Bill: SB 1443, 85(R) - 2017
Committee
Senate Health & Human Services
Vote Recommendation
| Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
| Yes |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Positive |
Positive |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Brandon Creighton
Bill Caption
Relating to electronic benefits transfer cards used by recipients under certain assistance programs.
Fiscal Notes
From the LBB: Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related
Funds for SB 1443, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of
($978,227) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
An estimate for any potential savings associated with a
reduction to fraud, waste or abuse cannot be determined because the number and
amount of transactions currently made by unauthorized individuals is unknown.
The Health and Human Services Commission is only required to
implement the provisions of the bill if the legislature appropriates money
specifically for that purpose.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the
legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the
bill.
Bill Analysis
This bill would require that EBT cards display the name and photograph of the benefits recipient, the Fraud Hotline telephone number, and the website for reporting suspected fraudulent activity. The bill adds a provision to exclude certain people from the photograph requirement, including those age 65 and older, disabled persons, homeless people, children younger than 19, blind persons, and victims of domestic abuse. The bill would require the Department of Public Safety to provide the Health and Human Services Commission with a photograph of the recipient that the department has in its records.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill helps limit government spending by helping to reduce fraudulent use of SNAP EBT cards therefore reducing government spending due to fraud; because of this, we support this bill.
