H0083B0107A01191 RLE:SRA 06/23/07 #90 A01991
AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO. 83
Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE KAUFFMAN
Printer's No. 107
1 Amend Title, page 1, line 3, by inserting after
2 "Commonwealth,""
3 further providing for the Assistance Recipient
4 Identification Program and for local administration
5 of assistance; and
6 Amend Bill, page 1, lines 8 through 10, by striking out all
7 of said lines and inserting
8 Section 1. Section 414 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,
9 No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, amended June 30, 1995
10 (P.L.129, No.20), is amended to read:
11 Section 414. Assistance Recipient Identification Program.--
12 (a) The department is authorized to create, in geographic areas
13 where the department determines it to be cost effective, a
14 program to be known as the Assistance Recipient Identification
15 Program.
16 (b) The purpose of the program is to eliminate duplication
17 of assistance to recipients, to deter fraud and to assist law
18 enforcement officials in their duties.
19 (d) A person currently receiving or applying for assistance
20 shall participate in the program. The person shall be identified
21 using available technological means that shall include placing a
22 photograph upon each electronic benefits transfer card and any
23 other benefit card and that may include, but are not limited to,
24 two-digit fingerimaging.
25 (e) The department, wherever feasible, shall work with
26 neighboring states to execute agreements between each of those
27 states and the Commonwealth to implement compatible computer
28 cross-matching identification systems.
29 (f) It is a violation for a person in the program to acquire
30 or attempt to acquire duplication of assistance.
31 (g) Absent a court order, only the department, the
32 Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Board of
33 Probation and Parole, the chief of a local municipal police
34 department or his designee within the department, including the
35 sheriff's office in counties of the second class, and the
36 designated officials of neighboring states with whom the
37 department executes agreements under subsection (e) shall have
38 access to records under this program.
39 (h) The department shall make a report to the General
1 Assembly no later than March 1, 1996, and every two years
2 thereafter. Each report shall include:
3 (1) Caseload data before implementation of this section as
4 well as after one year for comparison purposes to judge the
5 program's effectiveness at fraud deterrence.
6 (2) Attempts at and instances of multiple enrollment by
7 persons.
8 (3) Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the project.
9 (4) Recommendations regarding whether the program should be
10 discontinued, expanded or otherwise modified.
11 (i) As used in this section, the term "program" means the
12 Assistance Recipient Identification Program.
13 Section 2. Section 419 of the act is amended to read:
14 Section 419. Administration of Assistance and Related
15 Functions.--Each county board shall:
16 (1) Administer public assistance in the county, and
17 determine the eligibility for assistance of applicants and
18 continued eligibility for assistance of persons receiving the
19 same in accordance with law and rules, regulations and standards
20 established by the department. This paragraph includes requiring
21 photographic identification under section 414(d) before
22 providing any assistance.
23 (2) Take measures to promote the welfare and self-dependency
24 of individuals and families eligible for assistance by helping
25 them to secure rehabilitative, remedial or other constructive
26 aid, through local community resources, or in the absence or
27 inadequacy of such resources, through direct provision of such
28 aid, in accordance with rules, regulations and standards adopted
29 by the department.
30 (3) With the approval of the secretary, supervise the
31 administration of and promote any other public function related
32 to assistance, or the work of the department, or of the county
33 board, which may be committed to the county board by a political
34 subdivision of the Commonwealth.
35 Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
36 Amend Sec. 2, page 2, line 29, by striking out "2" and
37 inserting
38 4
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