What's happening
This bill requires the health commissioner to create an alternative ID method for WIC recipients without their program-issued identification.
Why it matters
Reduces barriers for vulnerable families. By creating an alternative ID method, the bill helps ensure low-income women, infants, and children don’t lose access to essential nutrition benefits simply because they've lost or forgotten their program-issued ID.
Promotes food security and health. Immediate access to WIC benefits can be crucial for nutrition and health, particularly for children and pregnant women. Alternative ID options can prevent unnecessary delays or gaps in receiving healthy foods.
Supports administrative flexibility and dignity. The requirement for alternative identification methods may reduce stigma and stress for recipients, making the process more user-friendly and adaptable to real-world circumstances where ID loss is common.
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Who cares
WIC recipients
The bill would provide a way to present alternative identification when using WIC checks or vouchers without their program-issued identification in hand.
Retailers accepting WIC checks or vouchers
The bill would establish a method for recipients to show alternative identification at the point of sale.
New York State Department of Health
The commissioner would be required to establish the alternative identification method through rules and regulations.
Headline styles
Alternative WIC ID Allowed
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Alternative WIC ID
In Assembly Committee · Health · Sponsor Carmen De La Rosa
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4703
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 21, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to directing the commissioner of health to establish an alternative form of identification for utilization of the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 206 of the public health law is amended by adding a new paragraph (w) to read as follows:
(w) by rule and regulation, establish a method by which an alternative form of identification which may be shown at the point of sale at which checks or vouchers issued under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children may be utilized, in the event a recipient of such program does not have the identification issued pursuant to the program in his or her possession.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05741-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to directing the commissioner of health to establish an alternative form of identification for utilization of the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children
Purpose
Directs the commissioner of health to establish a method by which alter- native identification can be presented at a point of sale when a recipi- ent of WIC's does not have his or her WIC's identification
Summary of provisions
Sections one amends subdivision 1 of section 206 of the Public Health Law by adding a new paragraph (w), directing the Department of Health to establish method by which by which consumers who are participants in the WIT Program. may use a method of identification other than the identifi- cation provided by the program itself, in order to utilize vouchers and/or checks issued by the Program.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
Justification
As a matter of practicality, the processing of WIC-issued. Checks and vouchers can be a time-consuming burden for supermarkets and ot her stores attempting to quickly accommodate all customers. Adding to this problem, New York_ law currently prohibits cashiers from a ccepting these vouchers or checks when a customer is unable to present the specific identification card issued by the WIC Program; even in cases where a driver's license or other identification clearly indicates that a customer is eligible for participation in the Program, that customer must be refused by the store. This wrinkle further perpetuates delays in the WIC redemption process, as well as may contribute to a negative perception of a business establishment by a consumer, when that estab- lishment is simply seeking to follow existing rules. Additionally, forc- ing a consumer to present a WIC Program identification card to a cashier unnecessarily contributes to scenarios where that consumer is subjected to unwarranted stigmas that currently surround program participants.
This legislation seeks to solve these problems by directing the Depart- ment of Health to develop a methodology through which a program partic- ipant's identification can be verified in a manner other than by solely the furnishing of a program identification card.
Fiscal impact
None.
Prior legislative history
None. A8435 of 2018: passed Assembly, in 2017 passed Senate.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.