Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training

Federal Fiscal Year 2017 State Plan of Operations

Executive Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) revised the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) state plan format for Federal Fiscal Year 2017 (FFY’17). FNS’ stated purpose with the revised format is to obtaineach state’s key SNAP E&T financial and organizational aspects,to facilitate an easier, more efficient FNS plan review and approval process.

The new format includessix new elements and two revised elements. The six new elements are thefollowing:

  • Cover page with authorized signatures from the agency director or Commissioners and fiscal representative;
  • Assurances page with eleven assurance statements;
  • Reporting Measures, for which states are required to provide the following:

Percent of 100 or more participants who obtained employment or successfully completed education or workfare; and

Description of how information for the new reporting measures will be collected (including data source and methodology).

  • Summary of all SNAP E&T contracts with additional detail on contracts receiving more than 10 percent of the overall SNAP E&T budget, and a contractor detail addendum;
  • Indirect cost rate agreement; and
  • Budget narrative.

Note: While FNS is requiring statesto include data and descriptions of how the reporting measures will be collected, federal law does not require statesto submit reporting measuresto FNS until January 1, 2018. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Operational Insights staff submitted commentsto FNS in May 2016,for the Federal Register notice regarding reporting measures. TWC received FNS’response to the comments on July 26, 2016 and is reviewing them now.

The two revised state plan elementsinclude the following:

  • The Workforce Development System is revised to require that states provide target or emerging industries, career pathways, and/or any credentials made available to participants; and
  • The Operating Budget Tableincludes new line items for state and federal direct costs, salary, wages, fringes, travel, etc.

Additionally, it is noted that in FFY’17 TWC will begin a phased-in approach to its FFY’17 expansion project.

FNS is requiring states to provide SNAP eligibility information (i.e., work registrant screening and referral processes for SNAP applicants and recipients) and information on American Indians on Reservations. This informationhas been obtained from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and is included in the plan.

Texas’ SNAP E&T 100 percent funding was reduced for FFY’17. FNS indicated that italso anticipates a reduction in the amount ofFFY’17 ABAWD funding available to Texas.

The plan is due to FNS by August 15, 2016.

Executive Summary FFY17 SNAP ET St Plan (8 09 16)Notebook.docx