WEST virginia legislature

2021 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 3020

By Delegates Pritt and Mandt

[Introduced March 09, 2021; Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources then the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend and reenact §9-8-5 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring photo EBT cards to be used beginning July 1, 2021.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 8. eligibility and fraud requirements for public ASSISTANCE.

§9-8-5. Identity authentication.

(a) Prior to awarding public assistance, applicants for benefits must complete a computerized identity authentication process to confirm the identity of the applicant. This shall be done with a knowledge-based questionnaire consisting of financial and/or personal questions. The questionnaire must contain questions tailored to assist persons without a bank account or those who have poor access to financial and banking services or who do not have an established credit history. The questionnaire may be submitted online, in-person, or via telephone.

(b) The department shall submit a report to the Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Resources Accountability regarding the feasibility of implementing the photo EBT card option under 7 U.S.C. § 2016(h)(9). The study shall address certain operational issues to ensure that state implementation would be consistent with all federal requirements, and that program access is protected for participating households, including, but not limited to, allowing the recipient to designate permitted users for purposes of utilizing the photo EBT card.

(c) Beginning July 1, 2021, the department shall require the use of the photo EBT card.  Photos shall be provided by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require photo EBT cards to be used beginning July 1, 2021.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.