Bill > A07543

This bill amends the social services law to provide a comprehensive framework for reissuing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits when they are stolen or fraudulently obtained. The legislation establishes that social services districts must replace stolen SNAP benefits within five business days after verifying the theft, without requiring recipients to obtain a police report. Recipients can receive replacement benefits up to the lesser of the actual stolen amount or two months of their typical monthly allotment, with a limit of once per fiscal year for SNAP benefits stolen after December 20, 2024. The bill specifies that these replacement benefits will be exempt from standard recoupment and recovery provisions, unless it is later determined that the theft did not actually occur through methods like card skimming or third-party misrepresentation. Additionally, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is required to create a model sign to help inform individuals about electronic benefit transfer scams and protect their benefits. This legislation aims to provide quick financial relief to vulnerable populations who have had their critical food assistance benefits stolen, while also establishing clear protocols for benefit replacement.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7543