New York State Senator Bill Weber is a joint co-sponsor of a bill designed to protect SNAP/EBT benefit recipients from sophisticated, organized crime rings that have successfully drained countless accounts in Rockland County and throughout New York City.
Senator Bill Weber and Senator Luis Sepúlveda co-sponsored the bill initially introduced by Senator Simcha Felder in the state senate and Assemblyman Sam Berger in the state assembly.
The bill S08662 aims to prevent fraud by requiring EBT systems to allow benefit recipients to cancel and lock their food stamp cards when fraud is suspected or reported. It also directs that interactive voice response systems for the accounts include an option for benefit recipients to report fraud and cancel, lock, or unlock their electronic benefit transfer credit or debit card.
“Stealing from those who are most vulnerable and can’t afford to put food on the table for their families is a new low,” Senator Weber states,” After receiving countless calls from panicked constituents who had been victims of the skimming devices which completely depleted their accounts, I knew something had to be done immediately. This bill will help prevent future scamming efforts and simultaneously protect taxpayers from suffering the consequences of bad actors.”
The bill recently passed unanimously by a vote of 61-0 in the State Senate and is headed to the Governor for her signature.