Senate Passes Welfare Reform

The Senate voted 37-1 to approve a sweeping overhaul of the state’s welfare system that would strengthen efforts to move people off public assistance and into the workforce, while also attempting to tackle concerns of fraud and abuse with reforms such as adding photo identification to EBT cards, enhanced penalties for trafficking and a denial of benefits if a recipient cannot produce a valid Social Security number within three months.

The bill now goes to the House where Democratic leaders have tried to attach more targeted reforms into other state spending bills on the move, but have suggested a review of the Senate’s comprehensive bill could take some time.

Category: News/Updates