SB 480

General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 480
  February Session, 2026
 AN ACT CONCERNING PREVENTING FRAUD IN THE
 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND
 EXPRESSLY EXTENDING FRAUD AND CORRUPTION PENALTIES TO
 PUBLIC SERVANTS.
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
 Assembly convened:
1Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section, (1)
2     "electronic benefit transfer card" means a card through which recipients
3     of supplemental nutrition assistance and other state-administered
4     benefit programs access benefits, and (2) "security chip technology"
5     means technology that generates a unique, one-time encrypted code for
6     each transaction on a credit card. The Commissioner of Social Services,
7     within available appropriations, shall upgrade electronic benefit
8     transfer cards to utilize security chip technology to help track and
9     prevent potentially fraudulent uses of such cards.
10(b) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Social
11    Services shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section
12    11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committee of the
13    General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human
14    services on (1) implementation of the new security chip technology, and
15    (2) any measurable effect on fraud prevention in the use of electronic
16    benefit transfer cards.
17Sec. 2. Section 4-274 of the general statutes is repealed and the
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18 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026):
19   As used in this section and section 4-275:
20    (1) "Knowing" and "knowingly" means that a person, with respect to
21 information: (A) Has actual knowledge of the information; (B) acts in
22 deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information; or (C) acts
23 in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information, without
24 regard to whether the person intends to defraud;
25     (2) "Claim" (A) means any request or demand, whether under a
26 contract or otherwise, for money or property and whether or not the
27 state has title to the money or property, that (i) is presented to an officer,
28 employee or agent of the state, or (ii) is made to a contractor, grantee or
29 other recipient, if the money or property is to be spent or used on the
30 state's behalf or to advance a state program or interest, and if the state
31 provides or has provided any portion of the money or property that is
32 requested or demanded, or if the state will reimburse such contractor,
33 grantee or other recipient for any portion of the money or property that
34 is requested or demanded, and (B) does not include a request or demand
35 for money or property that the state has paid to an individual as
36 compensation for state employment or as an income subsidy with no
37 restrictions on that individual's use of the money or property;
38    (3) "Person" means any [natural person] individual, including, but
39 not limited to, a public servant, as defined in section 53a-146, as
40 amended by this act, corporation, limited liability company, firm,
41 association, organization, partnership, business, trust or other legal
42 entity;
43    (4) "State" means the state of Connecticut, any agency or department
44 of the state or any quasi-public agency, as defined in section 1-120;
45    (5) "Obligation" means an established duty, whether fixed or not,
46 arising from (A) an express or implied contractual, grantor-grantee or
47 licensor-licensee relationship, (B) a fee-based or similar relationship, (C)
48 statute or regulation, or (D) the retention of an overpayment; and
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49   (6) "Material" means having a natural tendency to influence, or be
50 capable of influencing, the payment or receipt of money or property.
51    Sec. 3. Section 53a-146 of the general statutes is repealed and the
52 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026):
53   For purposes of this part:
54    (1) An "official proceeding" is any proceeding held or which may be
55 held before any legislative, judicial, administrative or other agency or
56 official authorized to take evidence under oath, including any referee,
57 hearing examiner, commissioner or notary or other person taking
58 evidence in connection with any proceeding.
59   (2) "Benefit" means monetary advantage, or anything regarded by the
60 beneficiary as a monetary advantage, including benefit to any person or
61 entity in whose welfare the beneficiary is interested.
62    (3) "Public servant" is an officer or employee of government,
63 including the federal government, or a quasi-public agency, as defined
64 in section 1-120, elected or appointed, and any person participating as
65 advisor, consultant or otherwise, paid or unpaid, in performing a
66 governmental function.
67    (4) "Government" includes any branch, subdivision or agency of the
68 state or any locality within it.
69    (5) "Labor official" means any duly appointed or elected
70 representative of a labor organization or any duly appointed or elected
71 trustee or representative of an employee welfare trust fund.
72   (6) "Witness" is any person summoned, or who may be summoned,
73 to give testimony in an official proceeding.
74    (7) "Juror" is any person who has been drawn or summoned to serve
75 or act as a juror in any court.
76   (8) "Physical evidence" means any article, object, document, record or
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77 other thing of physical substance which is or is about to be produced or
78 used as evidence in an official proceeding.
79   (9) "Person selected to be a public servant" means any person who
80 has been nominated or appointed to be a public servant.
  This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
  sections:
  Section 1      July 1, 2026  New section
  Sec. 2  July 1, 2026  4-274
  Sec. 3  July 1, 2026  53a-146
 HS  Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
 JUD  Joint Favorable
 APP  Joint Favorable
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