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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to social services
- Referred to social services
Full text
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Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S241
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to finger imaging for food stamps recipients
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the finger imaging matching identification system for applicants or recipients of food stamps who are not also applicants for, or recipients of, family or safety net assistance.
Summary of provisions
Amends subdivision 3 of section 139-a of the law, to repeal the finger imaging matching identification system for applicants or recipients of food stamps who are not also applicants for, or recipients of, family or safety net assistance.
Justification
New York is one of the four remaining states in the country where finger imaging for food stamps still occurs. Finger imaging is required at the time of application for public assistance. In order for needy families to get food stamps all adult members or heads of households must have their finger images taken. If they don't comply their entire household is threatened and cannot receive public assistance. Applicants for emergency assistance must also be finger imaged in New York.
In a study conducted by a non-partisan, non-profit policy research organization it was found that finger imaging was not cost effective, and does not substantially deter fraud. The study concluded that in Texas and California finger imaging produces serious drawbacks that included low numbers of fraud detection, high numbers of administrative errors, and an elongated and inefficient process that deters indigent people from applying.
Finger imaging serves as a deterrent for eligible individuals to access food stamps, which are paid for by the federal government. It carries a stigma with it that is degrading to an applicant who might feel that their dignity is worth more than government assistance although they might be in dire need. Recently, the Governor of New York waived the finger imaging requirement for certain working families, recognizing that food is a basic necessity of life and that it is bad policy to require finger imaging as a prerequisite to assistance with food costs.
Legislative history
2007: A.10215 2010: S.6291-A/A.1681-A 2012: Committee Discharged and Committed to Rules
Fiscal implications
No new fiscal implications.
Effective date
180 days following enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.