H-4007.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2896

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Representatives Ogden, Carlson, Tokuda, Dickerson, DeBolt, Schual‑Berke, Radcliff, Eickmeyer, Edwards, Kagi and Santos

Read first time 01/24/2000.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Describing when payment of public assistance benefits by electronic funds transfer is not required.

    AN ACT Relating to circumstances when payment of public assistance benefits need not be paid through electronic funds transfer; and amending RCW 74.08A.020.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 74.08A.020 and 1997 c 58 s 104 are each amended to read as follows:

    By October 2002, the department shall develop and implement an electronic benefit transfer system to be used for the delivery of public assistance benefits, including without limitation, food assistance.

    The department shall comply with P.L. 104-193, and shall cooperate with relevant federal agencies in the design and implementation of the electronic benefit transfer system.

Payment by electronic funds transfer is not required where an individual determines, in his or her sole discretion, that payment by electronic funds transfer would impose a hardship due to a physical or mental disability or a geographic, language, or literacy barrier, or would impose a financial hardship.

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