HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1387        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 200

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Marc T. Lombardo

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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.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1387        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 200

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 246 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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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.