HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1405        FILED ON: 2/5/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 246

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Marc T. Lombardo

_________________

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 utilization of the systematic alien verification for entitlements program by the Commonwealth.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Marc T. Lombardo

22nd Middlesex

2/5/2021

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

2/26/2021

Timothy R. Whelan

1st Barnstable

2/26/2021

F. Jay Barrows

1st Bristol

2/26/2021

Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.

5th Worcester

2/26/2021

Michael J. Soter

8th Worcester

3/16/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1405        FILED ON: 2/5/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 246

By Mr. Lombardo of Billerica, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 246) of Marc T. Lombardo and others relative to eligibility for certain entitlement programs.  Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act relative to the utilization of the systematic alien verification for entitlements program by the Commonwealth.

 

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 B of section 2 of chapter 18 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following clause:-

(t) verify that an applicant for benefits through any transitional assistance financial assistance program administered by the department is a United States citizens or lawfully present alien prior to providing any benefits. The department shall register for the systematic alien verification for entitlements program established by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and shall use said program to verify an applicant’s eligibility pursuant to this clause.

SECTION 2. Section 3 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(w) verify that an applicant for benefits through any housing program for low and moderate income families administered by the department is a United States citizens or lawfully present alien prior to providing any benefits. The department shall register for the systematic alien verification for entitlements program established by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and shall use said program to verify an applicant’s eligibility pursuant to this paragraph.

SECTION 3 . Section 2 of chapter 111I of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

The department of public health shall verify that an applicant for benefits through the WIC program is a United States citizens or lawfully present alien prior to providing any benefits. The department shall register for the systematic alien verification for entitlements program established by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and shall use said program to verify a beneficiary’s eligibility pursuant to this paragraph.

SECTION 4. Section 9A of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

(17) The division shall verify that a beneficiary is a United States citizens or lawfully present alien prior to providing any medical benefits through MassHealth. The division shall register for the systematic alien verification for entitlements program established by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and shall use said program to verify a beneficiary’s eligibility pursuant to this paragraph.