SECTION 1.  (a) A recipient of assistance under any of the programs administered by the department of transitional assistance shall provide annual verification of the recipient’s residency within the commonwealth.  Every application for residency verification made under this section shall be in writing, signed, under the penalties of perjury, on a form prescribed by the department of transitional assistance and consistent with the following:

(1)Each application for verification shall be submitted in person at the recipient’s closest regional office, branch office or outreach arrangement, as defined in section 5 of chapter 18 of the General Laws; provided, however, that a disabled recipient may submit the application for verification by mail;

(2)Proof of residency may include a current utility bill, signed statement from a landlord with the landlord’s contact information, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the recipient, and other such similar documentation; provided, however, that a driver’s license shall not be accepted as sole proof of residency;

(3)The recipient shall provide all personal contact information; and

(4)Each application for verification shall be signed by an employee of the department of transitional assistance, include copies of all supporting documentation and be maintained in said department’s records.

(b) If there is no record that the recipient: (i) is a citizen of the United States or (ii) has filed a declaration of intention to become a citizen of the Unites States, the recipient shall present evidence of such with his or her annual application for residency verification.

(c) The required date for each recipient’s annual application for residency verification shall be determined by the department of transitional assistance.

(d) The department of transitional assistance shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of this act is hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. Section 2 shall take effect on January 1, 2016.