Connecticut SB 480: AN ACT CONCERNING SUDDEN UNEXPECTED DEATH IN EPILEPSY AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 480
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING PREVENTING FRAUD IN THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND
EXPRESSLY EXTENDING FRAUD AND CORRUPTION PENALTIES TO
PUBLIC SERVANTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, (1) 1
"electronic benefit transfer card" means a card through which recipients 2
of supplemental nutrition assistance and other state-administered 3
benefit programs access benefits, and (2) "security chip technology" 4
means technology that generates a unique, one-time encrypted code for 5
each transaction on a credit card. The Commissioner of Social Services, 6
within available appropriations, shall upgrade electronic benefit 7
transfer cards to utilize security chip technology to help track and 8
prevent potentially fraudulent uses of such cards. 9
(b) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Social 10
Services shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11
11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committee of the 12
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human 13
services on (1) implementation of the new security chip technology, and 14
(2) any measurable effect on fraud prevention in the use of electronic 15
benefit transfer cards. 16
Sec. 2. Section 4-274 of the general statutes is repealed and the 17

Substitute Bill No. 480

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following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 18
As used in this section and section 4-275: 19
(1) "Knowing" and "knowingly" means that a person, with respect to 20
information: (A) Has actual knowledge of the information; (B) acts in 21
deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information; or (C) acts 22
in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information, without 23
regard to whether the person intends to defraud; 24
(2) "Claim" (A) means any request or demand, whether under a 25
contract or otherwise, for money or property and whether or not the 26
state has title to the money or property, that (i) is presented to an officer, 27
employee or agent of the state, or (ii) is made to a contractor, grantee or 28
other recipient, if the money or property is to be spent or used on the 29
state's behalf or to advance a state program or interest, and if the state 30
provides or has provided any portion of the money or property that is 31
requested or demanded, or if the state will reimburse such contractor, 32
grantee or other recipient for any portion of the money or property that 33
is requested or demanded, and (B) does not include a request or demand 34
for money or property that the state has paid to an individual as 35
compensation for state employment or as an income subsidy with no 36
restrictions on that individual's use of the money or property; 37
(3) "Person" means any [natural person] individual, including, but 38
not limited to, a public servant, as defined in section 53a-146, as 39
amended by this act, corporation, limited liability company, firm, 40
association, organization, partnership, business, trust or other legal 41
entity; 42
(4) "State" means the state of Connecticut, any agency or department 43
of the state or any quasi-public agency, as defined in section 1-120; 44
(5) "Obligation" means an established duty, whether fixed or not, 45
arising from (A) an express or implied contractual, grantor-grantee or 46
licensor-licensee relationship, (B) a fee-based or similar relationship, (C) 47
statute or regulation, or (D) the retention of an overpayment; and 48

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(6) "Material" means having a natural tendency to influence, or be 49
capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property. 50
Sec. 3. Section 53a-146 of the general statutes is repealed and the 51
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 52
For purposes of this part: 53
(1) An "official proceeding" is any proceeding held or which may be 54
held before any legislative, judicial, administrative or other agency or 55
official authorized to take evidence under oath, including any referee, 56
hearing examiner, commissioner or notary or other person taking 57
evidence in connection with any proceeding. 58
(2) "Benefit" means monetary advantage, or anything regarded by the 59
beneficiary as a monetary advantage, including benefit to any person or 60
entity in whose welfare the beneficiary is interested. 61
(3) "Public servant" is an officer or employee of government, 62
including the federal government, or a quasi-public agency, as defined 63
in section 1-120, elected or appointed, and any person participating as 64
advisor, consultant or otherwise, paid or unpaid, in performing a 65
governmental function. 66
(4) "Government" includes any branch, subdivision or agency of the 67
state or any locality within it. 68
(5) "Labor official