HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1209        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 106

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Shaunna L. O'Connell and Geoff Diehl

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the out-of-state use of cash assistance.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Shaunna L. O'Connell

3rd Bristol

1/18/2017

Geoff Diehl

7th Plymouth

2/3/2017

Francis J. Faulkner

Citizens for Limited Taxation PO BOX 1147 Marblehead, MA 01945

1/18/2017

Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.

5th Worcester

2/3/2017

Kate D. Campanale

17th Worcester

2/3/2017

William L. Crocker, Jr.

2nd Barnstable

1/25/2017

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

1/24/2017

Shawn Dooley

9th Norfolk

1/24/2017

James J. Dwyer

30th Middlesex

1/26/2017

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

2/2/2017

Kevin J. Kuros

8th Worcester

2/3/2017

James J. Lyons, Jr.

18th Essex

1/26/2017

Leonard Mirra

2nd Essex

1/25/2017

Richard J. Ross

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

1/24/2017

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/3/2017


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1209        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 106

By Representatives O'Connell of Taunton and Diehl of Whitman, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 106) of Shaunna L. O'Connell, Geoff Diehl and others relative to the use of direct cash assistance funds held on an electronic benefit transfer card or access device in a state other than the Commonwealth or a bordering state.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act relative to the out-of-state use of cash assistance.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Subsection (a) of section 5I of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Access device”, the following definition:

“Border state”, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island or Vermont.

SECTION 2. Said section 5I of said chapter 18 is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following subsection:-

(b ½) No person shall knowingly use direct cash assistance funds held on an electronic benefit transfer card or access device in a state other than the commonwealth or a border state. The department shall track, on a monthly basis, the usage of direct cash assistance funds in violation of this subsection.  The department shall immediately contact each recipient whose electronic benefit transfer card or access device has been used in violation of this subsection, and shall investigate the violation accordingly.

SECTION 3.  Any eligible recipient of direct cash assistance who knowingly uses direct cash assistance funds held on an electronic benefit transfer card or access device in a state other than the commonwealth or a border state shall be reminded of the prohibition and penalties on out of state spending for the first offense and, for the second offense, shall be disqualified from the direct cash assistance program for a period of one month and, for the third offense, shall be disqualified from the direct cash assistance program for six months; provided, however, that the department shall only disqualify an eligible recipient after notice and a hearing pursuant to section 30A.

SECTION 4. The department of transitional assistance shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the requirements of this act.”