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2013 -- H 5646 | |
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LC01543 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Morgan, Chippendale, Giarrusso, Costa, and Trillo | |
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Date Introduced: February 27, 2013 | |
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Referred To: House Finance | |
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It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
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SECTION 1. Section 40-6-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-6 entitled "Public |
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Assistance Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
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40-6-8. Supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP). -- (a) The department |
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shall have the responsibility to administer the food stamp program for the state in compliance |
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with the provisions of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, 7 U.S.C. section 2011 et |
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seq. The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is and shall be the new title of the |
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program formerly known as the food stamp program. All references in the Rhode Island general |
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laws to food stamps shall be deemed to mean, apply to, refer to, and be interpreted in accordance |
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with the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP). |
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(b) The department is empowered and authorized to submit its plan for food stamps to |
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the federal government or any agency or department of it. The department shall act for the state in |
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any negotiations relative to the submission and approval of a plan, and may make any |
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arrangement or changes in its plan not inconsistent with this chapter which may be required by |
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the Food Stamp Act or the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to it to obtain and retain |
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such approval and to secure for this state the benefits of the provisions of the federal act relating |
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to food stamps. The department shall make reports to the federal government or any agency or |
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department of it in the form and nature required by it, and in all respects comply with any request |
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or direction of the federal government or any agency or department of it, which may be necessary |
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to assure the correctness and verification of the reports. |
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(c) The department is authorized and directed to pay one hundred percent (100%) of the |
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state's share of the administrative cost involved in the operation of the food stamp program. |
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(d) No person shall be ineligible for food stamp benefits due solely to the restricted |
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eligibility rules otherwise imposed by section 115(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work |
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Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Laws No. 104-193), 21 U.S.C. section |
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862a(a)(2), and as this section may hereafter be amended. |
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(e) Each recipient of food stamp benefits shall present photo identification when using an |
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EBT card, and each retailer shall request and inspect such photo identification at each transaction |
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to insure that the individual presenting the EBT card is the person identified by the photo |
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identification. Failure to request such photo identification and perform such verification of |
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identity shall result in the suspension of the retailer's privilege of accepting EBT cards for |
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payment of any transactions for a period of one month for each offense. The department is |
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authorized to promulgate regulations implementing the provisions of this subsection consistent |
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herewith. The penalty provided in this subsection shall be in addition to the penalties provided in |
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section 40-6-16, and a successful prosecution under that section shall not be a necessary |
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precedent for the penalty provided herein. |
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC01543 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
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BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
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OF | |
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A N A C T | |
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RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT | |
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This act would require retailers to examine photo identification to verify that a buyer |
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presenting an EBT card ("food stamps") is in fact the person entitled to use the card. It further |
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provides that a retailer who neglects to perform such verification shall be suspended from the |
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program for one month. |
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This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC01543 | |
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