116 STAT. 310 PUBLIC LAW 107-171—MAY 13, 2002 (B) describes, for each State agency described in subparagraph (A), how responsibihties are divided among the various vendors; (4) with respect to any State in which an EBT system is not operational throughout the State as of October 1, 2002— (A) provides an explanation of the reasons why an EBT system is not operational throughout the State; (B) describes how the reasons are being addressed; and (C) specifies the expected date of operation of an EBT system throughout the State; (5) provides a description of— (A) the issues faced by any State agency that has awarded a second EBT-system contract in the 2-year period preceding the date of the report; and (B) the steps that the State agency has taken to address those issues; (6) provides a description of— (A) the issues faced by any State agency that will award a second EBT-system contract within the 2-year period beginning on the date of the report; and (B) strategies that the State agency is considering to address those issues; (7) describes initiatives being considered or taken by the Department of Agriculture, food retailers, EBT-system vendors, and client advocates to address any outstanding issues with respect to EBT systems; and (8) examines areas of potential advances in electronic benefit delivery in the 5- to 10-year period beginning on the date of the report, including— (A) access to EBT systems at farmers' markets; (B) increased use of transaction data from EBT systems to identify and prosecute fraud; and (C) fostering of increased competition among EBT- system vendors to ensure cost containment and optimal service. SEC. 4112. ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES FOR RESIDENTS OF CERTAIN GROUP FACILITIES. (a) IN GENERAL. —Section 8 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2017) is amended by adding at the end the following: "(f) ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES FOR RESIDENTS OF CERTAIN GROUP FACILITIES.— "(1) IN GENERAL. — "(A) APPLICABILITY. — "(i) IN GENERAL.— Subject to clause (ii), at the option of the State agency, allotments for residents of any facility described in subparagraph (B), (C), (D), or (E) of section 3(i)(5) (referred to in this subsection as a 'covered facility') miy be determined and issued under this paragraph in lieu of subsection (a). "(ii) LIMITATION. —Unless the Secretary authorizes implementation of this paragraph in all States under paragraph (3), clause (i) shall apply only to residents of covered facilities participating in a pilot project under paragraph (2),
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