To empower States with programmatic flexibility and predictability to administer a supplemental nutrition assistance block grant program under which, at the request of a State agency, eligible households within the State may receive an adequate, or more nutritious, diet.

SA 2392. Mr. REID proposed an amendment to amendment SA 2391 proposed
by Mr. Reid to the bill S. 3240, to reauthorize agricultural programs
through 2017, and for other purposes; as follows:

Beginning on page 1, strike line 2 and all that follows
through page 31, line 10, and insert the following:

Subtitle A--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Block Grant Program

SEC. 4001. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this subtitle is to empower States with
programmatic flexibility and financial predictability in
designing and operating State programs--
(1) to raise the levels of nutrition among low-income
households;
(2) to provide supplemental nutrition assistance benefits
to households with income and resources that are insufficient
to meet the costs of providing adequate nutrition; and
(3) to provide States the flexibility to provide new and
innovative means to accomplish paragraphs (1) and (2) based
on the population and particular needs of each State.

SEC. 4002. STATE PLANS.

(a) In General.--To receive a grant under section 4003, a
State shall submit to the Secretary a written plan that
describes the manner in which the State intends to conduct a
supplemental nutrition assistance program that--
(1) is designed to serve all political subdivisions in the
State;
(2) provides supplemental nutrition assistance benefits to
low-income households for the sole purpose of purchasing
food, as defined by the applicable State agency in the plan;
and
(3) limits participation in the supplemental nutrition
assistance program to those households the incomes and other
financial resources of which, held singly or in joint
ownership, are determined by the State to be a substantial
limiting factor in permitting the members of the household to
obtain a more nutritious diet.
(b) Requirements.--Each plan shall include--
(1) specific objective criteria for--
(A) the determination of eligibility for nutritional
assistance for low-income households, which may be based on
standards relating to income, assets, family composition,
beneficiary population, age, work, current participation in
other Federal government means-tested programs, and work,
student enrollment, or training requirements; and
(B) fair and equitable treatment of recipients and
provision of supplemental nutrition assistance benefits to
all low-income households in the State; and
(2) a description of--
(A) benefits provided based on the aggregate grant amount;
and

[[Page S4103]]

(B) the manner in which supplemental nutrition assistance
benefits will be provided under the State plan, including the
use of State administration organizations, private
contractors, or consultants.
(c) Certification of the Administration of the Program.--
(1) In general.--The Governor of each State that receives a
grant under section 4003 shall issue a certification to the
Secretary in accordance with this subsection.
(2) Administration.--The certification shall specify which
1 or more State agencies will administer and supervise the
State plan under this section.
(3) Provision of benefits only to low-income individuals
and households.--
(A) In general.--The certification shall certify that the
State will--
(i) only provide supplemental nutrition assistance to low-
income individuals and households in the State; and
(ii) take such action as is necessary to prohibit any
household or member of a household that does not meet the
criteria described in subparagraph (B) from receiving
supplemental nutrition assistance benefits.
(B) Criteria.--A household shall meet the criteria
described in this subparagraph if the household is--
(i) a household in which each member receives benefits
under the supplemental security income program established
under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et
seq.);
(ii) a low-income household that does not exceed 100
percentage of the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2)
of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2),
including any revision required by such section)) for a
family of the size involved as the State shall establish; or
(iii) a household in which each member receives benefits
under a State or Federal general assistance program that
complies with income criteria standards comparable to or more
restrictive than the standards established under clause (ii).
(4) Provision of benefits only to citizens and lawful
permanent residents of the united states.--The certification
shall certify that the State will--
(A) only provide supplemental nutrition assistance to
citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States;
and
(B) take such action as is necessary to prohibit
supplemental nutrition assistance benefits from being
provided to any individual or household a member of which is
not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United
States.
(5) Certification of standards and procedures to ensure
against program fraud, waste and abuse.--The certification
shall certify that the State--
(A) has established and will continue to enforce standards
and procedures to ensure against program fraud, waste, and
abuse, including standards and procedures concerning
nepotism, conflicts of interest among individuals responsible
for the administration and supervision of the State program,
kickbacks, and the use of political patronage; and
(B) will prohibit from further receipt of benefits under
the program any recipient who attempts to receive benefits
fraudulently.
(6) Limitation on secretarial authority.--The Secretary--
(A) may only review a State plan submitted under this
section for the purpose of confirming that a State has
submitted the required documentation; and
(B) shall not have the authority to approve or deny a State
plan submitted under this section or to otherwise inhibit or
control the expenditure of grants paid to a State under
section 4003, unless a State plan does not comply with the
requirements of this section.

SEC. 4003. GRANTS TO STATES.

(a) In General.--Beginning 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, each State
that has submitted a plan that meets the requirements of
section 4002 shall receive from the Secretary a grant in an
amount determined under subsection (b).
(b) Amounts of Grants.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), a grant received
under subsection (a) shall be in an amount equal to the
product of--
(A) the amount made available under section 4005 for the
applicable fiscal year; and
(B) the proportion that--
(i) the number of individuals residing in the State whose
income does not exceed 100 percent of the poverty line
described in section 4002(c)(3)(B)(ii) applicable to a family
of the size involved; bears to
(ii) the number of such individuals in all States that have
submitted a plan under section 4002 for the applicable fiscal
year, based on data for the most recent fiscal year for which
data is available.
(2) Pro rata adjustments.--The Secretary shall make pro
rata adjustments in the amounts determined for States under
paragraph (1) for each fiscal year as necessary to ensure
that--
(A) the total amount appropriated for the applicable fiscal
year under section 4005 is allotted among all States that
submit a plan under section 4002; and
(B) the total amount of all supplemental nutrition
assistance grants for States determined for the fiscal year
does not exceed the total amount appropriated for the fiscal
year.
(3) Administrative provisions.--
(A) Quarterly payments.--The Secretary shall make each
supplemental nutrition assistance grant payable to a State
for a fiscal year under this section in quarterly
installments.
(B) Computation and certification of payment to states.--
(i) Computation.--The Secretary shall estimate the amount
to be paid to each State for each quarter under this section
based on a report filed by the State that shall include--

(I) an estimate by the State of the total amount to be
expended by the State during the applicable quarter under the
State program funded under this subtitle; and
(II) such other information as the Secretary may require.

(ii) Certification.--The Secretary shall certify to the
Secretary of the Treasury the amount estimated under clause
(i) with respect to each State, adjusted to the extent of any
overpayment or underpayment--

(I) that the Secretary determines was made under this
subtitle to the State for any prior quarter; and
(II) with respect to which adjustment has not been made
under this paragraph.

SEC. 4004. USE OF GRANTS.

(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), a State that
receives a grant under section 4003 may use the grant in any
manner that is reasonably demonstrated to accomplish the
purposes of this subtitle.
(b) Limitation on Use of Grant for Administrative
Purposes.--A State may not use more than 3 percent of the
amount of a grant received for a fiscal year under section
4003 for administrative purposes.

SEC. 4005. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
subtitle $45,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2013 and each fiscal
year thereafter.

SEC. 4006. REPEAL.

(a) In General.--Effective 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) is repealed.
(b) Relationship to Other Law.--Any reference in this Act,
an amendment made by this Act, or any other Act to the
supplemental nutrition assistance program shall be considered
to be a reference to the supplemental nutrition assistance
block grant program under this subtitle.
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