Bill Text: PA HB800 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: In public assistance, further providing for prohibited use of public assistance funds.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 67-10)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-03 - Referred to HEALTH [HB800 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB800-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 967
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 800 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY REESE, EVANKOVICH, KRIEGER, DUNBAR, TURZAI, ADOLPH, AUMENT, BENNINGHOFF, BOYD, CAUSER, CHRISTIANA, CLYMER, D. COSTA, COX, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALEY, DAVIS, DAY, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, ELLIS, FARRY, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HALUSKA, HARRIS, HEFFLEY, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, HUTCHINSON, KAUFFMAN, KNOWLES, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MARSHALL, MARSICO, METCALFE, METZGAR, MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PEIFER, PETRARCA, PYLE, QUIGLEY, RAPP, REED, ROAE, ROCK, SACCONE, SAYLOR, CULVER, SIMMONS, SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TOOHIL, TRUITT, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND PERRY, MARCH 3, 2011
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MARCH 3, 2011
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," in public assistance,
further providing for prohibited use of public assistance
funds.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 484 of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31,
No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, added December 17,
2009 (P.L.598, No.54), is amended to read:
Section 484. Prohibited Use of Public Assistance Funds.--[It
shall be unlawful for any individual to purchase liquor or
alcohol with a gift certificate or a gift card which is in the
form of an electronic benefits card issued to convey public
assistance benefits administered by the Department of Public
Welfare or a debit card issued to convey support payment
moneys.] (a) Notwithstanding Federal program standards,
requirements or procedures, cash assistance benefits shall only
be provided by a vendor through point-of-sale terminals which
have been authorized by the department after a purchase has been
made by the recipient.
(b) No exchange of cash may occur between the recipient and
vendor.
(c) Cash assistance benefits may not be distributed through
automated teller machines or similar devices.
(d) Cash assistance benefits shall only be used to obtain
the following:
(1) Housing.
(2) Personal toiletries.
(3) Food, as specified under the guidelines for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
(4) Clothing.
(5) Public transportation services.
(e) Cash assistance benefits may not be used for any of the
following:
(1) To purchase tobacco products.
(2) To purchase a beverage with alcoholic content or an item
with alcoholic content.
(3) To purchase lottery tickets or tickets for games of
chance.
Section 2. Within 90 days of the effective date of this
section, the Department of Public Welfare shall submit to the
appropriate Federal agency a request for appropriate waiver of
Federal law and for any other approval by the Federal Government
necessary for the implementation of the programs added by this
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act. The department shall enter into good faith negotiations
with the appropriate Federal authorities and make every effort
to obtain the necessary Federal waiver and approval.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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