HB 2540

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3440  PRINTER'S NO.     3513
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
                    HOUSE BILL
                    No. 2540
                                          Session of
                                            2026
INTRODUCED BY D. WILLIAMS, HEFFLEY, FIEDLER, BURGOS, KAUFFMAN,
   MAYES, PROBST, SAMUELSON, GIRAL, POWELL, WAXMAN, VENKAT,
   McNEILL, JAMES, PUGH, HILL-EVANS, RIVERA, PASHINSKI, SANCHEZ,
   CURRY AND DELLOSO, MAY 26, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, HOUSE OF
   REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 3, 2026
                               AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
2    act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
3    welfare laws of the Commonwealth," in public assistance,
4    providing for transition to chip-enabled access cards.
5    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7    Section 1.    The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
8 as the Human Services Code, is amended by adding a section to
9 read:
10    Section 414.2.    Transition to Chip-Enabled Access Cards.--(a)
11 Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly TO THE EXTENT      <--
12 MONEY IS APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSES UNDER THIS SECTION, the
13 department shall transition all access cards for use in the
14 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to include chip-
15 enabled technology no later than January 1, 2028.
16    (b)   The department shall implement the transition under
17 subsection (a) in the most cost-effective and efficient manner,      <--
1 such as, but not limited to, transitioning access cards on a
2 county-by-county basis or regional basis. A MANNER THAT BALANCES <--
3 EFFICIENCY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND PROVIDES ENHANCED SECURITY
4 FEATURES SUCH AS TAP-TO-PAY TECHNOLOGY OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY TO
5 PREVENT BENEFIT THEFT.
6    (C)    THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ONE CHIP-ENABLED ACCESS
7 CARD PER ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT AT NO COST TO THE RECIPIENT.
8    (c) (D)    The department shall:  <--
9    (1)    Within 180 days of the effective date of this section,
10 issue an initial report evaluating the transition under
11 subsection (a) on a county-by-county basis to:  <--
12    (i)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Health
13 and Human Services Committee of the Senate.
14    (ii)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of the Human
15 Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
16    (2)    Following the initial report under paragraph (1), issue
17 a report every 180 days until chip-enabled access cards have
18 been made available in each county.
19    (3)    Perform outreach to vendors on the transition under
20 subsection (a), including system upgrades that a vendor may need
21 to implement.
22    (4)    Apply for any Federal grants or money made available to   <--
23 implement the transition in a manner that would result in
24 receiving the maximum amount of money possible.
25    (4)    PERFORM OUTREACH TO RECIPIENTS ON THE TRANSITION,  <--
26 INCLUDING POSTING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
27 INTERNET WEBSITE, IN A SHAREABLE FORMAT, RESOURCES AND
28 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF ACCESS CARDS
29 WITH CHIP-ENABLED TECHNOLOGY.
30    (5)    ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE TO DISTRIBUTE ACCESS CARDS TO
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1 ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
2    (6)   TAKE NECESSARY STEPS, WHERE POSSIBLE, TO MAXIMIZE
3 FUNDING WITH FEDERAL OR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES BY OCTOBER 1,
4 2026.
5    (d) (E)   Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit   <--
6 the department's authority to implement future changes to access
7 cards to enhance benefit security.
8    Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.
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