THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY KAUFFMAN, BAKER, BARRAR, BEYER, BOYD, BROOKS, CAUSER, CLYMER, D. COSTA, CUTLER, J. EVANS, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEIST, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HARRIS, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, M. KELLER, KORTZ, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MILLARD, MILLER, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PETRI, PICKETT, PYLE, QUIGLEY, QUINN, REED, REICHLEY, ROAE, SAYLOR, K. SMITH, STERN, TRUE, TURZAI, VULAKOVICH AND WATSON, MARCH 9, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 9, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An

act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public

welfare laws of the Commonwealth," further providing for

Assistance Recipient Identification Program and for local

administration of assistance.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 414 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,

No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, amended June 30, 1995

(P.L.129, No.20), is amended to read:

Section 414.  Assistance Recipient Identification Program.--

(a)  The department is authorized to create, in geographic areas

where the department determines it to be cost effective, a

program to be known as the Assistance Recipient Identification

Program.

(b)  The purpose of the program is to eliminate duplication

of assistance to recipients, to deter fraud and to assist law

enforcement officials in their duties.

(d)  A person currently receiving or applying for assistance

shall participate in the program. The person shall be identified

using available technological means that shall include placing a

photograph upon each electronic benefits transfer card and any

other benefit card and that may include, but are not limited to,

two-digit fingerimaging.

(e)  The department, wherever feasible, shall work with

neighboring states to execute agreements between each of those

states and the Commonwealth to implement compatible computer

cross-matching identification systems.

(f)  It is a violation for a person in the program to acquire

or attempt to acquire duplication of assistance.

(g)  Absent a court order, only the department, the

Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Board of

Probation and Parole, the chief of a local municipal police

department or his designee within the department, including the

sheriff's office in counties of the second class, and the

designated officials of neighboring states with whom the

department executes agreements under subsection (e) shall have

access to records under this program.

(h)  The department shall make a report to the General

Assembly no later than March 1, 1996, and every two years

thereafter. Each report shall include:

(1)  Caseload data before implementation of this section as

well as after one year for comparison purposes to judge the

program's effectiveness at fraud deterrence.

(2)  Attempts at and instances of multiple enrollment by

persons.

(3)  Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the project.

(4)  Recommendations regarding whether the program should be

discontinued, expanded or otherwise modified.

(i)  As used in this section, the term "program" means the

Assistance Recipient Identification Program.

Section 2.  Section 419 of the act is amended to read:

Section 419.  Administration of Assistance and Related

Functions.--Each county board shall:

(1)  Administer public assistance in the county, and

determine the eligibility for assistance of applicants and

continued eligibility for assistance of persons receiving the

same in accordance with law and rules, regulations and standards

established by the department. This paragraph includes requiring

photographic identification under section 414(d) before

providing any assistance.

(2)  Take measures to promote the welfare and self-dependency

of individuals and families eligible for assistance by helping

them to secure rehabilitative, remedial or other constructive

aid, through local community resources, or in the absence or

inadequacy of such resources, through direct provision of such

aid, in accordance with rules, regulations and standards adopted

by the department.

(3)  With the approval of the secretary, supervise the

administration of and promote any other public function related

to assistance, or the work of the department, or of the county

board, which may be committed to the county board by a political

subdivision of the Commonwealth.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.