REVISE BRIDGE CARDS AND ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS
House Bill 5560 as introduced
Sponsor: Rep. John Reilly
Committee: Families, Children, and Seniors
Complete to 2-28-18
SUMMARY:
House Bill 5560 would amend the Social Welfare Act to require that the Bridge Card issued to a recipient of food or cash assistance benefits have his or her photographic image on it. If more than one individual is authorized by the department to use the Bridge Card, the images of both individuals would have to appear on the card.
The bill would also direct the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to modify the Bridge Card software so that a card issued on or after the effective date of the bill will not allow a recipient to obtain cash from an automated teller machine (ATM) or a point-of-sale device.
In addition, under the bill, cash assistance or other assistance provided under the act could only be used for the following:
· Rent, if the landlord is enrolled as a vendor in the rent vendoring program.
· Payment to utility companies.
· Payment to a child care provider.
· Payment for certain products allowed by DHHS at state-approved grocery stores.
DHHS would also have to disburse all vendored payments first, and any assistance balance remaining after that would be disbursed to the recipient on the Bridge Card.
The bill would take effect 180 days after being enacted into law.
Proposed MCL 400.14k and 400.57w
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 5560 would increase costs to the Department of Health and Human Services by an unknown amount. The amount of increase would depend upon the cost of the required changes to Bridge Cards and the MIBridges program under the bill’s provisions. As further information on the required changes is made available, this analysis will be updated.
Fiscal Analyst: Viola Bay Wild
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.