ALBANY— ASSEMBLYMEMBER WILLIAM COLTON, D-47, has introduced legislation that would require the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to issue chip-enabled EBT cards to individuals enrolled in the program, to fight the theft of SNAP benefits. The legislation, if enacted, would also reimburse EBT theft victims for any stolen SNAP benefits until the new, more secure cards are issued, provided that they were not involved in the theft.
Colton introduced the legislation (A09358) to combat the rash of thefts from SNAP accounts via unauthorized transactions, whereby recipients of benefits suddenly found their accounts emptied of funds. Beyond SNAP, the legislation would also require the replacement of EBT cards issued by or on behalf of New York state that provide access to a wide range of public assistance or benefit funds, from child support to medical assistance. The federal government stopped refunding stolen SNAP funds in December 2024.
A similar bill to require chip technology in benefits cards was introduced last week in the U.S. House of Representatives and State Senate as part of a partnership between Congressmember Nicole Malliotakis, R-11, and state Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, D-23.
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