Sec. 10.54.01.17. Transfer of Certification

A. A local agency shall:

(1) Issue a verification of certification to a participant who:

(a) Is a member of a family in which there is a migrant farm worker; or

(b) Advises the local agency that the participant's family is likely to be relocating outside of Maryland during the certification period;

(2) Ensure that each verification of certification contains the following:

(a) Name of the participant;

(b) Date the certification was performed;

(c) Date the income eligibility was last determined;

(d) Nutritional risk condition of the participant;

(e) Date the certification expires;

(f) Signature and printed or typed name of the local agency official who issued the verification of certification;

(g) The name and address of the certifying local agency; and

(h) An identification number for the verification of certification or some other means of accountability;

(3) Accept a valid verification of certification from a participant of a WIC Program whether within or outside of Maryland; and

(4) Accept the verification of certification or the copy of the State-approved certification form as proof of eligibility for WIC Program benefits until the participant’s certification period expires.

B. A local agency may not:

(1) Issue a verification of certification to an individual placed on the waiting list; or

(2) Deny participation in the Maryland WIC Program to an individual with a valid verification of certification because of a difference between another state’s and Maryland’s eligibility criteria.

C. A local agency may use the verification of certification as verification of income eligibility for the family of a migrant farm worker if the migrant farm worker is currently away from the migrant farm worker’s home jurisdiction, and if the migrant farm worker’s family income has been determined within the last 12 months.

D. A local agency having a waiting list for participation that receives a transferring participant shall place the transferring participant ahead of waiting applicants without regard to priority level.