2015 -- H 5104

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LC000404

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE-FRAUD PREVENTION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Messier, McLaughlin, Serpa, Fellela, and Marshall

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2015

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 40-6 of the General Laws entitled "Public Assistance Act" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     40-6-8.1. Electronic benefit transfer cards for supplemental nutrition assistance

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program (SNAP). -- The department shall:

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     (1) Require the use of photo identification on the front of each newly issued and reissued

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electronic benefit transfer card for each cardholder who is over the age of eighteen (18); provided,

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however, that the department shall promulgate regulations to ensure that all authorized users and

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members of the household are able to use an electronic benefit transfer card pursuant to 7 U.S.C.

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2016(h)(9); provided further, that the department shall not require the use of photo identification

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for individuals who are sixty (60) years of age or over, blind, disabled or victims of domestic

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violence; and provided, further, that in developing regulations for authorized users, the

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department shall consult with businesses or vendor associations whose members accept electronic

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benefit transfer cards as a form of payment including, but not limited to, the Rhode Island Food

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Dealers Association and the New England Convenience Store Association; and

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     (2) Include the fraud hotline number and department website on all newly issued

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electronic benefit transfer cards; and

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     (3) Require that any retailer that accepts electronic benefit transfer cards to post the fraud

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hotline number provided by the department; and

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     (4) List on each application and renewal forms items prohibited from purchase with

 

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electronic benefit transfer cards; and

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     (5) Send a notice to any benefit recipient who requests more than three (3) replacement

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electronic benefit transfer cards in a calendar year and monitor future requests for replacement

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cards; provided that the notice shall state that the department has noted an unusual number of

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requests for replacement electronic benefits cards and will be monitoring all future requests for

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replacement cards.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on September 1, 2015.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE-FRAUD PREVENTION

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     This act would require the department of human services to issue electronic benefit

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transfer cards containing a photograph of the cardholder if they are over the age of eighteen (18),

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under the age of sixty (60) and not blind, disabled or victims of domestic violence. This act would

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also require the department to implement certain procedures designed to reduce fraud and abuse.

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     This act would take effect on September 1, 2015.

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