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Pennsylvania State Senate
04/19/2024 07:36 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20130&cosponId=14280
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 12, 2014 10:01 AM
From: Senator Shirley M. Kitchen
To: All Senate members
Subject: Resolution - Requesting the Auditor General to Examine Certain Programs Administered by the Department of Public Welfare Addressing Fraud, Waste and Abuse
 
Please join me in introducing a resolution requesting a study by the Auditor General to examine certain programs administered by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) addressing fraud, waste and abuse, and to report its findings to the General Assembly by December 31, 2014.

The mission of DPW is to improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania’s individuals and families. In order to accomplish its mission, DPW has established several programs and services to provide assistance to those individuals in need due to poverty or other circumstances, in particular, children, the elderly and individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

At times, instances of fraud, waste or abuse by individuals who receive benefits have occurred when it appears they may not be eligible based on income and need. There has been an interest to reduce or eliminate programs which serve a large number of individuals who do qualify for various benefits. However, when considering major changes to such programs, there needs to be reliable, concrete, data-driven information to substantiate these changes.

Therefore, I’m requesting a study by the Auditor General to evaluate the following programs administered by DPW and to report its findings to the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2014:
  1. Programs that provide Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to determine if there have been large numbers of fraud, waste and abuse in the receipt of these benefits or whether there has been misuse of the cards by means of illegal exchange in the cards for goods and services not intended for purchase under the program.
  2. Programs that provide any public benefits which affords a motor vehicle exception and whether any individuals own motor vehicles having a value in excess of $35,000.
  3. Provisions of all programs administered by DPW that provide penalties for fraud, waste and abuse in order to establish or maintain eligibility, a description of the penalties and any action that has been taken by the Inspector General to ensure investigation and prosecution under these provisions.
I hope you will join me in sponsoring this important resolution.