Capitalized terms that are used herein but not defined herein will have the meaning as set forth in the Agreement.
If elected by Merchant on the Application, Merchant wishes to purchase from Processor and Member Bank and Processor and Member Bank wish to sell to Merchant certain services necessary for the authorization, processing and settlement of point of sale EBT transactions submitted to the EBT Networks and which transactions are initiated through Merchant in connection with the authorization, providing and/or issuance of United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services (“FNS”) food stamp benefits (“FS Benefits”) and/or Temporary Assistance to Needed Families (“TANF”) benefits and/or other government delivered cash assistance benefits (“Cash Benefits” with FS Benefits, “Benefits”) to benefit recipients in the EBT Project areas (“Recipients”) supported by Processor and Member Bank through the applicable gateway through the use of a State- issued Benefit Security Card (“EBT Card”) issued by a state participating in the EBT Project and benefit recipients of other states not within the Project area (“Other Recipients”). Merchant agrees to provide and/or issue Benefits at each of its locations to the Recipient as hereinafter provided and in accordance with the procedures specified by Processor and/or Member Bank, the applicable EBT Network or State’s EBT rules and regulations as amended from time to time and all applicable laws governing the issuance and/or provision of Benefits. Merchant will provide each Recipient a receipt for each Benefit issuance transaction undertaken by Merchant. Merchant will be solely responsible for the issuance of Benefits other than in accordance with authorizations received from us.
Merchant will provide Processor, upon execution of this Agreement, with a complete list to all of its locations in the continental United States where Merchant desires to accept EBT Cards, with correct and complete mailing addresses and complete telephone numbers, in location number order. Merchant will provide an updated list at Processor’s request or as changes occur. All locations from which Merchant accepts EBT Cards will be subject to this Agreement and will be included on the lists provided from time to time by Merchant.
Merchant will honor any valid EBT Card properly tendered for use when it is presented with a valid personal identification number (PIN). Merchant will not engage in acceptance practices or procedures that discourage the use of any valid EBT Card. Merchant will not complete any point-of-sale EBT Card transaction that has not been authorized. Merchant will ensure that if Recipient enters a valid PIN, Merchant will not require another form of identification from Recipient unless Merchant has grounds to suspect fraud.
Merchant will provide and/or issue Benefits to Recipients, in accordance with the policies and Rules in the amount authorized through Merchant’s point-of- sale terminal, with PIN Pad and printer (“Equipment”), upon presentation by Recipient of an EBT Card and Recipient entry of a valid PIN. Merchant agrees that in the event of failure of the Equipment to print Benefit issuance information as approved and validated as a legitimate transaction, Merchant will comply with Processor’s and Member Bank’s procedures and rules for authorization of Benefits in such instance. If Merchant has agreed to Cash Benefits, Merchant agrees to maintain adequate cash on hand to issue and/or provide confirmed Cash Benefits and will issue and/or provide Cash Benefits to Recipients in the same manner and to the same extent cash is provided to Merchant’s other customers. Merchant will not require, and will not in the advertising suggest, that any Recipient must purchase goods or services at its facilities as a condition to the issuance and/or provision of Cash Benefits to such Recipient, unless such condition applies to other customers as well. Merchant will not designate special checkout lanes restricted to use by Recipients, provided that if Merchant designates special checkout lanes for electronic debit, or credit cards and/or other payment methods such as checks or other than cash, Recipients may be directed to such lanes so long as other customers are directed there as well.
If Merchant supports the issuance and/or provision of FS Benefits through manual benefit issuance procedures during the period of time when normal benefit issuance is not possible, then the following limitations will apply to manual issuance and/or provision of FS Benefits by Merchant:
Merchant agrees to comply with all applicable laws and rules in the performance of its obligations under this Schedule I and the Agreement., including without limitation, laws pertaining to delivery of goods and service to Benefit Recipients and Benefit Recipient confidentiality, and the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Energy Policy and Conservation Act, Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and regulations issued by the Department of Agriculture pertaining to Food Stamp Program regulation.
Merchant agrees to comply with Quest Operating Rules issued by the National Automated Clearing House Association (“NACHA”) as approved by FNS or the Federal Reserve Bank and such other Rules and regulations as may be applicable to the providing and/or issuance of Benefits by Merchant hereunder. Merchant agrees to comply with all additional procedures specified by the State or EBT Networks, regarding lost EBT Cards, forgotten PINs, discrepancies in Benefits authorized and similar matters.
Merchant will not accept any EBT Card for any purpose other than the providing and/or issuance of Benefits, including without limitation as security for repayment of any Recipient obligation to Merchant. In the event of any violation of this provision, Merchant will be obligated to reimburse the State for any Benefits unlawfully received by either Recipient or Merchant.
Merchant agrees to separately maintain records of EBT transactions as may be reasonably requested or required by the State or its designated agent and to promptly make such records available for audit upon request to representatives of the State or its designated agent, or other authorized State or Federal government agency during normal business hours.
To assure compliance with this Agreement, the State, its designated agent, or other authorized State or Federal governmental agency, will at all times have the right to enter, during normal business hours, Merchant’s premise to inspect or evaluate any work performed under this Agreement, or to obtain any other information required to be provided by Merchant or otherwise related to this Schedule I or the Agreement.
Merchant agrees to maintain and preserve all financial records or documentation arising hereunder during the course of this Agreement and for a period of three (3) years following Benefit provision and/or issuance, or for such additional period as applicable regulations or law may require. Records involving matters in litigation will be kept for a period of not less than five (5) years following the termination of the litigation.
If Merchant provides or issues FS Benefits under this Agreement, Merchant represents and warrants to Processor and Member Bank that Merchant is a FNS authorized retailer and Merchant is not currently disqualified or withdrawn from redeeming food stamps or otherwise disqualified or withdrawn by FNS. Merchant agrees to secure and maintain at its own expense all necessary licenses, permits, franchises, or other authorities required to lawfully effect the providing and/or issuance and distribution of Benefits under this Schedule I and the Agreement, including without limitation, any applicable franchise tax certificate and non-governmental contractor’s certificate, and covenants that Merchant will not issue Benefits at any time during which Merchant is not in compliance with the requirements of any applicable law.
Merchant’s authority to issue Benefits may be suspended or terminated by the State or its agents or contractors, in their sole discretion, effective upon delivery of a notice or suspension or termination specifying the reasons for such suspension or termination if there will be (i) any suspension, injunction, cessation, or termination of Processor’s or Member Bank’s ability to provide EBT processing services; or (ii) failure by Merchant, upon not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice, to cure any breach by Merchant of the provisions of these terms and conditions, including without limitation, Merchant’s (a) failure to support the issuance of Benefits during its normal business hours consistent with Merchant’s normal business practices, (b) failure to comply with issuance procedures, (c) impermissible acceptance of an EBT card, or (d) disqualification or withdrawal of the FS program. Processor and/or Member Bank may terminate this Schedule I if Merchant is disqualified or withdrawn from the Benefit issuance program(s) indicated on the Merchant Application.
If Merchant provides and/or issue EBT Benefits in more than one State pursuant to this Schedule I and the Agreement, the laws of the State in which the Benefits were issued will apply to information arising out of that transaction. Processor and Member Bank will charge Merchant a fee for each EBT Card transaction as set forth on the Merchant Application regardless of whether said transaction is approved, declined or determined invalid. Merchant acknowledges that the fees set forth on the Merchant Application are based upon certain EBT Network, State, gateway and access fees currently in effect, and upon certain sponsorship arrangements made by us with an EBT Network for Merchant’s sponsorship needed to participate in the EBT project and to certain other States not within the EBT Project area. Merchant agrees that should any State or U.S. government entity or any of a State’s or U.S. government’s designated agents charge a fee or assess any charges or increase any fees on or in connection with EBT Card transactions, then Processor and Member Bank will have the right to adjust its fees. Merchant agrees to pay for all gateway and access fees, EBT Network fees, setup, adjustment or chargeback fees which may be imposed by Processor or Member Bank, an EBT Network or a State participating in the EBT Project. Processor and Member Bank will charge Merchant the daily/ monthly fees as set forth on the Merchant Application for the services to be provided pursuant to this Schedule I and such amounts will be payable as provided for in Section 6 of the Agreement. Said fees may be collected hereunder in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Schedule I, the Agreement and the Merchant Application.
