be eligible to receive authorization cards. For those households that are required to submit periodic reports under section 6(c)(l) of this Act, the certification period shall be at least six months but no longer than twelve months. For households that are not required to submit periodic reports, the certification period shall be determined as follows:

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