SB 429 - The attached bill requires the Director of the Department of Social Services to adopt a means which will be used to personally identify every applicant for public assistance. The method adopted may use fingerprints, digitized fingerprints, retinal scanning or any other method which will allow the unique identification of each individual and permit comparisons with databases in Missouri and other states.

The act also allows for electronic access to public assistance funds. It provides that when applicants have a personal account in a Missouri financial institution, cash assistance shall be direct- deposited into that account.

The existing trial electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system is made permanent and statewide. The EBT system would be used only when the recipient does not have a personal bank account.

The act imposes penalties for fraud involving illegal use of a EBT card and the penalty corresponds to the amount of money involved. It would be a Class D felony if the fraud amounted to more that $150.

DAVID VALENTINE