The sun bucks program is the summer electronic benefits transfer (summer EBT) program that provides a one-time food benefit to eligible children during designated summer periods following the academic school year. Sun bucks is administered by the department of social and health services and is not bound by the same state or federal rules, regulations, or procedures governing basic food as described in WAC 388-400-0040.

The following definitions apply to this program:

(1) "Compulsory age" means the age children are required by law to attend school; in Washington this is between the ages of eight and 18.

(2) "Direct certification" means a determination that a child is eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals without further application to the national school lunch program due to:

(a) Receiving a benefit from a federal means tested assistance program, including supplemental nutrition assistance program, temporary assistance for needy families, food distribution program on Indian reservations, some medicaid programs; or

(b) Other source eligible categories, including children in foster care, children experiencing homelessness, students enrolled in the migrant education program, and children enrolled in head start or the early childhood education and assistance program.

(3) "Expungement" means removal of benefits due to nonuse after 122 days from the date sun bucks benefits were deposited into the EBT account.

(4) "Free or reduced-price meals" means meals provided to students qualified as eligible by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

(5) "Income eligibility guidelines" means income limits to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals adjusted annually by the US department of agriculture food and nutrition service as required by the national school lunch act.

(6) "Sun bucks application" means an application available to households with potentially eligible children who do not automatically meet streamline certification criteria.

(7) "Sun bucks card" means the unique EBT card that accesses sun bucks food benefits issued to individual eligible children.

(8) "Streamline certified" means a child automatically approved for sun bucks because they meet the following criteria:

(a) A child, regardless of age, who would have access to free or reduced-price school meals through the national school lunch program and school breakfast program during the school year, who:

(i) Is determined by the school to be eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals; or

(ii) Attends a school that operates the community eligibility provision or the provision 2 lunch and breakfast program and identified as eligible for free or reduced-price school meals using direct certification or a free or reduced-price school meals application.

(b) A child who meets compulsory age requirements and resides in a household receiving one of the following public assistance benefits:

(i) Temporary assistance for needy families as described in WAC 388-400-0005;

(ii) State funded assistance as described in WAC 388-400-0010;

(iii) Basic food as described in WAC 388-400-0040; or

(iv) The state funded food assistance program as described in WAC 388-400-0050.

(10) "Summer operational period" means the period between the end of the current school year and the start of the next school year, as determined by the state.