Pennsylvania HB 2540: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, providing for transition to chip-enabled access cards.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3440 PRINTER'S NO. 3513
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2540
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY D. WILLIAMS, HEFFLEY, FIEDLER, BURGOS, KAUFFMAN,
MAYES, PROBST, SAMUELSON, GIRAL, POWELL, WAXMAN, VENKAT,
McNEILL, JAMES, PUGH, HILL-EVANS, RIVERA, PASHINSKI, SANCHEZ,
CURRY AND DELLOSO, MAY 26, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 3, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
providing for transition to chip-enabled access cards.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
read:
Section 414.2. Transition to Chip-Enabled Access Cards.--(a)
Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly TO THE EXTENT
MONEY IS APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSES UNDER THIS SECTION , the
department shall transition all access cards for use in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to include chip-
enabled technology no later than January 1, 2028.
(b) The department shall implement the transition under
subsection (a) in the most cost-effective and efficient manner, <--
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such as, but not limited to, transitioning access cards on a
county-by-county basis or regional basis. A MANNER THAT BALANCES
EFFICIENCY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND PROVIDES ENHANCED SECURITY
FEATURES SUCH AS TAP-TO-PAY TECHNOLOGY OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY TO
PREVENT BENEFIT THEFT.
(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ONE CHIP-ENABLED ACCESS
CARD PER ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT AT NO COST TO THE RECIPIENT.
(c) (D) The department shall:
(1) Within 180 days of the effective date of this section,
issue an initial report evaluating the transition under
subsection (a) on a county-by-county basis to:
(i) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health
and Human Services Committee of the Senate.
(ii) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Human
Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
(2) Following the initial report under paragraph (1), issue
a report every 180 days until chip-enabled access cards have
been made available in each county.
(3) Perform outreach to vendors on the transition under
subsection (a), including system upgrades that a vendor may need
to implement.
(4) Apply for any Federal grants or money made available to
implement the transition in a manner that would result in
receiving the maximum amount of money possible.
(4) PERFORM OUTREACH TO RECIPIENTS ON THE TRANSITION,
INCLUDING POSTING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
INTERNET WEBSITE, IN A SHAREABLE FORMAT, RESOURCES AND
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF ACCESS CARDS
WITH CHIP-ENABLED TECHNOLOGY.
(5) ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE TO DISTRIBUTE ACCESS CARDS TO
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ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
(6) TAKE NECESSARY STEPS, WHERE POSSIBLE, TO MAXIMIZE
FUNDING WITH FEDERAL OR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES BY OCTOBER 1,
2026.
(d) (E) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit
the department's authority to implement future changes to access
cards to enhance benefit security.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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