Amendment #194 to H3400

Biometric Fraud Protection Commission

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough, Gifford of Wareham, Frost of Auburn and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill by adding the following new section:-

“SECTION XX. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there is hereby established a special commission to investigate the feasibility of implementing a biometric authentication system within the department of transitional assistance. It shall be herein referred to as the Biometric Fraud Prevention Commission and established with the goal of creating a reliable system of identification to reduce duplicate assistance fraud in public assistance benefit programs. The study shall include, but not be limited to, the cost savings that would result from the elimination of duplicate assistance fraud in public assistance programs administered through the department of transitional assistance.

(b) The Biometric Fraud Prevention Commission shall consist of 11 members: 1 member, appointed by the secretary of health and human services; 1 member, appointed by the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance; 1 member, appointed by the inspector general; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president, and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; 2 members of the house, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house; 4 persons to be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be advocates for low-income individuals receiving benefits through the department of transitional assistance, and 2 of whom shall be advocates of the taxpayers.

(c) Said commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerks of the house and senate within 90 days of the passage of this act.”.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #194 to H3400

Biometric Fraud Protection Commission