THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY HEFFLEY, METCALFE, TOOHIL, KNOWLES, BAKER, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BOYD, R. BROWN, CLYMER, COX, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DAY, EMRICK, FARRY, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GRELL, GROVE, HACKETT, HAHN, HARHART, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, M. K. KELLER, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MALONEY, MASSER, MILLARD, MILLER, MOUL, O'NEILL, PEIFER, PERRY, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, SACCONE, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, CULVER, SIMMONS, STEPHENS, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TOBASH, TOEPEL, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND MURT, OCTOBER 26, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 26, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, providing for benefit transfer device

fraud.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 4121.  Benefit transfer device fraud.

(a)  Offense defined.--A person commits an offense if the

person is an unauthorized alien and possesses, uses or attempts

to use a benefit transfer device.

(b)  Separate offenses.--Each time a person possesses or uses

a benefit transfer device in violation of subsection (a)

constitutes a separate offense under this section.

(c)  Grading.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a

felony of the third degree.

(d)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following     

words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this     

subsection:

"Benefit transfer device."  The Pennsylvania ACCESS card or

electronic benefit transfer card.

"Unauthorized alien."  An alien who is not eligible for any

State or local benefits under section 411(a) of the Personal

Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996

(Public Law 104-193, 8 U.S.C. § 1621(a)).

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.