Bill > S74

This bill mandates that the Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance direct all state agencies under the governor's control that issue public benefits or licenses to register for and utilize the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, system. SAVE is a program used to verify the immigration status of individuals applying for federal and state benefits. The bill requires these agencies to use SAVE to confirm the eligibility of applicants whose documentation is unclear or unavailable, thereby aiming to save Massachusetts taxpayer dollars by ensuring benefits are only provided to those who are legally qualified. The Secretary must also establish a uniform system for these agencies to determine common eligibility standards and report to legislative committees by December 31, 2016, on the implementation progress, including any challenges and proposed solutions for agencies that fail to register by that date, with a goal to have them registered within six months.