[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 7, Volume 4]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 7CFR275.5]



[Page 842-843]

 

                          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



[[Page 843]]



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 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]