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Page 2 of 8 WAIVER SUMMARY COLORADO SNAP FOOD RESTRICTION WAIVER DEMONSTRATION PROJECT The Colorado SNAP Food Restriction Waiver Demonstration Project (the Project) is approved in accordance with the requirements to operate demonstration projects under Section 17 [7 U.S.C. 2026] (b)(1)(B)(i), and Section 17 [7 U.S.C. 2026] (b)(1)(B)(ii) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended (the Act). WAIVERS OF THE ACT: Section 3(k)(1) of the Act defines “Food” for SNAP as “any food or food product for home consumption…” The definition goes on to define items excepted from this definition. These “except[ed]” items cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits. FNS is waiving this section to allow the State to modify the list food items that can be excepted from the definition of “food” items. Items that are not defined as “food” cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits at SNAP-authorized retailers in Colorado. Specifically, the State amends the definition’s language of “any food or food product for home consumption except…” to include as an exception, and therefore be ineligible for purchase with SNAP, “soft drinks”. WAIVERS OF SNAP REGULATIONS: 7 CFR 271.2 defines “Eligible foods” for SNAP as “any food or food product intended for human consumption…” The definition goes on to define items excepted from this definition. These “except[ed]” items cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits. FNS is waiving this provision of the regulations to allow the State to modify the list of items that can be excepted from the definition of “Eligible foods”. Items that are not defined as “Eligible foods” cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits at SNAP-authorized retailers in Colorado. Specifically, the State amends the definition’s language of “any food or food product for home consumption except…” to include as an exception, and therefore be ineligible for purchase with SNAP, “soft drinks”. The State will communicate this change to all existing and newly authorized SNAP households and retailers during the Project. IMPLEMENTATION Eligibility: This Project will apply to the entire Colorado SNAP population (100 percent of the SNAP caseload). Opt-Out: No SNAP household in Colorado may opt out of the SNAP eligible food restrictions project. The purpose of the Project is to evaluate the impact of excluding “soft drinks” from eligible purchases under SNAP on participant’s consumption of these products. As part of the evaluation of the Project the State is developing key metrics and data collection methods including, but not limited to, surveys and interviews. SNAP households’ participation in these evaluation and data collection methods is voluntary, and any household may opt into or out of the corresponding evaluation tools. Alternative Procedures: Colorado’s proposed alternative procedure is to modify the list of items that can be excepted from the definition of “Eligible foods”. Items that are not defined as