Pennsylvania HB 1429: 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 report on transition to chip-enabled access cards.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1664
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1429
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY D. WILLIAMS, HEFFLEY, VENKAT, BENHAM, FREEMAN,
SANCHEZ, GIRAL, MADDEN, HADDOCK, MERSKI, FLICK, PUGH, HILL-
EVANS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, INGLIS, WATRO, K.HARRIS, CERRATO,
RIVERA, GUZMAN, DEASY, GREEN AND BOYD, MAY 7, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MAY 7, 2025
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 report on 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 414.1. Report on Transition to Chip-Enabled Access
Cards.--(a) The department shall prepare a report evaluating
the feasibility of transitioning from magnetic stripe access
cards to c hip -enabled access cards for use in the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program. The report shall include an
assessment of the financial impact, operational considerations
and proposed implementation strategies for the transition. The
report shall be designed to provide the recipients of the report
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under subsection (c) with timely and actionable information to
support an efficient and cost-effective transition.
(b) The report under subsection (a) shall include the
following information:
(1) A cost analysis of replacing magnetic stripe access
cards with c hip -enabled access cards, including an itemized
estimate of anticipated expenditures by the following:
(i) The department for costs associated with access card
production, distribution and modifications to vendor contracts.
(ii) The department and county assistance offices for costs
associated with necessary system modifications, including
upgrades to information technology infrastructure.
(2) A review of other states that have implemented or are in
the process of implementing c hip -enabled access cards. The
review shall include the following information:
(i) Identification of best practices and operational
insights.
(ii) Recommended strategies to minimize service disruptions,
including pilot programs and point-of-sale testing protocols at
authorized Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program retailers.
(iii) Identification of cost-saving measures and methods to
reduce the implementation timeline, including options for in-
person access card distribution at county assistance offices and
alternative mailing strategies.
(3) A proposed implementation timeline that outlines key
milestones and estimated time frames for each phase of the
transition.
(c) The department shall submit the report under subsection
(a) within thirty days of the effective date of this subsection
to the following:
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(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
(3) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health
and Human Services Committee of the Senate.
(4) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health
Committee of the House of Representatives.
(5) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Human
Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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