Food Stamp Program: Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Systems Interoperability and Portability

This action provides final rulemaking for an interim rule published on August 15, 2000. It implements legislation in accordance with the Electronic Benefit Transfer Interoperability and Portability Act of 2000. This rule finalizes revisions to the Food Stamp Program regulations to ensure that recipients can use their electronic food stamp benefits across state borders. The regulations require interoperable state electronic issuance systems and establish national standards to achieve this requirement. One hundred percent Federal funding is available to pay for the operational cost of this functionality, up to a national annual limit of $500,000. Costs beyond this level will be covered at the standard fifty percent program reimbursement rate for State administrative costs. Based on the Department's experience to date, it is not expected that costs will exceed $500,000.