Hunger Relief Act of 1984

Hunger Relief Act of 1984 - Title I: Food Stamp and Related Provisions - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to make homeless persons eligible to participate in the food stamp program (program). Requires State agencies to develop related certification and issuance procedures.

Increases the cost of the thrifty food plan to the full cost of the plan as of June 30, 1983.

Revises the definition of "disabled" to include certain persons receiving benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act or persons receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disabled benefits.

Makes households each of whose members receive SSI or Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) categorically eligible for program participation. States that denial of eligibility or termination of benefits from such programs can not be a basis for denial of food stamp eligibility or termination of benefits.

Excludes loan origination fees and insurance premiums from program "income."

Increases the earned income deduction from 18 to 20 percent. Separates (presently combined) dependent care and excess shelter expense deductions. Provides for an educational deduction.

Grants States the option of calculating income either prospectively or retrospectively.

Increases the resources limitation from $1500 to $2500, and from $3000 to $3500 for the elderly and disabled.

Increases the threshhold for accounting a vehicle's value against resources from $4500 to $5500.

Permits States to stagger coupon issuance.

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to send Food Stamp Disaster Task Force members to oversee the program in the event of a natural disaster.

Directs State agencies to periodically assess the need to keep food stamp offices open during weekend or evening hours.

Requires the Secretary to encourage State agencies to disseminate program information. Provides administrative matching funds.

Directs State agencies to implement job search activities. Obligates $50,000,000 beginning with FY 1985 for such costs, and provides for 50 percent reimbursement for State expenses: (1) in excess of such $50,000,000; and (2) for participant reimbursement. Requires the Secretary to monitor such programs.

Establishes a four-year (FY 1985 through 1989) rural Alaskan food assistance pilot program. Sets forth program provisions. Requires program reports to the House and Senate Agriculture committees by March 1, 1988, and 1989, respectively.

Requires the Secretary to issue rural Alaskan thrifty food plan adjustment regulations within ten days.

Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to permit local programs to provide supplemental commodities to the elderly under terms prescribed by the Secretary. Prohibits any resulting reduction in assistance to women, infants, and children (WIC program).

Authorizes FY 1985 and 1986 Federal Emergency Management Agency appropriations for an emergency food program. Requires the Director of such Agency to constitute a national board to administer such program. Authorizes the Commodity Credit Corporation to purchase and deliver commodities for such program.

Title II: Nutrition Monitoring - Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement by October 1, 1985, a continuous food consumption and expenditures survey of a representative sample of low-income persons in the United States; (2) conduct, beginning with FY 1986, a survey of a supplemental representative sample of at least one low-income subgroup; and (3) submit an interim report by April 1, 1986, and annual reports thereafter to specified congressional committees.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide States with technical assistance to establish nutrition monitoring systems; (2) encourage research on standards and technologies for nutrition monitoring; and (3) maintain and update the Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data base.

Title III: Nutrition and Consumer Education - Directs the Secretary to provide States with technical and grant assistance for low-income consumer education programs. Administers such programs through the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. Requires annual program reports to specified congressional committees.

Sets forth State program requirements.

Authorizes FY 1985 through 1989 appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to set aside specified amounts for use in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Title IV: School Lunch and Child Nutrition Amendments - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the National School Lunch Act to reduce the students' cost of a reduced price lunch from 40 cents to 25 cents, and of a reduced price breakfast from 30 cents to 15 cents.

Increases reduced meal income eligibility limits from 185 percent to 195 percent of the poverty level.

Provides an additional six cents per breakfast to increase the nutritional quality of such program. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate related nutritional improvement regulations.

Raises the program tuition limit for private schools from $1500 to $2500. Requires annual inflation adjustments.

Increases the number of reimbursable meals and snacks under the child care food program.

Increases FY 1984 authorization of appropriations for nutrition education and training.

Excludes certain medical expenses from household income for program eligibility purposes.

Eliminates the requirement that free meal eligibility be the same as that required for food stamp eligibility.

Makes kindergartens in specified schools eligible for the special milk program.

Makes permanent authorizations of appropriations for: (1) the WIC program; (2) State administrative expenses; (3) nutrition education and training; (4) the childrens' summer food and service program; and (5) the commodity distribution program.

Title V: Older Americans Act Amendments - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize FY 1985 through 1987 appropriations for: (1) congregate feeding; (2) home delivered meals; and (3) surplus commodities.