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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1166 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 123
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kelly A. Dooner
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act establishing a special commission to study the integrity of public assistance programs.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Kelly A. DoonerThird Bristol and Plymouth 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1166 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 123
By Ms. Dooner, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 123) of Kelly A. Dooner for
legislation to establish a special commission to study the integrity of the Electronic Benefit
Transfer system. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a special commission to study the integrity of public assistance programs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a
2special commission to study and provide recommendations on improving the oversight,
3administration, and integrity of the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system in the
4Commonwealth. The commission shall examine the current processes for issuing EBT cards,
5eligibility verification, fraud prevention, and compliance with federal and state laws. The study
6shall focus on: (1) Evaluating methods to improve eligibility verification, including cross-
7referencing Social Security data, death records, and incarceration status; (2) Assessing the
8feasibility of implementing photo identification on EBT cards; (3) Reviewing the administrative
9practices for distributing and managing EBT cards to prevent misuse and fraud; (4)
10Recommending best practices for data sharing between state and federal agencies; (5) Exploring
11the potential creation of an EBT audit system for enhanced accountability. The commission shall
12make recommendations for policy reforms to strengthen program integrity, reduce fraud, and
13ensure that EBT benefits are used as intended. 2 of 2
14 SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of the Secretary of Health and Human
15Services or their designee, who shall serve as chair; the Commissioner of the Department of
16Transitional Assistance (DTA) or their designee; the State Auditor or their designee; the
17Attorney General or their designee; the Treasurer and Receiver General or their designee; the
18House Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities or their
19designee; the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with
20Disabilities or their designee; one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of
21Representatives; one member appointed by the President of the Senate; one representative from
22the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association; the House Minority Leader or a designee; the
23Senate Minority Leader or a designee; one representative from the Massachusetts Municipal
24Association; and two public members with expertise in public welfare programs, fraud
25prevention, or data security, appointed by the Governor.
26 The commission shall hold not fewer than four public hearings across different regions of
27the Commonwealth to gather input from stakeholders, beneficiaries, and the public.
28 SECTION 3. The commission shall submit its findings, along with any legislative or
29regulatory recommendations, to the Governor, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the
30Clerk of the Senate, the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities,
31and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means no later than 12 months after the
32passage of this act.