[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 4]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR225.12]

[Page 142]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
    CHAPTER II--FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 225--SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
                   Subpart B--State Agency Provisions
 
Sec. 225.12  Claims against sponsors.

    (a) The State agency shall disallow any portion of a claim for 
reimbursement and recover any payment to a sponsor not properly payable 
under this part, except as provided for in Sec. 225.10(c). State 
agencies may consider claims for reimbursement not properly payable if a 
sponsor's records do not justify all costs and meals claimed. However, 
the State agency shall notify the sponsor of the reasons for any 
disallowance or demand for repayment.
    (b) Minimum State agency collection procedures for unearned payments 
shall include:
    (1) Written demand to the sponsor for the return of improper 
payments;
    (2) If after 30 calendar days the sponsor fails to remit full 
payment or agree to a satisfactory repayment schedule, a second written 
demand for the return of improper payments, sent by certified mail, 
return receipt requested;
    (3) If after 60 calendar days following the original written demand, 
the sponsor fails to remit full payment or agree to a satisfactory 
repayment schedule, a third written demand for the return of improper 
payments, sent by certified mail, return receipt requested;
    (4) If after 90 calendar days following the original written demand, 
the sponsor fails to remit full payment or agree to a satisfactory 
repayment schedule, the State agency shall refer the claim against the 
sponsor to the appropriate State or Federal authorities for pursuit of 
legal remedies.
    (c) If FNS does not concur with the State agency's action in paying 
a sponsor or in failing to collect an overpayment, FNS shall notify the 
State agency of its intention to assert a claim against the State 
agency. In all such cases, the State agency shall have full opportunity 
to submit evidence concerning the action taken. The State agency shall 
be liable to FNS for failure to collect an overpayment unless FNS 
determines that the State agency has conformed with this part in issuing 
the payment and has exerted reasonable efforts in accordance with 
paragraph (b) of this section to recover the improper payment.
    (d) The amounts recovered by the State agency from sponsors may be 
utilized to make Program payments to sponsors for the period for which 
the funds were initially available and/or to repay the State for any of 
its own funds used to make payments on claims for reimbursement. Any 
amounts recovered which are not so utilized shall be returned to FNS in 
accordance with the requirements of this part.