State Senator Tom Libous pushes to get the Public Assistance Integrity Act signed into law for the third time. Libous introduced the bill in Albany Tuesday afternoon. The federal government has given states until February 22 to come up with a plan to prevent fraud. Otherwise hundreds of millions of dollars in public assistance funding will be lost. Senator Libous wants the state’s plan to include tighter restrictions on public assistance Electronic Benefit Transfer cards which can be used at an ATM or as a debit card at a store. The bill would make it illegal to use EBT cards to buy cigarettes or at liquor stores, strip clubs and casinos. Libous stresses that tens of millions of dollars have been lost to fraud. The Public Assistance Integrity Act passed again in the Senate Tuesday. Libous is calling on the Assembly to bring it up for a vote this session.
