USB staff updated LEAs that Utah will not participate in the federal Summer EBT program in 2024 but plans to implement it for summer 2025 after state funding was approved.
Tammy Walker (child nutrition presenter) explained the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 established a permanent nationwide Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program beginning in 2024; Utah did not secure the required state match for Summer 2024 and therefore will not participate this year. "The required state funding match for summer 2024 operations was not approved in the state budget, so we will not be participating for summer 24," Walker said. The state did approve funding for Summer 2025, and the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) and Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) will continue planning.
Operational notes: CNP and USB plan to automate data pulls using UCIMS/UTRAC. USB expects to identify a data-pull date (may be May 1 per DWS planning) and will provide updated application templates and consent language so households can opt in to sharing data with DWS. LEAs that want to participate in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) must run direct certification by April 1 to be eligible for school-year 2025 CEP determinations.