HB2214 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 27204 KTG 53574 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2214

Introduced 2/8/2023, by Rep. Sonya M. Harper

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

305 ILCS 5/12-4.57 new

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Human Services to track and collect data on the scope and frequency of SNAP benefits fraud in Illinois where a SNAP recipient's benefits are stolen from the recipient's electronic benefits transfer card by means of card skimming, card cloning, or some other similar fraudulent method. Requires the Department to specifically keep a record of every report made to the Department by a SNAP recipient alleging the theft of benefits due to no fault of the recipient, the benefit amount stolen, and, if practicable, how those stolen benefits were used and the location of those thefts. Requires the Department to report its findings to the General Assembly on a quarterly basis beginning in calendar year 2024. Provides that a SNAP recipient's personally identifiable information shall be excluded from the reports consistent with State and federal privacy protections; and that each quarterly report shall be posted on the Department's official website. Provides that if the Department determines that a SNAP recipient has made a substantiated report of stolen benefits due to card skimming, card cloning, or some other similar fraudulent method, the Department shall refer the matter to the Attorney General and shall provide any assistance to the Attorney General in the prosecution of the alleged theft or fraud.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning public aid.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 12-4.57 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.57 new)

Sec. 12-4.57. Stolen SNAP benefits via card skimming; data collection and reports. As the State administrator of benefits provided under the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Department of Human Services shall track and collect data on the scope and frequency of SNAP benefits fraud in this State where a SNAP recipient's benefits are stolen from the recipient's electronic benefits transfer card by means of card skimming, card cloning, or some other similar fraudulent method. The Department shall specifically keep a record of every report made to the Department by a SNAP recipient alleging the theft of benefits due to no fault of the recipient, the benefit amount stolen, and, if practicable, how those stolen benefits were used and the location of those thefts.

The Department shall report its findings to the General Assembly on a quarterly basis beginning in calendar year 2024. The reports shall cover the period January 1 through March 31, April 1 through June 30, July 1 through September 30, and October 1 through December 31 of each year. The Department shall file the quarterly reports no later than the 15th day of the month following each period. A SNAP recipient's personally identifiable information shall be excluded from the reports consistent with State and federal privacy protections. Each quarterly report shall also be posted on the Department's official website.

If the Department determines that a SNAP recipient has made a substantiated report of stolen benefits due to card skimming, card cloning, or some other similar fraudulent method, the Department shall refer the matter to the Attorney General and shall provide any assistance to the Attorney General in the prosecution of the alleged theft or fraud.