Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 2.djvu/476

 99 STAT. 1586

Ante, p. 1585.

5 USC app. Federal Register, publication.

Report.

Report.

PUBLIC LAW 99-198—DEC. 23, 1985

such fiscal year and determine the amount for which the State agency will be liable for such fiscal year under paragraphs (2) and (3). The Secretary shall make a determination for a fiscal year, and notify the State agency of such determination, within nine months following the end of each fiscal year. The Secretary shall initiate efforts to collect the amount owed by the State agency as a claim established under paragraphs (2) and (3) for a fiscal year, subject to the conclusion of any formal or informal appeal procedure and administrative or judicial review under section 14 (as provided for in paragraph (5)), before the end of the fiscal year following such fiscal year.'. (b) Section 11 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: "(o)(l) The Secretary shall develop, after consultation with, and with the assistance of, an advisory group of State agencies appointed by the Secretary without regard to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a model plan for the comprehensive automation of data processing and computerization of information systems under the food stamp program. The plan shall be developed and made available for public comment through publication of the proposed plan in the Federal Register not later than October 1, 1986. The Secretary shall complete the plan, taking into consideration public comments received, not later than February 1, 1987. The elements of the plan may include intake procedures, eligibility determinations and calculation of benefits, verification procedures, coordination with related Federal and State programs, the issuance of benefits, reconciliation procedures, the generation of notices, and program reporting. In developing the plan, the Secretary shall take into account automated data processing and information systems already in existence in States and shall provide for consistency with such systems. "(2) Not later than October 1, 1987, each State agency shall develop and submit to the Secretary for approval a plan for the use of an automated data processing and information retrieval system to administer the food stamp program in such State. The State plan shall take into consideration the model plan developed by the Secretary under paragraph (1) and shall provide time frames for completion of various phases of the State plan. If a State agency already has a sufficient automated data processing and information retrieval system, the State plan may, subject to the Secretary's approval, reflect the existing State system. (3) Not later than April 1, 1988, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress an evaluation of the degree and sufficiency of each State's automated data processing and computerized information systems for the administration of the food stamp program, including State plans submitted under paragraph (2). Such report shall include an analysis of additional steps needed for States to achieve effective and cost-efficient data processing and information systems. The Secretary, thereafter, shall periodically update such report. (4) Based on the Secretary's findings in such report submitted under paragraph (3), the Secretary may require a State agency, as necessary to rectify identified shortcomings in the administration of the food stamp program in the State, except where such direction would displace State initiatives already under way, to take specified steps to automate data processing systems or computerize information systems for the administration of the food stamp program in

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