Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 2.djvu/477

 PUBLIC LAW 99-198—DEC. 23, 1985

99 STAT. 1587

the State if the Secretary finds that, in the absence of such systems, there will be program accountability or integrity problems that will substantially affect the administration of the food stamp program in the State. "(5)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), in the case of a plan for an automated data processing and information retrieval system submitted by a State agency to the Secretary under paragraph (2), such State agency shall— "(i) commence implementation of its plan not later than October 1, 1988; and "(ii) meet the time frames set forth in the plan. "(B) The Secretary shall extend a deadline imposed under subparagraph (A) to the extent the Secretary deems appropriate based on the Secretary's finding of a good faith effort of a State agency to implement its plan in accordance with subparagraph (A).". (c) Section 11(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 202(Xg)) is amended by— (1) inserting "the State plan for automated data processing submitted pursuant to subsection (o)(2) of this section," after Ante, p. 1586. "pursuant to subsection (d) of this section,", and (2) striking out "16(a) and 16(c)" and inserting in lieu thereof "16(a), 16(c), and 16(g)". QUALITY CONTROL STUDIES AND PENALTY MORATORIUM

SEC. 1538. (a)(l)(A) The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter re- 7 USC 2025 ferred to in this section as the "Secretary") shall conduct a study of note. the quality control system used for the food st£mip program established under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). (B) The study shall— (i) examine how best to operate such system in order to obtain information that will allow the State agencies to improve the quality of administration; and (ii) provide reasonable data on the basis of which Federal funding may be withheld for State agencies with excessive levels of erroneous payments. (2)(A) The Secretary shall also contract with the National Acad- Contracts emy of Sciences to conduct a concurrent independent study for the purpose described in paragraph (1). (B) For purposes of such study, the Secretary shall provide to the National Academy of Sciences any relevant data available to the Secretary at the onset of the study and on an ongoing basis. (3) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the National Academy of Sciences shall report the results of their respective studies to the Congress. (b)(l) During the 6-month period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "moratorium period"), the Secretary shall not impose any reductions in payments to State agencies pursuant to section 16 of the Ante, pp. 1577, Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2025). 1580, 1585; (2) During the moratorium period, the Secretary and the State p. 1588. post, agencies shall continue to— (A) operate the quality control systems in effect under the Food Stamp Act of 1977; and (B) calculate error rates under section 16 of such Act.

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