104 STAT. 3790 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 parable to service provided individuals who are not members of food stamp households, as determined by the Secretary. "(4) Administrative costs incurred in connection with activities under this subsection shall be eligible for reimbursement in accordance with section 16, subject to the limitations in section 16(g). "(5) The Secretary shall periodically inform State agencies of the advantages of using electronic benefit systems to issue benefits in accordance with this subsection in lieu of issuing coupons to households. "(6) This subsection shall not diminish the authority of the Secretary to conduct projects to test automated or electronic benefit delivery systems under section 17(f).". 7 USC 2026. (t)) CONFORMING AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 17(f) is amended by striking "(f)(1)" and inserting "(f)". SEC. 1730. MINIMUM BENEFIT. Section 8(a) (7 U.S.C. 2017(a)) is amended by inserting before the final period ", and shall be adjusted on each October 1 to reflect the percentage change in the cost of the thrifty food plan without regard to the special adjustments under section 3(o) for the 12-month period ending the preceding June, with the result rounded to the nearest $5". SEC. 1731. ISSUANCE OF AGGREGATE ALLOTMENTS. Section 17(a) (7 U.S.C. 2026(a)) is amended— (1) by inserting "(1)" after the subsection designation; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(2) The Secretary may, on application, permit not more than two State agencies to establish procedures that allow households whose monthly food stamp benefits do not exceed $20, at their option, to receive, in lieu of their food stamp benefits for the initial period under section 8 and their regular allotment in following months, and at intervals of up to 3 months thereafter, aggregate allotments not to exceed $60 and covering not more than 3 months' benefits. The allotments shall be provided in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (9) of section 11(e) (except that no household shall begin to receive combined allotments under this section until it has complied with all applicable verification requirements of section 11(e)(3)) and (with respect to the first aggregate allotment so issued) within 40 days of the last coupon issuance.'. SEC. 1732. STATE FLEXIBILITY IN ASSISTING HOUSEHOLDS. Paragraph (3) of section 8(c) (7 U.S.C. 2017(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows: "(3) A State agency— "(A) in the case of a household that is not entitled in the month in which it applies to expedited service under section 11(e)(9), may provide that an eligible household applying after the 15th day of the month shall receive, in lieu of its initial allotment and its regular allotment for the following month, an allotment that is the aggregate of the initial allotment and the first regular allotment, which shall be provided in accordance with paragraph (3) of section 11(e); and "(B) in the case of a household that is entitled in the month in which it applies to expedited service under section ll(e)(9), shall provide that an eligible household applying after the 15th day of
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