S-0559.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5510

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Smith, Roach and Quigley

Read first time 01/25/95.  Referred to Committee on Law & Justice.

Revising provisions relating to food stamp crimes.

    AN ACT Relating to crimes involving food stamps; amending RCW 9.91.140; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 9.91.140 and 1988 c 62 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) A person who sells food ((coupons)) stamps obtained through the program established under RCW 74.04.500, or food purchased therewith, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021 if the value of the ((coupons)) stamps or food transferred exceeds one hundred dollars, and is guilty of a misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021 if the value of the ((coupons)) stamps or food transferred is one hundred dollars or less.

    (2) A person who purchases, or who otherwise acquires and sells, or who traffics in, food ((coupons issued to another person through the program established under RCW 74.04.500)) stamps as defined by the federal food stamp act, as amended, (7 U.S.C. Sec. 2011 et seq.), is guilty of a class C felony under RCW 9A.20.021 if the face value of the ((coupons)) stamps exceeds one hundred dollars, and is guilty of a gross misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021 if the face value of the ((coupons)) stamps is one hundred dollars or less.

    (3) A person who, in violation of 7 U.S.C. Sec. 2024(c), obtains and presents food ((coupons)) stamps as defined by the federal food stamp act, as amended, (7 U.S.C. Sec. 2011 et seq.), for redemption or causes such ((coupons)) stamps to be presented for redemption through the program established under RCW 74.04.500 is guilty of a class C felony under RCW 9A.20.021.

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