Bill > SB880

This bill amends the Human Services Code to enhance security protections for recipients of public assistance access devices (such as electronic benefit transfer or EBT cards). The bill requires recipients to promptly report any theft of their access device to the department if the theft results in financial harm, and defines "skimming" as the unauthorized theft of card information during a legitimate transaction using an illegal card reader without the recipient's knowledge. The bill mandates that the department implement several security measures to protect recipients, including replacing magnetic strip cards with chip-based cards that generate unique transaction codes, creating monitoring systems with transaction alerts via text or email, developing a mobile app that allows users to lock and unlock their access devices, establishing simplified procedures for reporting theft, and conducting targeted outreach to educate recipients about theft prevention. These provisions aim to protect vulnerable public assistance recipients from financial fraud and provide them with tools to quickly respond to potential unauthorized use of their benefits. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=880