Budget Amendment ID: FY2013-S4-133.1

Further GOV 133.1

Further to #133

Mr. Hedlund moved that the amendment be amended Mr. Hedlund moves to strike the text of amendment 133 and inserting in place thereof the following new section:-

SECTION XX. Chapter 18 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after section 5K the following new sections:—

Section 5L. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department shall implement a vendor payment system for the non-cash payment of rent and electric and gas utility bills for all eligible recipients of direct cash assistance. The department shall have 50 per cent of all direct cash assistance recipients enrolled in the vendor payment system by July 31, 2012, and shall have the remaining 50 per cent of recipients enrolled in the vendor payment system by November 30, 2012. Beginning on July 31, 2012, all recipients of direct cash assistance shall be enrolled in the vendor payment system upon admittance into the direct cash assistance program.

Section 5M. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, by November 30, 2012, all eligible recipients of direct cash assistance shall access monthly direct cash assistance through the department’s vendor payment system or point of sale payments, provided however, that eligible recipients shall not withdraw cash assistance from a point of sale transaction. Beginning on November 30, 2012, eligible recipients of direct cash assistance shall have access to a maximum of $20 per day of direct cash assistance through automatic teller machines.