§ 38-4-14 — Limitations on Use of Public Assistance Benefits

(a) For the purposes of this section, the term public assistance benefits means money or property provided directly or indirectly to eligible persons through programs of the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision thereof, and administered by the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
(b)(1) A recipient of public assistance benefits may not use any portion of the benefits for the purchase of any alcoholic beverage, tobacco product, or lottery ticket. Any person who violates this subsection shall reimburse the Department of Human Resources for the purchase and shall be subject to the following sanctions:
a. Upon the first violation, the person shall be disqualified from receiving public assistance benefits by means of direct cash payment or an electronic benefits transfer access card for one month.
b. Upon the second violation, the person shall be disqualified from receiving public assistance benefits by means of direct cash payment or electronic benefits transfer access card for three months.
c. Upon a third or subsequent violation, the person shall be permanently disqualified from receiving public assistance benefits by means of direct cash payment or an electronic benefits transfer access card.
(2) A person who is disqualified from receiving public assistance benefits under this subsection shall have the right to a hearing pursuant to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.
(c)(1) A cash recipient of public assistance benefits may not withdraw or use cash benefits by means of an Electronic Benefits Transfer transaction for the purchase of goods or services in a retail establishment the primary purpose of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages, a casino, a tattoo or body piercing facility, a facility providing psychic services, or an establishment that provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state. Any person who violates this subsection shall reimburse the Department of Human Resources for the amount withdrawn and used and shall be subject to the following sanctions:
a. Upon the first violation, the person shall be disqualified from receiving public assistance benefits by means of direct cash payment or an electronic benefits transfer access card for a period of one month.
b. Upon the second violation, the person shall be disqualified from receiving public assistance benefits by means of direct cash payment or electronic benefits transfer access card for a period of three months.
c. Upon a third or subsequent violation, the person shall be permanently disqualified from receiving public assistance benefits by means of direct cash payment or an electronic benefits transfer access card.
(2) A person who is disqualified from receiving public assistance benefits under this subsection shall have the right to a hearing pursuant to the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act.
(d) If a parent is deemed permanently disqualified from receiving public assistance benefits under subsection (b) or (c), the dependent child or other adult family member’s eligibility for public assistance benefits is not affected.
(1) An appropriate protective payee shall be designated to receive benefits on behalf of the child members.
(2) The parent may choose to designate another person to receive benefits for the minor child members. The designated person must be an immediate family member or, if an immediate family member is not available or the family member declines the option, another person may be designated. The designated person must be approved by the department.
(e) The Department of Human Resources shall inform all applicants for and recipients of public assistance benefits of the restrictions contained in this section and the penalties for violating those restrictions through any means practical.
(f)(1) The Department of Human Resources shall consult with providers of automatic teller machine services to consider the implementation of a program or method of blocking access to cash benefits from an electronic benefits transfer access card issued by the department at automatic teller machines located in or at a retail establishment the primary purpose of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages, a casino, a tattoo facility, a facility providing psychic services, or an establishment that provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state. If the department determines the implementation of a program is feasible, the department shall initiate the program by October 1, 2015.
(2) If the department requires a federal waiver to comply with this section, the department shall apply immediately for the federal waiver.
(g) The Department of Human Resources shall adopt rules to implement this section.
(h)(1) The Alabama Department of Human Resources shall perform a monthly incarceration match to obtain information to assist in determining eligibility for public assistance benefits based on incarceration status.
(2) If the department determines that a recipient of public assistance benefits is incarcerated at the time the incarceration match is performed, the department shall not issue an electronic benefits transfer access card to the incarcerated recipient. If an electronic benefits transfer access card has already been issued to the incarcerated recipient, the department shall deactivate the card.
(i) The department shall perform a monthly match using the United States Social Security Death Index Database to determine if a recipient is deceased. If the department determines that the recipient is deceased at the time the index match is performed, the department shall not issue an electronic benefits transfer access card. If an electronic benefits transfer access card has already been issued to the deceased recipient, the department shall deactivate the card.

Legislative History

(Act 2014-419, p. 1531, §§1, 2.)