PRINTER'S NO. 671
No. 636 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY SALVATORE, GANNON, VROON, POTT, RASCO, ARTY,
GRUPPO, JACKSON, WILSON, PHILLIPS, SIRIANNI, NOYE, GEIST,
CIVERA, BURD, MICOZZIE, SIEMINSKI, CIMINI, ALDEN, GLADECK,
WESTON, WOGAN, ROCKS AND PERZEL, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
2 act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
3 welfare laws of the Commonwealth," changing the penalty for
4 false statements.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Section 481, act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,
8 No.21), known as the "Public Welfare Code," amended July 15,
9 1976 (P.L.993, No.202), is amended to read:
10 Section 481. False Statements; Penalty.--(a) Any person
11 who, either prior to, or at the time of, or subsequent to the
12 application for assistance, by means of a wilfully false
13 statement of misrepresentation, or by impersonation or other
14 fraudulent means, secures, or attempts to secure, or aids or
15 abets any person in securing assistance, or Federal food stamps,
16 under this article shall be guilty of a [misdemeanor] felony of
17 the third degree, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
18 sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding [one thousand dollars
1 ($1,000)] fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), or to undergo
2 imprisonment not exceeding [one year] seven years, or both, and
3 also shall be sentenced to make restitution of any moneys he has
4 received by reason of any such false statement,
5 misrepresentation, impersonation, or fraudulent means.
6 [(b) Any person who, either prior to or at the time of or
7 subsequent to the application for assistance, by means of a
8 wilfully false statement or misrepresentation, or by
9 impersonation, or other fraudulent means, secures or attempts to
10 secure assistance or Federal food stamps not exceeding three
11 hundred dollars ($300) under this article shall, upon conviction
12 thereof in a summary proceeding, be sentenced to make
13 restitution of such assistance, and to pay a fine of not more
14 than two hundred dollars ($200). When having available
15 sufficient means or the ability to acquire such means, wilfull
16 failure to make restitution and pay the fine imposed shall
17 result in imprisonment not exceeding sixty days.]
18 (c) There shall be a four-year statute of limitations on all
19 offenses under this section.
20 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
B10L67JLW/19810H0636B0671 - 2 -