Bill > HB931

This bill establishes requirements for individuals seeking public benefits in Pennsylvania to prove their lawful presence in the United States. The bill requires applicants to provide valid identification, such as a driver's license, government-issued ID, passport, or military documentation, or submit an affidavit if they lack these forms of identification. Applicants must also provide proof of citizenship or eligibility for state or local benefits through an affidavit. The bill mandates that agencies verify the eligibility of non-citizen applicants using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE) operated by the Department of Homeland Security. Certain groups are exempt from these requirements, including individuals under 18, those receiving Social Security disability income, Medicare recipients, and victims of domestic violence. The bill also establishes criminal penalties for unauthorized possession or use of public benefits access devices, with violations considered a third-degree felony. Agencies must report any expenditures or benefits provided to unauthorized aliens to the Governor's Office of Administration for public disclosure. The bill emphasizes that its enforcement must be non-discriminatory and will take effect 120 days after passage, with an exception that it will not be applied if doing so would conflict with federal law or risk losing federal funding.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=931