§ 3336. Electronic benefit transfer pilot

(a) The Congress finds that:

(1) Electronic benefit transfer (EBT) is a safe, reliable, and economical way to provide benefit payments to individuals who do not have an account at a financial institution.

(2) The designation of financial institutions as financial agents of the Federal Government for EBT is an appropriate and reasonable use of the Secretary’s authority to designate financial agents.

(3) A joint federal-state as a financial agent of the Government, and the offering to the participating states ¹ of the opportunity to contract with the financial agent selected by the Secretary, as described in the Invitation for Expressions of Interest to Acquire EBT Services for the Southern Alliance of States dated March 9, 1995, as amended as of June 30, 1995, July 7, 1995, and August 1, 1995.

(c) The selection and designation of financial agents, the design of the pilot program, and any other matter associated with or related to the EBT pilot described in subsection (b) shall not be subject to judicial review.

(Added Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(f) [title VI, § 664], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–314, 3009–385.)