This submission is to reinstate and revise the information collection which covers the reporting and recordkeeping burden associated with the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, OMB #0584-0541.

This collection is a reinstatement and revision of the reporting and recordkeeping information collection burdens associated with the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.

The information reporting and recordkeeping requirements are necessary to ensure appropriate and efficient management of both programs.

This is a new information collection for the Waivers and State Plans (WiSP) application.

This notice sets forth the interpretation that the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses for the term “Federal public benefit” as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. In doing so, this notice supersedes any prior interpretation in any notice or other document issued by any USDA agency. This notice also describes and preliminarily identifies the USDA programs that provide “Federal public benefits” within the scope of PRWORA.

This final rule incorporates into the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program regulations, statutory provisions set forth in the Farm Bill of 2008. The three provisions include adding honey as an eligible food for purchase with SFMNP  benefits, prohibiting the value of SFMNP benefits from consideration as income or resources when determining eligibility for other programs under any federal, state or local law, and prohibiting the collection of state or local tax on a purchase of food with a benefit distributed under the SFMNP.

This is an affirmation of an interim rule as a final rule amending the FMNP regulations to codify three nondiscretionary provisions - authorize roadside stands, reduce the required amount of state matching funds, and increase the maximum federal benefit level - mandated in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. 

This interim final rule amends the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program regulations to codify three FMNP nondiscretionary provisions mandated in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.

This document announces the approval date of the provisions contained in the final rule published Dec. 12, 2006 and amends the final rule to include the OMB Control Number assigned to the information collection burden.

This final rule implements the provision of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 that gives the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to promulgate regulations for the operation and administration of the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, thereby making it a permanent program rather than a competitive grant.