Hunger Prevention Act of 1988

Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 - Title I: Emergency Hunger Prevention - Subtitle A: Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program - Amends the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to state that the dairy export incentive program and the export sales of dairy products program shall not be operated in a way that will reduce the dairy products available for the temporary emergency food assistance program (TEFAP) or any other domestic feeding program.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish procedures for non-Federal commodity contributions to Federal food assistance programs. Authorizes States and feeding organizations to use TEFAP funds, equipment, and facilities to store, handle, and distribute such commodity contributions. Permits States to use up to three percent of TEFAP funds for food assistance information programs. Directs State and local agencies to continue to use volunteers and donated food stuffs in food distribution programs.

Extends TEFAP, including storage and distribution authorizations, through FY 1990.

Increases the amount of TEFAP funds for emergency feeding organizations.

Extends TEFAP commodity estimate requirements through FY 1990.

Directs the Secretary, during each of FY 1989 and 1990, to purchase and makes available for food assistance at least $145,000,000 worth of high protein additional commodities. Establishes a State distribution formula based on 60 percent poverty level and 40 percent unemployment. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs States to use TEFAP funds for the costs of distributing additional commodities to emergency feeding organizations, soup kitchens, and other meal sites and charitable organizations.

Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend through FY 1991: (1) the dairy export incentive program; and (2) the export sales of dairy products program.

Subtitle B: Soup Kitchens and Other Emergency Food Aid - Directs the Secretary, during each of FY 1989 through 1991, to purchase and make available to soup kitchens and other meal sites and charitable organizations $40,000,000 of additional commodities. Establishes a State distribution formula based on 60 percent poverty level and 40 percent unemployment. Authorizes appropriations.

Subtitle C: Basic Food Stamp Benefit Levels - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to increase basic food stamp benefit levels as follows: (1) for the period of January 1, 1989, through September 30, 1989, basic benefits would be set at 79 percent of the Department of Agriculture's low-cost food plan; (2) for FY 1990 at 79.5 percent of such plan; and (3) for post-FY 1990 at 80 percent of such plan.

Subtitle D: Commodity Supplemental Food Program - Directs the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to make 7,000,000 pounds of cheese available in each of FY 1989 and 1990 to the commodity supplemental food program.

Title II: Nutrition Improvements - Subtitle A: Food Stamp Act of 1977 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to prohibit parents living with their minor children from applying for food stamps as a "household" separate from their co-residents (even if meals are purchased and prepared separately).

Makes permanent categorical food stamp program (program) eligibility based on eligibility for specified social security programs.

Exempts households with an elderly or disabled member from monthly income tests.

States that: (1) household not required to submit monthly income reports shall have their income calculated on a prospective basis; and (2) households required to submit monthly income reports shall have their income calculated on a retrospective basis, except under specified circumstances.

Repeals the requirement of prior approval by the Secretary for less than monthly income reporting of certain households. Prohibits a state agency from requiring periodic reporting of households: (1) made up entirely of migrant or seasonal farm workers; (2) made up entirely of homeless persons; or (3) with no earned income and in which all adult members are elderly or disabled.

Requires that households reporting monthly be provided with clear and understandable reporting forms.

Provides full program benefits for breaks in certification of 30 days of less.

Permits households subject to benefit prorating to receive an aggregate benefit allotment.

Extends the scope of program information activities.

Amends the Homeless Eligibility Clarification Act to make permanent the authority for homeless persons in shelters to receive food stamps.

Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and National School Lunch Act - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase the school breakfast program reimbursement rate by three cents per meal.

Amends the National School Lunch Act to provide an additional meal or snack to children who attend day care centers which are open more than eight hours a day.

Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to define "homeless individual" for purposes of the special supplemental food program (WIC) as an individual who: (1) lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence; or (2) has a primary nighttime residence that is a publicly or privately operated temporary shelter, an institution providing temporary residence for persons intended to be institutionalized, temporary accommodation in another individual's residence, or a public or private place not normally used as a sleeping accommodation.

Makes homeless individuals eligible for the special supplemental food program. Requires State WIC plans to include homeless outreach programs.

Amends the National School Lunch Act to permit public or private nonprofit higher education institutions participating in the National Youth Sports program and certain private nonprofit organizations to participate in the summer food program.

Title III: Administrative Improvements and Simplification - Subtitle A: Reducing Unnecessary Paperwork - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require State agencies to attempt to conciliate a dispute with a program participant before terminating program benefits. Sets forth specified categories of program ineligibility (income, program violations, status) where such procedure shall not be required.

Directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to assist States to develop simple application forms for food stamps, aid to families with dependent children, and Medicaid.

Requires State agencies to provide applicant households with a statement of required program verification. Bars program denial because of the failure of a person outside the household to cooperate in such verification.

Requires State plans of operation to provide for opportunities to make reports (in person or by telephone) to food stamp offices.

Subtitle B: Assuring Accurate Issuance of Benefits - Requires State agencies to promptly restore improperly denied, terminated, or underissued benefits when a household's loss is discovered through a review procedure.

Authorizes State agencies to provide special training to: (1) certifying personnel relating to households that include members who are self-employed or engaged in farming; and (2) personnel working with volunteer or nonprofit organizations that offer program screening or information services. Requires the Secretary to annually publish instructional materials for such certifying personnel.

Requires State agencies to provide households with a statement describing the household's reporting responsibilities at the time of each certification and recertification.

Subtitle C: Reducing Barriers in rural America - Requires State plans of operation to include a procedure for designating rural project areas with transportation problems as appropriate for certification and coupon issuance by mail.

Requires such plans to provide that a community of more than 5,000 persons that is more than 30 miles from its certification office be visited at least twice a month by a certification officer unless such community is otherwise served in a manner that provides reasonable program access.

Requires the Secretary to set standards for food stamp office closings or relocations which shall seek to minimize the adverse impact on program access, with special emphasis on the needs of rural areas, the elderly, the disabled, and the homeless.

Subtitle D: Eliminating Inequities for Farmers and Others - Continues program benefits to participants who receive pay-outs, including direct cash payments, from other Federal assistance programs.

Permits households with self-employed farming income and irregular expenses to annualize income and expenses.

Excludes from financial resources farm property (land, equipment, or supplies) for a one-year period after a self-employed farmer ceases farming.

Prohibits making a household ineligible for program benefits due to its failure to dispose of a farming asset which would produce no funds in excess of any liens, mortgages, or other security interests, or be contrary to a legal duty.

Subtitle E: Reducing Barriers for the Elderly and Disabled - Amends the definition of "disabled person" for program purposes to include the following benefits if such benefits are conditioned on criteria at least as stringent as those used under the Social Security Act: (1) interim supplemental security income-type benefits; (2) disability-related medical assistance under Medicaid; and (3) disability-based State assistance.

Provides elderly and disabled persons with a simplified procedure for claiming excess medical deductions.

Provides for a coordinated aid to families with dependent children-food stamp application.

Title IV: Family Self-Sufficiency - Excludes from being considered as income for food stamp program purposes: (1) advance earned income tax credit payments; and (2) dependent care reimbursements under an employment and training program. Increases such maximum reimbursements from $160 per household per month to $160 per dependent per month.

Increases the resource limit on automobiles from $4,500 to: (1) $4,700 in FY 1989; (2) $4,900 in FY 1990; (3) $5,150 in FY 1991; (4) $5,400 in FY 1992; and (5) $5,500 in FY 1993.

Includes the following within the definition of "employment and training program": (1) high school or equivalent programs; (2) remedial literacy programs; (3) English-as-a-second-language instructional programs; (4) on-the-job training programs; and (5) job readiness programs.

Provides, with regard to such employment and training programs, that: (1) the Secretary shall issue regulations under which State agencies shall establish conciliation procedures; (2) Federal funds shall not be used to supplant non-Federal funds for existing services; (3) State or local funds for such services shall be maintained at not less than FY 1987 levels; (4) transportation costs up to $100 per participant per month shall be covered; (5) the Secretary shall establish State performance standards based on employment and achievement of self-sufficiency; (6) Indian tribal organizations may conduct programs on reservations, with State program amounts of Federal assistance reduced as specified; and (7) the Secretary shall develop and transmit to the appropriate congressional committees incentive payment proposals.

Title V: Demonstration Projects - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to authorize three-year demonstration project grants in ten States to provide coupons (between ten and 20 dollars' worth) to WIC recipients for use at farmers' markets.

Requires at least 30 percent State matching funds.

Prohibits the use of funds to construct or operate a farmers' market. Limits the use of funds for administrative costs.

Requires: (1) State recipients to make annual reports to the Secretary; and (2) the Secretary to provide the appropriation congressional committees with a project evaluation report within two years after the last grant award.

Authorizes FY 1989 through 1991 appropriations.

Authorizes the Secretary to carry out food bank commodity distribution projects. Requires the Secretary to submit a program report to the appropriate congressional committees by January 3, 1990. Terminates program authority on September 30, 1991. Authorizes FY 1989 through 1991 appropriations.

Directs the Secretary, within 30 days after enactment of this Act but not earlier than October 1, 1988, to conduct a one-State demonstration project to reimburse family or group day care centers for providing an additional meal or supplement in order to determine: (1) if such additional meal or supplement increases child care food program participation; (2) the extent to which meal services increase in such homes; and (3) the nutritional impact of such meals and supplements. Requires the Secretary to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees. Terminates the project not later than 12 months after its initiation.

Title VI: Implementation - Sets forth specified effective dates for provisions of this Act.