[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 4]
[Revised as of January 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR275.5]

[Page 841-842]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
    CHAPTER II--FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 275_PERFORMANCE REPORTING SYSTEM--Table of Contents
 
              Subpart B_Management Evaluation (ME) Reviews
 
Sec. 275.5  Scope and purpose.


    (a) Objectives. Each State agency shall ensure that project areas 
operate the Food Stamp Program in accordance with the Act, regulations, 
and FNS-approved State Plan of Operation. To ensure compliance with 
program requirements, ME reviews shall be conducted to measure 
compliance with the provisions of FNS regulations. The objectives of an 
ME review are to:
    (1) Provide a systematic method of monitoring and assessing program 
operations in the project areas;
    (2) Provide a basis for project areas to improve and strengthen 
program operations by identifying and correcting deficiencies; and
    (3) Provide a continuing flow of information between the project 
areas, the States, and FNS, necessary to develop the solutions to 
problems in program policy and procedures.
    (b) Frequency of review. (1) State agencies shall conduct a review 
once every year for large project areas, once every two years for medium 
project areas, and once every three years for small project areas, 
unless an alternate schedule is approved by FNS. The most current and 
accurate information on active monthly caseload available at the time 
the review schedule is developed shall be used to determine project area 
size.
    (2) A request for an alternate review schedule shall be submitted 
for approval in writing with a proposed schedule and justification. In 
any alternate schedule, each project area must be reviewed at least once 
every three years. Approval of an alternate schedule is dependent upon a 
State agency's justification that the project areas that will be 
reviewed less frequently than required in paragraph (b)(1) of this 
section are performing adequately and that previous reviews indicate few 
problems or that known problems have been corrected. FNS retains the 
authority for approving any alternate schedule and may approve a 
schedule in whole or in part. Until FNS approval of an alternate 
schedule is obtained, the State agency shall conduct reviews in 
accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
    (3) FNS may require the State agency to conduct additional on-site 
reviews when a serious problem is detected in a project area which could 
result in a substantial dollar or service loss.
    (4) State agencies shall also establish a system for monitoring 
those project areas' operations which experience a significant influx of 
migratory workers during such migrations. This requirement may be 
satisfied by either scheduling ME reviews to coincide with such 
migrations or by conducting special reviews. As part of the review the 
State agency shall contact local migrant

[[Page 842]]

councils, advocate groups, or other organizations in the project area to 
ensure that migrants are receiving the required services.

[Amdt. 160, 45 FR 15900, Mar. 11, 1980, as amended by Amdt. 262, 49 FR 
50597, Dec. 31, 1984; Amdt. 266, 52 FR 3408, Feb. 4, 1987]