S740-2011 Actions

• Mar 12, 2012: COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
• Feb 27, 2012: NOTICE OF COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION - REQUESTED
• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
• Jan 5, 2011: REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES

S740-2011 Meetings

S740-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S740

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the social services law, in relation to finger imaging for food
stamps recipients

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the finger imaging
matching identification system for applicants or recipients of food
stamps who are not also applicants for, or recipients of, family or
safety net assistance.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends subdivision 3 of section 139-a of the law, to repeal the
finger imaging matching identification system for
applicants or recipients of food
stamps who are not also applicants for, or recipients of,
family or safety net assistance.

JUSTIFICATION:
New York is one of the four remaining
states in the country where finger imaging for food stamps still
occurs. Finger imaging is required at the time of application for
public assistance. In order for needy families to get food stamps all
adult members or heads of households must have their finger images
taken. If they don't comply their entire household is threatened and
cannot receive public assistance. Applicants for emergency assistance
must also be finger imaged in New York.

In a study conducted by a non-partisan, non-profit policy research
organization it was found that finger imaging was not cost effective,
and does not substantially deter fraud. The study concluded that in
Texas and California finger imaging produces serious drawbacks that
included low numbers of fraud detection, high numbers of
administrative errors, and an elongated and inefficient process that
deters indigent people from applying.

Finger imaging serves as a deterrent for eligible individuals to
access food stamps, which are paid for by the federal government. It
carries a stigma with it that is degrading to an applicant who might
feel that their dignity is worth more than government assistance
although they might be in dire need. Recently, the Governor of New
York waived the finger imaging requirement for certain working
families, recognizing that food is a basic necessity of life and that
it is bad policy to require finger imaging as a prerequisite to
assistance with food costs.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2007: A.10215
2010: S.6291-A/A.1681-A

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

No new fiscal implications.


EFFECTIVE DATE:
180 days following enactment.

S740-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                          740
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 5, 2011
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. SQUADRON, DUANE, KRUEGER, PARKER -- read twice and
 ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
 Social Services
 AN  ACT  to amend the social services law, in relation to finger imaging
 for food stamps recipients
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section  1.  Subdivision 3 of section 139-a of the social services law
 is amended by adding a new paragraph (n) to read as follows:

 (N) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, APPLI
 CANTS OR RECIPIENTS OF FOOD STAMPS WHO ARE NOT ALSO APPLICANTS  FOR,  OR
 RECIPIENTS  OF,  FAMILY OR SAFETY NET ASSISTANCE SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO
 THE FINGER IMAGING MATCHING IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD03868-01-1

*By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and Privacy Policy and verify you are over 13.

Discuss!