(a) The Department of Public Health WIC client screening processes and records shall provide the basis for identifying participants eligible for receipt of vouchers.

(b) Local WIC agencies shall distribute vouchers at designated distribution clinics to participants in the manner specified by the department in the program and procedures guide for distribution clinic staff. Local WIC agency services shall ensure that:

(1) Vouchers are distributed only to participants through verification that the client name and number on the distribution registry provided by the Department of Public Health correspond with the client name and number printed on the WIC identification folder in the possession of the participant.

(2) Each eligible participant is issued five three-dollar vouchers during each distribution as authorized by the department.

(3) The voucher serial numbers issued to the participant correspond to the number in the distribution registry in which the participant signature is affixed.

(4) Each voucher issued and the distribution registry are properly signed by the participant in the presence of local agency staff at the time of distribution.

(5) A proxy is not allowed to act on behalf of a participant, except in the case of a parent or legal guardian acting on behalf of a participant child or infant, or in the case of a husband acting on behalf of his wife.

(6) Each participant is provided a thorough explanation of program guidelines and participant responsibility as outlined by the department.

(7) All CFM/WIC support materials are put into use as outlined by the department.

(8) Accurate and complete records of all related CFM/WIC activities in the possession of a WIC local agency are maintained and retained for a minimum of four years. In the event of litigation, negotiation, or audit findings, the records shall be retained until all issues arising from such actions have been resolved or until the end of the regular four-year period, whichever is later.

(9) All agency records pertaining to this program shall be made available for inspection to representatives of USDA-FNS, the Comptroller General of the United States, the state Auditors of Public Accounts, the department, and the Department of Public Health as necessary, at any time during normal business hours, and as frequently as is deemed necessary for inspection and audit. Confidentiality of personal information shall be maintained as to all program participants at all times.

(P.A. 94-187, S. 3, 12; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 08-13, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 94-187 effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 08-13 amended Subsec. (b)(2) by increasing voucher amount from $2 to $3, effective April 29, 2008.