SB114 Summary

• Establishes public assistance fraud as a criminal offense, defining prohibited conduct including false statements, misrepresentation, failure to disclose changes in circumstances, and unauthorized use of assistance identification cards or authorizations.

• Creates tiered penalties: Class C felony for violations totaling $200 or more in aggregate value, and Class A misdemeanor for violations under $200; three or more violations create a rebuttable presumption of knowing violation.

• Authorizes forfeiture of all funds, proceeds, or property used in committing fraud or obtained through fraudulent conduct, with exceptions for hospital payments to Medicaid recipients.

• Establishes fraud screening requirements for state agencies administering public assistance programs including the Department of Human Resources and Medicaid Agency to identify error-prone or fraud-prone cases.

• Amends Section 40-18-100 to allow housing authorities to participate in state income tax refund interception proceedings for collection of debts owed under their administered programs.