HOUSE FILE 152

BY  GRASSLEY, HEATON, COWNIE, ARNOLD, BALTIMORE, KAUFMANN, WINDSCHITL, BAUDLER, PETTENGILL, RAYHONS, ALONS, HUSEMAN, LOFGREN, HAGENOW, CHAMBERS, SCHULTE, HAGER, SCHULTZ, JORGENSEN, MOORE, S. OLSON, PAUSTIAN, KLEIN, BYRNES, VANDER LINDEN, MASSIE, PEARSON, HANUSA, SHAW, 

J. TAYLOR, LUKAN, DOLECHECK, SANDS, DEYOE, 

DE BOEF, HEIN, and HELLAND

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the accessibility of welfare moneys by welfare program recipients at certain gambling establishments through electronic benefits transfer programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 217.24, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   217.24  Payment by electronic funds transfer.
   The department of human services shall continue expanding the practice of making payments to program participants and vendors by means of electronic funds transfer. The department shall seek the capacity for making payment by such means for all programs administered by the department.
   The department shall prohibit program participants from accessing state-provided cash benefits from any automated teller machine or point-of-sale terminal located at any of the following locations:
   1.  Gambling boats.
   2.  Gambling structures.
   3.  Bingo halls.
   Sec. 2.  Section 234.6, Code 2011, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  9A.  Recommend rules for their adoption by the council on human services to ensure that welfare program recipients acknowledge that the intent of the program is to meet the basic subsistence needs of the recipient or the recipient’s family.
   Sec. 3.  Section 234.12A, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The department of human services shall maintain an electronic benefits transfer program utilizing electronic funds transfer systems for the food assistance program. This program shall be administered in accordance with the requirements of section 217.24 and section 234.6, subsection 9A.The electronic benefits transfer program implemented under this section shall not require a retailer to make cash disbursements or to provide, purchase, or upgrade electronic funds transfer system equipment as a condition of participation in the program.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires the department of human services to ensure that all welfare program recipients acknowledge that the welfare funds received are meant for basic subsistence.
   The bill requires the department of human services to prohibit electronic benefits transfer recipients from accessing program funds through automated teller machines and point-of-sale terminals at certain types of gambling establishments.