Bill > S00403

This bill establishes a program and a dedicated fund to compensate individuals who are victims of fraud or theft related to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or cash assistance. SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families, and cash assistance refers to other forms of financial aid provided by the state. The program, to be managed by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, will have an application process available in English and other commonly spoken languages in the state. The Inspector General and Attorney General will collaborate with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to verify claims of fraud or theft. The bill also creates a "SNAP and cash assistance fraud victims compensation fund" within the State Finance Law, which will hold all moneys appropriated for this purpose, as well as funds from civil penalties, grants, and other contributions, and these moneys will be used exclusively for the compensation program.