REVIEW OF MAJOR CHANGES IN PROGRAM DESIGN.

SEC. 4116. REVIEW OF MAJOR CHANGES IN PROGRAM DESIGN. Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended by striking the section enumerator and heading and subsection (a) and inserting the following:“SEC. 11. ADMINISTRATION.“(a) State Responsibility.—“(1) In general.—The State agency of each participating State shall have responsibility for certifying applicant households and issuing EBT cards.“(2) Local administration.—The responsibility of the agency of the State government shall not be affected by whether the program is operated on a State-administered or county-administered basis, as provided under section 3(t)(1).“(3) Records.—“(A) In general.—Each State agency shall keep such records as may be necessary to determine whether the program is being conducted in compliance with this Act (including regulations issued under this Act).“(B) Inspection and audit.—Records described in subparagraph (A) shall—“(i) be available for inspection and audit at any reasonable time;“(ii) subject to subsection (e)(8), be available for review in any action filed by a household to enforce 122 STAT. 1111 any provision of this Act (including regulations issued under this Act); and“(iii) be preserved for such period of not less than 3 years as may be specified in regulations.“(4) Review of major changes in program design.—“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall develop standards for identifying major changes in the operations of a State agency, including—“(i) large or substantially-increased numbers of low-income households that do not live in reasonable proximity to an office performing the major functions described in subsection (e);“(ii) substantial increases in reliance on automated systems for the performance of responsibilities previously performed by personnel described in subsection (e)(6)(B);“(iii) changes that potentially increase the difficulty of reporting information under subsection (e) or section 6(c); and“(iv) changes that may disproportionately increase the burdens on any of the types of households described in subsection (e)(2)(A).“(B) Notification.—If a State agency implements a major change in operations, the State agency shall—“(i) notify the Secretary; and“(ii) collect such information as the Secretary shall require to identify and correct any adverse effects on program integrity or access, including access by any of the types of households described in subsection (e)(2)(A).” .