Food Stamp Program: Work Provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and Food Stamp Provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997

On September 3, 1999, the Department published an interim rule (64 FR 48246) to implement, effective November 2, 1999, two food stamp provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (the Balanced Budget Act). The two provisions amended the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (the Food Stamp Act) to enhance State flexibility in exempting portions of a State agency's caseload from the food stamp time limit and to increase significantly the funding available to create work opportunities for recipients who are subject to the time limit. Comments were solicited through November 2, 1999. On December 23, 1999, the Department published a proposed rule (64 FR 72196) to amend Food Stamp Program (FSP) regulations to incorporate the work provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). This rule proposed making significant changes to current work rules, including requirements for the Food Stamp Employment and Training (E&T) Program and the optional workfare program, as well as simplifying disqualification requirements for failure to comply with work rules. Comments were solicited through February 22, 2000. This rule finalizes both of those rulemakings.