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COMMENT DUE DATE:  

February 14, 2019

DATE: 

January 15, 2019

Laura Brown Adult and Family Services 405-521-4396

Dena Thayer, Programs Administrator 405-521-4326

Nancy Kelly, Policy Specialist 405-522-6703

RE:  

APA WF 19-50

It is very important that you provide your comments regarding the DRAFT COPY of policy by the comment due date. Comments are directed to *STO.LegalServices.Policy@okdhs.org

The proposed policy is  Permanent .  This proposal is subject to Administrative Procedures Act

It is important that you provide your comments regarding the draft copy of policy by the comment due date.Comments are directed to STO.LegalServices.Policy@okdhs.org.The proposed policy is permanent.

A public hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 26, 2019, at DHS, Sequoyah Memorial Office Building, 2400 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105, Room C-48.Anyone who wants to speak must sign in at the door by 10:05 a.m.

SUBJECT:CHAPTER 50. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Subchapter 1. General Provisions

340:50-1-1 [AMENDED]Subchapter 3. Application Process

340:50-3-1 through 340:50-3-2[Amended]

Subchapter 5. Non-Financial Eligibility Criteria

Part 1. Household Definition

340:50-5-10.1 [AMENDED]

Part 3. Special Households

340:50-5-28 [AMENDED]

Part 9. Work Registration

340:50-5-94 [AMENDED]

Part 11. Oklahoma (OK) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Employment and Training (E&T) ProgramWorks [AMENDED]

340:50-5-106 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 7. Financial Eligibility CriteriaPart 3. Income

340:50-7-22 [AMENDED]

340:50-7-29 through 340:50-7-31 [AMENDED]

Part 5. Determination of Income

340:50-7-46 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 9. Eligibility and Benefit Determination Procedures

340:50-9-1 [AMENDED]

340:50-9-5 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 10. Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)

340:50-10-1 [AMENDED]

340:50-10-3 [AMENDED]

340:50-10-5 [AMENDED]

340:50-10-9 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 11. Special Procedures

Part 1. Households Entitled to Expedited Service

340:50-11-5 [AMENDED]

Part 3. Simplified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SSNAP) for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Companion State Supplemental Payment (SSP) Recipient(s)

340:50-11-20 [AMENDED]

Part 5. Restoration of Lost Benefits

340:50-11-46 [AMENDED]

Part 9. Disaster Procedures and Reporting Requirements

340:50-11-86 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 13. Fair Hearings and Quality Control [AMENDED]

340:50-13-2 [AMENDED]

(Reference WF 19-50)

SUMMARY:The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 1 amend the rules to:(1) add Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) responsibilities for administration of SNAP; and (2) update terminology and add a legal citation.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 3 amend the rules to:(1) clarify and update procedures used to assist applicants in filing a food benefit application on the date they request food benefits; (2) reorganize and add clarifying language regarding authorized representatives to better define who can be an authorized representative for a food benefit household, what actions he or she can perform for the household, and what restrictions may apply; (3) clarify application procedures when a household provides verification within 30-calendar days of a denial; (4) clarify that a postponed interview must be completed and postponed verification provided by the last day of the expedited certification period to avoid a break in service; (5) clarify when the household must complete a new application following a one- or two-month expedited certification; (6) add policy and legal citations; and (7) update terminology.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 5 amend the rules to:(1) remove information regarding how to handle income and expenses of excluded household members; (2) add failing to cooperate regarding unclear information to the reasons a person may be considered an ineligible household member; (3) remove an incorrect reason to end a voluntary quit disqualification; (4) change the title of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training Program to OK SNAP Works; (5) add two new components to OK SNAP Works; (6) correct a policy citation; and (7) add a policy citation.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 7 amend the rules to:(1) exclude military combat pay from income consideration; (2) update legal citations for Title III and Title V funds excluded under the Older Americans Act and the organizations that receive the funds; (3) add salary income received by a shareholder from an S corporation as earned income; (4) clarify that income received by a third party is considered as income to the person to whom it is legally owed; (5) add profit sharing as unearned income; (6) add failing to cooperate regarding unclear information to the reasons a person may be considered an ineligible household member for income consideration; (7) update profit sharing under self-employment income to indicate how to consider profit sharing for shareholders in S corporations and partners in partnerships; (8) clarify how to consider farm income when there is a profit; (9) clarify that activity fees and transportation costs may be included as part of a dependent care deduction;(10) correct when to consider cents as countable State Supplemental Income (SSI); and (11) add legal and policy citations.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 9 amend the rules to:(1) add a three- or four-month certification period for households that include an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) who is not exempt or meeting the work requirement; (2) change reporting timeframes for annual, semi-annual, and change reporting households; (3) add failing to meet work registration requirements as a reason benefits may be changed between reporting periods for semi-annual reporters; (4) change the unearned income reporting requirement and add a requirement to report when an ABAWD's work hours fall below 20 hours per week for change reporting households; (5) define what is considered unclear information, add new household and Adult and Family Services (AFS) staff responsibilities for clarifying the household's circumstances, and add required actions AFS staff must take regarding the unclear information; (6) require AFS staff reopen or restore food benefits to the previous level pending a fair hearing requested within the 10-calendar day time frame unless the household waives continuation of benefits; and (7) add legal citations.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 10 amend the rules to:(1) add the name of the SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card; (2) clarify how SNAP recipients receive and use food benefits; (3) clarify authorized representative information; (4) add information about how clients and authorized representatives obtain EBT cards; (5) add information regarding what is considered an initial EBT card; (6) change: (a) how to request an EBT replacement card; (b) EBT card replacement procedures from the county office to the EBT contractor or the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Finance and Administration Electronic Payment Services Unit; and (c) the length of time it takes to deliver an EBT replacement card; (7) update terminology; and (8) add a policy citation.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 11 amend the rules to:(1) remove unnecessary language regarding work registration; (2) change the form used to schedule a postponed interview; (3) clarify that a postponed interview must be completed and postponed verification provided by the last day of the expedited certification period to avoid a break in service; (4) clarify when the household must complete a new application following a one- or two-month expedited certification and when normal processing standards must be used; (5) add information that Simplified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SSNAP) procedures do not apply when any household member is considered an ineligible household member; (6) remove duplicative information; (7) reorganize, simplify, and clarify information regarding restoration of lost benefits procedures; (8) remove outdated information regarding the use of a handbook and the issuance amount of emergency food benefit allotments; (9) add policy and legal citations; and (10) update terminology.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 13 amend the rules to:(1) update DHS staff procedures when a client requests a fair hearing; (2) add hearing procedure for when the client plans to move to another state; (3) require AFS staff to reopen or restore food benefits to the previous level pending a fair hearing when requested within the 10-calendar day time frame unless the household waives continuation of benefits; (4) add reasons benefits may be reduced or closed prior to a hearing decision being made; (5) clarify and simplify language; (6) update terminology; and (7) add legal citations.

PERMANENT APPROVAL:Permanent rulemaking is requested.

LEGAL AUTHORITY:Director of Human Services; Section 162 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and Sections 271.4, 272.13, 272.14, 273.1, 273.2, 273.7, 273.9, 273.11, 273.12, 273.15, and 273.17 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Rule Impact Statement

To:Programs administrator

Legal Services - Policy

From:Patrick Klein,Director

Adult and Family Services

Date:December 14, 2018

Re:CHAPTER 50. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Subchapter 1. General Provisions

340:50-1-1 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 3. Application Process

340:50-3-1 through 340:50-3-2[Amended]

Subchapter 5. Non-Financial Eligibility Criteria

Part 1. Household Definition

340:50-5-10.1 [AMENDED]

Part 3. Special Households

340:50-5-28 [AMENDED]

Part 9. Work Registration

340:50-5-94 [AMENDED]

Part 11. Oklahoma (OK) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Employment and Training (E&T) ProgramWorks [AMENDED]

340:50-5-106 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 7. Financial Eligibility Criteria

Part 3. Income

340:50-7-22 [AMENDED]

340:50-7-29 through 340:50-7-31 [AMENDED]

Part 5. Determination of Income

340:50-7-46 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 9. Eligibility and Benefit Determination Procedures

340:50-9-1 [AMENDED]

340:50-9-5 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 10. Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)

340:50-10-1 [AMENDED]

340:50-10-3 [AMENDED]

340:50-10-5 [AMENDED]

340:50-10-9 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 11. Special Procedures

Part 1. Households Entitled to Expedited Service

340:50-11-5 [AMENDED]

Part 3. Simplified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SSNAP) for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Companion State Supplemental Payment (SSP) Recipient(s)

340:50-11-20 [AMENDED]

Part 5. Restoration of Lost Benefits

340:50-11-46 [AMENDED]

Part 9. Disaster Procedures and Reporting Requirements

340:50-11-86 [AMENDED]

Subchapter 13. Fair Hearings and Quality Control [AMENDED]

340:50-13-2 [AMENDED]

(Reference WF 19-50)

Contact:Laura Brown 405-521-4396

A.Brief description of the purpose of the proposed rule:

Purpose.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 1 amend the rules to:(1) add Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) responsibilities for administration of SNAP; and (2) update terminology and add a legal citation.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 3 amend the rules to:(1) clarify and update procedures used to assist applicants in filing a food benefit application on the date they request food benefits; (2) reorganize and add clarifying language regarding authorized representatives to better define who can be an authorized representative for a food benefit household, what actions he or she can perform for the household, and what restrictions may apply; (3) clarify application procedures when a household provides verification within 30-calendar days of a denial; (4) clarify that a postponed interview must be completed and postponed verification provided by the last day of the expedited certification period to avoid a break in service; (5) clarify when the household must complete a new application following a one- or two-month expedited certification; (6) add policy and legal citations; and (7) update terminology.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 5 amend the rules to:(1) remove information regarding how to handle income and expenses of excluded household members; (2) add failing to cooperate regarding unclear information to the reasons a person may be considered an ineligible household member; (3) remove an incorrect reason to end a voluntary quit disqualification; (4) change the title of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training Program to OK SNAP Works; (5) add two new components to OK SNAP Works; (6) correct a policy citation; and (7) add a policy citation.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 7 amend the rules to:(1) exclude military combat pay from income consideration; (2) update legal citations for Title III and Title V funds excluded under the Older Americans Act and the organizations that receive the funds; (3) add salary income received by a shareholder from an S corporation as earned income; (4) clarify that income received by a third party is considered as income to the person to whom it is legally owed; (5) add profit sharing as unearned income; (6) add failing to cooperate regarding unclear information to the reasons a person may be considered an ineligible household member for income consideration; (7) update profit sharing under self-employment income to indicate how to consider profit sharing for shareholders in S corporations and partners in partnerships; (8) clarify how to consider farm income when there is a profit; (9) clarify that activity fees and transportation costs may be included as part of a dependent care deduction;(10) correct when to consider cents as countable State Supplemental Income (SSI); and (11) add legal and policy citations.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 9 amend the rules to:(1) add a three- or four-month certification period for households that include an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) who is not exempt or meeting the work requirement; (2) change reporting timeframes for annual, semi-annual, and change reporting households; (3) add failing to meet work registration requirements as a reason benefits may be changed between reporting periods for semi-annual reporters; (4) change the unearned income reporting requirement and add a requirement to report when an ABAWD's work hours fall below 20 hours per week for change reporting households; (5) define what is considered unclear information, add new household and Adult and Family Services (AFS) staff responsibilities for clarifying the household's circumstances, and add required actions AFS staff must take regarding the unclear information; (6) require AFS staff reopen or restore food benefits to the previous level pending a fair hearing requested within the 10-calendar day time frame unless the household waives continuation of benefits; and (7) add legal citations.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 10 amend the rules to:(1) add the name of the SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card; (2) clarify how SNAP recipients receive and use food benefits; (3) clarify authorized representative information; (4) add information about how clients and authorized representatives obtain EBT cards; (5) add information regarding what is considered an initial EBT card; (6) change: (a) how to request an EBT replacement card; (b) EBT card replacement procedures from the county office to the EBT contractor or the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Finance and Administration Electronic Payment Services Unit; and (c) the length of time it takes to deliver an EBT replacement card; (7) update terminology; and (8) add a policy citation.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 11 amend the rules to:(1) remove unnecessary language regarding work registration; (2) change the form used to schedule a postponed interview; (3) clarify that a postponed interview must be completed and postponed verification provided by the last day of the expedited certification period to avoid a break in service; (4) clarify when the household must complete a new application following a one- or two-month expedited certification and when normal processing standards must be used; (5) add information that Simplified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SSNAP) procedures do not apply when any household member is considered an ineligible household member; (6) remove duplicative information; (7) reorganize, simplify, and clarify information regarding restoration of lost benefits procedures; (8) remove outdated information regarding the use of a handbook and the issuance amount of emergency food benefit allotments; (9) add policy and legal citations; and (10) update terminology.

The proposed amendments to Chapter 50, Subchapter 13 amend the rules to:(1) update DHS staff procedures when a client requests a fair hearing; (2) add hearing procedure for when the client plans to move to another state; (3) require AFS staff to reopen or restore food benefits to the previous level pending a fair hearing when requested within the 10-calendar day time frame unless the household waives continuation of benefits; (4) add reasons benefits may be reduced or closed prior to a hearing decision being made; (5) clarify and simplify language; (6) update terminology; and (7) add legal citations.

Strategic Plan Impact. The proposed amendments achieve DHS goals by continuously improving systems and processes and improving communication with DHS clients and staff.

Substantive changes.

Subchapter 1. General Provisions

Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:50-1-1 is amended to:(1) add DHS responsibilities for administration of SNAP; and (2) update terminology and add a legal citation.

Subchapter 3. Application Process

OAC 340:50-3-1 is amended to:340:50-3-1 is amended to:(1) clarify and update procedures used to assist applicants in filing a food benefit application on the date they request food benefits; (2) reorganize and add clarifying language regarding authorized representatives to better define who can be an authorized representative for a food benefit household, what actions he or she can perform for the household, and what restrictions may apply; (3) clarify application procedures when a household provides verification within 30-calendar days of a denial; (4) add policy and legal citations; and (5) update terminology.

OAC 340:50-3-2 is amended to: (1) clarify the postponed interview must be completed and postponed verification provided by the last day of the expedited certification period to avoid a break in service; (2) clarify when the household must complete a new application following a one- or two-month expedited certification; and (3) add a legal citation.

Subchapter 5. Non-Financial Eligibility Criteria

Part 1. Household Definition

OAC 340:50-5-10.1 is amended to:(1) remove information regarding how to handle income and expenses of excluded household members; (2) add failing to cooperate regarding unclear information to the reasons a person may be considered an ineligible household member; and (3) add a policy citation.

Part 3. Special Households

OAC 340:50-5-28 is amended to correct a policy citation.

Part 9. Work Registration

OAC 340:50-5-94 is amended to remove an incorrect reason to end a voluntary quit disqualification.

Part 11. Oklahoma (OK) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Employment and Training (E&T) ProgramWorks

OAC 340:50-5-106 is amended to:(1) change the title of the SNAP E&T Program to OK SNAP Works; and (2) add two new components to OK SNAP Works.

Subchapter 7. Financial Eligibility Criteria

Part 3. Income

OAC 340:50-7-22 is amended to:(1) exclude military combat pay from income consideration; (2) update legal citations for Title III and Title V funds excluded under the Older Americans Act and the organizations that receive the funds; and (3) add legal citation.

OAC 340:50-7-29 is amended to:(1) add salary income received by a shareholder from an S corporation as earned income; (2) clarify that income received by a third party is considered as income to the person to whom it is legally owed; (3) add profit sharing as unearned income; and (4) add failing to cooperate regarding unclear information to the reasons a person may be considered an ineligible household member for income consideration.

OAC 340:50-7-30 is amended to:(1) update profit sharing under self employment income to indicate how to consider profit sharing for shareholders in S corporations and partners in partnerships; (2) clarify how to consider farm income when there is a profit; and (3) add policy citation.

OAC 340:50-7-31 is amended to clarify that activity fees and transportation costs may be included as part of a dependent care deduction.

Part 5. Determination of Income

OAC 340:50-7-46 is amended to correct when to consider cents as countable SSI income.

Subchapter 9. Eligibility and Benefit Determination Procedures

OAC 340:50-9-1 is amended to add a three- or four-month certification period for households that include an ABAWD who is not exempt or meeting the work requirement.

OAC 340:50-9-5 is amended to:(1) change reporting timeframes for annual, semi-annual, and change reporting households; (2) add failing to meet work registration requirements as a reason benefits may be changed between reporting periods for semi-annual reporters; (3) change unearned income reporting requirement and add a requirement to report when an ABAWD's work hours fall below 20 hours per week for change reporting households; (4) define what is considered unclear information add new household and AFS staff responsibilities for clarifying the household's circumstances, and add required actions AFS staff must take regarding the unclear information; (5) require AFS staff to reopen or restore food benefits to the previous level pending a fair hearing requested within the 10-calendar day time frame unless the household waives continuation of benefits; and (6) add legal citations.

Subchapter 10. Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)

OAC 340:50-10-1 is amended to:(1) add the name of the SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card; and (2) clarify how SNAP recipients receive and use food benefits.

OAC 340:50-10-3 is amended to:(1) clarify authorized representative information; (2) add information about how clients and authorized representatives obtain EBT cards; (3) add information regarding what is considered an initial EBT card; and (4) add a policy citation.

OAC 340:50-10-5 is amended to change:(1) how to request an EBT replacement card; (2) EBT card replacement procedures from the county office to the EBT contractor or the DHS Finance and Administration Electronic Payment Services Unit; and (3) the length of time it takes to deliver an EBT replacement card.

OAC 340:50-10-9 is amended to update terminology.

Subchapter 11. Special Households

Part 1. Households Entitled to Expedited Services

OAC 340:50-11-5 is amended to:(1) remove unnecessary language regarding work registration; (2) change the form used to schedule a postponed interview; (3) clarify that a postponed interview must be completed and postponed verification provided by the last day of the expedited certification period to avoid a break in service; (4) clarify when the household must complete a new application following a one- or two-month expedited certification and when normal processing standards must be used; and (5) add policy citations.

Part 3. Simplified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SSNAP) for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Companion State Supplemental Payment (SSP) Recipient(s)

OAC 340:50-11-20 is amended to add information that SSNAP procedures do not apply when any household member is considered an ineligible household member.

Part 5. Restoration of Lost Benefits

OAC 340:50-11-46 is amended to:(1) remove duplicative information; (2) reorganize, simplify, and clarify information regarding restoration of lost benefits procedures; (3) add policy and legal citations; and (4) update terminology.

Part 9. Disaster Procedures and Reporting Requirements

OAC 340:50-11-86 is amended to:(1) remove outdated information regarding the use of a handbook and the issuance amount of emergency food benefits allotments; and (2) update terminology.

Subchapter 13. Fair Hearings and Quality Control

OAC 340:50-13-2 is amended to:(1) update DHS staff procedures when a client requests a fair hearing; (2) add hearing procedure for when the client plans to move to another state; (3) require AFS staff to reopen or restore food benefits to the previous level pending a fair hearing when requested within the 10-calendar day time frame unless the household waives continuation of benefits; (4) add reasons benefits may be reduced or closed prior to a hearing decision being made; (5) clarify and simplify language; (6) update terminology; and (7) add legal citations.

Reasons.

The proposed amendments throughout the subchapters are amended to:(1) reorganize, clarify, and simplify rules; (2) update rules to reflect current procedures; (3) add policy and legal citations; and (4) remove unnecessary, duplicative, outdated, and incorrect information to reduce confusion for AFS staff and the public, and make the rules less error prone for staff.

The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services issued the "State Agency Implementation of the Big Rule Policy Checklist" in January 2018, to determine if and when state agencies were implementing certain policies.As a result, the proposed amendments are made to:(1) exclude military combat pay from income consideration; (2) change reporting timeframes for annual, semi-annual, and change reporting households; (3) add procedures for following up on unclear information; and (4) clarify that activity fees and transportation costs may be included as part of a dependent care deduction.

The proposed amendments to:(1) add DHS responsibilities for administration of SNAP; (2) change the unearned income reporting requirement; (3) add a requirement to report when an ABAWD's work hours fall below 20 hours per week for change reporting households; (4) add failing to meet work registration requirements as a reason benefits may be changed between reporting periods for semi-annual reporters; (5) require AFS staff to reopen or restore food benefits to the previous level pending a fair hearing when requested within the 10-calendar day time frame unless the household waives continuation of benefits; (6) clarify that a postponed interview must be completed and postponed verification provided by the last day of the expedited certification period to avoid a break in service; and (7) add information that SSNAP procedures do not apply when any household member is considered an ineligible household member are made to comply with federal regulations.

The proposed amendments to change the title of the SNAP E&T Program to OK SNAP Works is made to better separate the program from work registration requirements.

The proposed amendments regarding EBT procedures to:(1) add information about how clients and authorized representatives obtain EBT cards and what is considered an initial EBT card; (2) how to request an EBT replacement card; (3) change EBT card replacement procedures; and (4) change the length of time it takes to deliver an EBT replacement card are made to reflect the most recent contract changes, centralize EBT functions, and provide more information for applicants, recipients, and staff.

Repercussions.

If the proposed amendments are not implemented:(1) AFS will be out of compliance with federal regulations; and (2) rules will remain error prone and may prevent DHS staff from processing benefits as quickly as possible or under or over-issuing client benefits leading to increased federal error rates.

Legal authority.Director of Human Services; Section 162 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and Sections 271.4, 272.13, 272.14, 273.1, 273.2, 273.7, 273.9, 273.11, 273.12, 273.15, and 273.17 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Permanent rulemaking approval is requested.

B.A description of the classes of persons who most likely will be affected by the proposed rule, including classes that will bear the costs of the proposed rule, and any information on cost impacts received by the Agency from any private or public entities:The classes of persons most likely to be affected by the proposed amendments are households applying for or receiving SNAP food benefits and AFS staff.The affected classes of persons will bear no costs associated with implementation of the rules.

C.A description of the classes of persons who will benefit from the proposed rule:The classes of persons who will benefit are households applying for or receiving SNAP benefits and AFS staff.

D.A description of the probable economic impact of the proposed rule upon the affected classes of persons or political subdivisions, including a listing of all fee changes and, whenever possible, a separate justification for each fee change:The proposed amendments do not have an economic impact on the affected entities.There are no fee changes associated with the revised rules.

E.The probable costs and benefits to the Agency and to any other agency of the implementation and enforcement of the proposed rule, the source of revenue to be used for implementation and enforcement of the proposed rule and any anticipated effect on state revenues, including a projected net loss or gain in such revenues if it can be projected by the Agency:The probable cost to DHS includes the cost of printing and distributing the rules, which is estimated to be less than $20.The proposed amendments will result in enhanced delivery of services to households applying for or receiving SNAP benefits and may decrease staff errors.

F.A determination whether implementation of the proposed rule will have an impact on any political subdivisions or require their cooperation in implementing or enforcing the rule:The proposed amendments do not have an economic impact on any political subdivision, nor will the cooperation of any political subdivisions be required in implementation or enforcement of the rules.

G.A determination whether implementation of the proposed rule will have an adverse economic effect on small business as provided by the Oklahoma Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act:There are no anticipated adverse effects on small business as provided by the Oklahoma Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act.

H.An explanation of the measures the Agency has taken to minimize compliance costs and a determination whether there are less costly or nonregulatory methods or less intrusive methods for achieving the purpose of the proposed rule:There are no less costly or non-regulatory methods or less intrusive methods for achieving the purpose of the proposed amendments.

I.A determination of the effect of the proposed rule on the public health, safety, and environment and, if the proposed rule is designed to reduce significant risks to the public health, safety, and environment, an explanation of the nature of the risk and to what extent the proposed rule will reduce the risk:Implementation of the proposed rules will reduce health risks for households by clarifying and simplifying rules to facilitate the delivery of benefits and services to persons who are in need.

J.A determination of any detrimental effect on the public health, safety, and environment if the proposed rule is not implemented:If the proposed amendments are not implemented, there may be a detrimental effect on the health of households applying for or receiving SNAP benefits because rules will not be in compliance with certain federal regulations and staff may not process benefits as quickly and accurately as possible.Failure to issue correct benefit amounts may lead to under issuance of client benefits or overpayments the client must repay.

K.The date the rule impact statement was prepared and, if modified, the date modified:Prepared May 29, 2018; modified December 14, 2018.

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