Complete Bill History



House File 446       


                                          HOUSE FILE       
                                          BY  FORD


       Passed House, Date               Passed Senate,  Date             
       Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                    Approved                            

                                         A BILL FOR

     1 An Act relating to requirements of the department of human
     2    services involving electronic benefits transfer for the food
     3    assistance program.
     4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
     5 TLSB 2382HH 83
     6 jp/rj/14

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 234.12A, subsection 1, Code 2009, is
  1  2 amended to read as follows:
  1  3    1.  The department of human services shall maintain an
  1  4 electronic benefits transfer program utilizing electronic
  1  5 funds transfer systems for the food assistance program.  The
  1  6 electronic benefits transfer program implemented under this
  1  7 section shall at a minimum provide for all of the following:
  1  8    a.  A that a retailer shall not be required to make cash
  1  9 disbursements or to provide, purchase, or upgrade electronic
  1 10 funds transfer system equipment as a condition of
  1 11 participation in the program.
  1 12    b.  A retailer providing electronic funds transfer system
  1 13 equipment for transactions pursuant to the program shall be
  1 14 reimbursed seven cents for each approved transaction pursuant
  1 15 to the program utilizing the retailer's equipment.
  1 16    c.  A retailer that provides electronic funds transfer
  1 17 system equipment for transactions pursuant to the program and
  1 18 who makes cash disbursements pursuant to the program utilizing
  1 19 the retailer's equipment shall be paid a fee of seven cents by
  1 20 the department for each cash disbursement transaction by the
  1 21 retailer.
  1 22                           EXPLANATION
  1 23    This bill relates to requirements of the department of
  1 24 human services involving electronic benefits transfer for the
  1 25 food assistance program (formerly known as "food stamps").
  1 26    Code section 234.12A, relating to the electronic benefits
  1 27 transfer (EBT) program, is amended to eliminate the
  1 28 requirement for payment of transfer fees to retailers.  The
  1 29 EBT program is utilized primarily for distributing federal
  1 30 food assistance benefits.
  1 31 LSB 2382HH 83
  1 32 jp/rj/14