PRINTER'S NO. 51

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No. 78 Session of 1995

        INTRODUCED BY E. Z. TAYLOR, VANCE, FLEAGLE, COY, COWELL,
           S. H. SMITH, KREBS, CLARK, McCALL, PHILLIPS, MICOZZIE,
           MARSICO, FICHTER, HERSHEY, TRUE, KING, WOZNIAK, CARONE,
           TULLI, PLATTS, CAWLEY, TIGUE, ITKIN, D. W. SNYDER, BATTISTO,
           DEMPSEY, HUTCHINSON, MELIO, O'BRIEN, PETRONE, BROWN, RAYMOND,
           HERMAN, SAYLOR, D. R. WRIGHT, TRELLO, MAITLAND, JOSEPHS,
           ROBERTS, STETLER, DRUCE, L. I. COHEN, ZUG, FARMER, MUNDY,
           OLASZ, RUBLEY, STEELMAN, KENNEY, GANNON, GEIST, M. N. WRIGHT,
           CLYMER, SCHRODER, SCRIMENTI, SURRA, J. TAYLOR AND SATHER,
           JANUARY 19, 1995

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
           JANUARY 19, 1995

                                     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," further providing for an
     4     electronic benefit distribution system.

     5     The General Assembly finds that:
     6         (1)  The electronic delivery of benefits is more
     7     convenient for the recipient as well as the vendor than the
     8     traditional method of distributing food stamps.
     9         (2)  There is less administrative work involved in this
    10     method than the traditional method of distributing food
    11     stamps.
    12         (3)  This method eliminates the capability for fraudulent
    13     use of food stamps for drug purchases.
    14     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

     1  hereby enacts as follows:
     2     Section 1.  The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
     3  as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding a section to
     4  read:
     5     Section 438.  Electronic Benefit Distribution System.--(a)
     6  The department shall establish an electronic benefit
     7  distribution system for the purpose of issuing food stamps, Aid
     8  to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and general
     9  assistance benefits.
    10     (b)  Food stamps, AFDC and general assistance benefits shall
    11  be issued through point-of-sale terminals and automated teller
    12  machines at locations throughout this Commonwealth with an
    13  industry-standard plastic access card.
    14     (c)  The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to
    15  administer and enforce this section.
    16     Section 2.  This act shall take effect January 1, 1996.










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