text: TITLE I--RETAILER INTEGRITY
  
                authority to establish authorization periods
  
      Sec. 101. Section 9(a)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
  2018(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
  ``The Secretary is authorized to issue regulations establishing 
  specific time periods during which authorization to accept and redeem 
  coupons under the Food Stamp Program shall be valid.''.
  
   specific period for prohibiting participation of stores based on lack 
                           of business integrity
  
      Sec. 102. Section 9(a)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
  2018(a)(1)), as previously amended by this Act, is amended by adding at 
  the end thereof the following new sentences: ``The Secretary is 
  authorized to issue regulations establishing specific time periods 
  during which a retail food store or wholesale food concern that has an 
  application for approval to accept and redeem coupons denied or that 
  has such an approval withdrawn on the basis of business integrity and 
  reputation cannot submit a new application for approval. Such periods 
  shall reflect the severity of business integrity infractions that are 
  the basis of such denials or withdrawals.''.
  
          information for verifying eligibility for authorization
  
      Sec. 103. Section 9(c) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
  2018(c)) is amended by--
              (1) inserting after ``submit information'' in the first 
          sentence the following: ``, which may include relevant income 
          and sales tax filing documents,''; and
              (2) inserting after the first sentence the following new 
          sentence: ``The regulations may require retail food stores and 
          wholesale food concerns to provide written authorization for 
          the Secretary to verify all relevant tax filings with 
          appropriate agencies and to obtain corroborating documentation 
          from other sources in order that the accuracy of information 
          provided by such stores and concerns may be verified.''.
  
    waiting period for stores that initially fail to meet authorization 
                                  criteria
  
      Sec. 104. Section 9(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
  2018(d)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
  sentence: ``Regulations issued pursuant to this Act shall prohibit a 
  retail food store or wholesale food concern that has an application for 
  approval to accept and redeem coupons denied because it does not meet 
  criteria for approval established by the Secretary in regulations from 
  submitting a new application for six months from the date of such 
  denial.''.
  
                bases for suspensions and disqualifications
  
      Sec. 105. Section 12(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
  2021(a)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
  sentence: ``Regulations issued pursuant to this Act shall provide 
  criteria for the finding of violations and the suspension or 
  disqualification of a retail food store or wholesale food concern on 
  the basis of evidence which may include, but is not limited to, facts 
  established through on-site investigations, inconsistent redemption 
  data or evidence obtained through transaction reports under electronic 
  benefit transfer systems.''.
  
    authority to suspend stores violating program requirements pending 
                     administrative and judicial review
  
      Sec. 106. (a) Section 12(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
  2021(a)), as previously amended by this Act, is amended by adding at 
  the end thereof the following new sentences: ``Such regulations may 
  establish criteria under which the authorization of a retail food store 
  or wholesale food concern to accept and redeem coupons may be suspended 
  at the time such store or concern is initially found to have committed 
  violations of program requirements. Such suspension may coincide with 
  the period of a review as provided in section 14 of this Act. The 
  Secretary shall not be liable for the value of any sales lost during 
  any suspension or disqualification period.''.
      (b) Section 14(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2023(a)) 
  is amended by--
              (1) inserting in the first sentence immediately before 
          ``disqualified or subjected'' the word ``suspended,'';
              (2) inserting immediately before the period at the end of 
          the fifth sentence ``: Provided, That notwithstanding any other 
          provision of law, in the case of the suspension of a retail 
          food store or wholesale food concern pursuant to section 12(a) 
          of this Act, such suspension shall remain in effect pending any 
          administrative or judicial review of the proposed 
          disqualification action and the period of suspension shall be 
          deemed a part of any period of disqualification which is 
          imposed.''; and
              (3) striking the last sentence.
  
  disqualification of retailers who are disqualified from the wic program
  
      Sec. 107. Section 12 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2021) 
  is amended by adding the following new subsection:
      ``(g) The Secretary shall issue regulations providing criteria for 
  the disqualification of approved retail food stores and wholesale food 
  concerns that are otherwise disqualified from accepting benefits under 
  the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and 
  Children (WIC) authorized under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act 
  of 1966. Such disqualification (1) shall be for the same period as the 
  disqualification from the WIC Program, (2) may begin at a later date, 
  and (3) notwithstanding the provisions of section 14 of this Act, shall 
  not be subject to administrative or judicial review.''.
  
    permanent debarment of retailers who intentionally submit falsified 
                                applications
  
      Sec. 108. Section 12 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2021) 
  is amended by adding the following new subsection:
      ``(h) The Secretary shall issue regulations providing for the 
  permanent disqualification of a retail food store or wholesale food 
  concern that is determined to have knowingly submitted an application 
  for approval to accept and redeem coupons which contains false 
  information about one or more substantive matters which were the basis 
  for providing approval. Any disqualification imposed under this 
  subsection shall be subject to administrative and judicial review 
  pursuant to section 14 of this Act but such disqualification shall 
  remain in effect pending such review.''.
  
  expanded civil and criminal forfeiture for violations of the food stamp 
                                    act
  
      Sec. 109. (a) Forfeiture of Items Exchanged in Food Stamp 
  Trafficking.--Section 15(g) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
  2024(g)) is amended by striking ``or intended to be furnished.''
      (b) Civil and Criminal Forfeiture.--Section 15 of the Food Stamp 
  Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2024)) is amended by adding the following new 
  subsection:
      ``(h)(1) Civil Forfeiture for Food Stamp Benefit Violations.--
              ``(A) Any food stamp benefits and any property, real or 
          personal--
                      ``(i) constituting, derived from, or traceable to 
                  any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly from, or
                      ``(ii) used, or intended to be used, to commit, or 
                  to facilitate,
          the commission of a violation of subsection (b) or subsection 
          (c) of this section involving food stamp benefits having an 
          aggregate value of not less than $5,000, shall be subject to 
          forfeiture to the United States.
              ``(B) The provisions of chapter 46 of title 18, relating to 
          civil forfeitures shall extend to a seizure or forfeiture under 
          this subsection, insofar as applicable and not inconsistent 
          with the provisions of this subsection.
      ``(2) Criminal Forfeiture for Food Stamp Benefit Violations.--
              ``(A)(i) Any person convicted of violating subsection (b) 
          or subsection (c) of this section involving food stamp benefits 
          having an aggregate value of not less than $5,000, shall 
          forfeit to the United States, irrespective of any State law--
                      ``(I) any food stamp benefits and any property 
                  constituting, or derived from, or traceable to any 
                  proceeds such person obtained directly or indirectly as 
                  a result of such violation; and
                      ``(II) any food stamp benefits and any of such 
                  person's property used, or intended to be used, in any 
                  manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the 
                  commission of such violation.
              ``(ii) In imposing sentence on such person, the court shall 
          order that the person forfeit to the United States all property 
          described in this subsection.
              ``(B) All food stamp benefits and any property subject to 
          forfeiture under this subsection, any seizure and disposition 
          thereof, and any administrative or judicial proceeding relating 
          thereto, shall be governed by subsections (b), (c), (e), and 
          (g) through (p) of section 413 of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse 
          Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 853), insofar as 
          applicable and not inconsistent with the provisions of this 
          subsection.
      ``(3) This subsection shall not apply to property specified in 
  subsection (g) of this section.
      ``(4) The Secretary may prescribe such rules and regulations as may 
  be necessary to carry out this subsection.''.
  
      expanded authority for sharing information provided by retailers
  
      Sec. 110. (a) Section 205(c)(2)(C)(iii) of the Social Security Act 
  (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)(iii)) (as amended by section 316(a) of the 
  Social Security Administrative Reform Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-296; 
  108 Stat. 1464) is amended by--
              (1) inserting in the first sentence of subclause (II) 
          immediately after ``instrumentality of the United States'' the 
          following: ``, or State government officers and employees with 
          law enforcement or investigative responsibilities, or State 
          agencies that have the responsibility for administering the 
          Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and 
          Children (WIC)'';
              (2) inserting in the last sentence of subclause (II) 
          immediately after ``other Federal'' the words ``or State''; and
              (3) inserting ``or a State'' in subclause (III) immediately 
          after ``United States''.
      (b) Section 6109(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 
  U.S.C. 6109(f)(2)) (as added by section 316(b) of the Social Security 
  Administrative Reform Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-296; 108 Stat. 1464) 
  is amended by--
              (1) inserting in subparagraph (A) immediately after 
          ``instrumentality of the United States'' the following: ``, or 
          State government officers and employees with law enforcement or 
          investigative responsibilities, or State agencies that have the 
          responsibility for administering the Special Supplemental 
          Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)'';
              (2) inserting in the last sentence of subparagraph (A) 
          immediately following ``other Federal'' the words ``or State''; 
          and
              (3) inserting ``or a State'' in subparagraph (B) 
          immediately after ``United States''.
  
                     expanded definition of ``coupon''
  
      Sec. 111. Section 3(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
  2012(d)) is amended by striking ``or type of certificate'' and 
  inserting in lieu thereof ``type of certificate, authorization cards, 
  cash or checks issued in lieu of coupons or access devices, including, 
  but not limited to, electronic benefit transfer cards and personal 
  identification numbers''.
  
                       TITLE II--RECIPIENT INTEGRITY
  
      doubled penalties for violating food stamp program requirements
  
      Sec. 201. Section 6(b)(1) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
  2015(b)(1)) is amended by--
              (1) striking in clause (i) ``six months'' and inserting in 
          lieu thereof ``1 year''; and
              (2) striking in clause (ii) ``1 year'' and inserting in 
          lieu thereof ``2 years''.
  
                    mandatory claims collection methods
  
      Sec. 202. (a) Section 11(e)(8) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 
  U.S.C. 2020(e)(8)) is amended by inserting before the semi-colon at the 
  end thereof the following: ``or refunds of Federal taxes as authorized 
  pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3720A''.
      (b) Section 13(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2022(d)) 
  is amended by--
              (1) striking ``may'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
          ``shall''; and
              (2) inserting before the period at the end thereof the 
          following: ``or refunds of Federal taxes as authorized pursuant 
          to 31 U.S.C. 3720A''.
      (c) Section 6103(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 
  6103(1)) is amended by--
              (1) striking ``officers and employees'' in paragraph 
          (10)(A) and inserting in lieu thereof ``officers, employees or 
          agents, including State agencies''; and
              (2) striking ``officers and employees'' in paragraph 
          (10)(B) and inserting in lieu thereof ``officers, employees or 
          agents, including State agencies''.
      (d) The provisions of this section shall be effective October 1, 
  1995.
  
               TITLE III--IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVE DATES
  
      Sec. 301. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions 
  of this Act shall become effective and be implemented on the date of 
  enactment.
target: TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
       Title I:  Retailer Integrity 
       Title II:  Recipient Integrity 
       Title III:  Implementation and Effective Dates 
  Title I:  Retailer Integrity
   - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish specific time periods for:  (1) retail food stores and wholesale food concerns (stores) to apply for food stamp program (program) participation; and (2) prohibition of program participation based on lack of business integrity. 
  (Sec. 103) Includes income and sales tax information among the types of eligibility verification information which may be requested. 
  (Sec. 104) Establishes a six-month reapplication waiting period for a store that does not meet participation requirements. 
  (Sec. 106) Authorizes suspension of a store pending administrative and judicial review.  (States that the Secretary shall not be liable for lost sales during such period.) 
  (Sec. 107) Provides for disqualification of a store that is disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). 
  (Sec. 108) Provides for permanent disqualification of a store that knowingly submits a falsified application. 
  (Sec. 109) Expands civil and criminal forfeiture for specified violations of the Act. 
  (Sec. 110) Amends the Social Security Act as amended by the Social Security Administrative Reform Act of 1994, and the Internal Revenue Code as added to by the Social Security Administrative Reform Act of 1994, to authorize information sharing with State WIC enforcement instrumentalities. 
  (Sec. 111) Amends the Act to expand the definition of "coupon." 
  Title II:  Recipient Integrity
   - Amends the Act to increase ineligibility penalties for program violations. 
  (Sec. 202) Makes the collection of overissuance of coupons from Federal pay or Federal tax refunds (as authorized by this section) mandatory. 
  Title III:  Implementation and Effective Dates
   - Makes the provisions of this Act effective upon enactment unless otherwise provided for.
feat_title: Entitled "Food Stamp Program Integrity Act of 1995".