S.B. 949: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - FOOD STAMPS: GAMBLING

Senate Bill 949 (as introduced 2-26-98)

Date Completed: 3-3-98

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Social Welfare Act to prohibit a recipient who received cash payments instead of food stamps from using the money to participate in casino gambling. A recipient who violated the bill would forfeit his or her right to receive future cash payments in lieu of food stamps. Forfeiture of the right to receive future cash payments could be based on reasonable cause to believe that a violation occurred, or an affidavit asserting facts that provided reasonable cause to believe that a violation occurred.

The bill provides that each contract with a recipient that authorized cash payments instead of food stamps would have to include a statement that identified the recipient's rights and obligations under the bill.

Proposed MCL 400.10c - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

There would be no fiscal impact on State government. To forfeit one's right to receive cash in lieu of food stamp coupons does not reduce or increase the value of the benefit; therefore, the forfeiture makes no change in the expenditures in the food stamp program. Furthermore, any change in expenditures would not have a fiscal impact on State government because it is a Federally funded program. There would be no fiscal impact on local government.

- Fiscal Analyst: C. Cole

S9798\S949SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.