ISSUANCE OF AGGREGATE ALLOTMENTS.

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.”.