A Texas lawmaker has filed a bill to add photos to the Lone Star Card in order to prevent fraud.
House Bill 1250 proposes adding a photo of the recipient on Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards on the front side of each card.
The name along with the photo of the recipient or an authorized person on the recipient's account would be displayed. Exceptions to the photograph would include anyone 65 years old or older, younger than 19 years old, blind, disabled, a victim of domestic violence, homeless or someone who was issued an EBT card and a field, regional, or other local commission office.
State Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Orange, filed the bill at the end of January.
Phelan's bill also proposes adding the words "fraud hotline" on the back of each card along with the toll-free telephone number for reporting suspected fraud.
It also asks the commission to monitor the frequency that recipients request replacements of their EBT cards used for SNAP benefits.
If passed, this bill would take effect on Sept. 1, 2019.
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