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Senate includes $15.5 million for EBT chip cards and adopts criminal skimming fix amid theft concerns
Summary
Senators debated and approved measures in the supplemental budget package and floor amendments addressing theft of SNAP/EBT benefits, including $15.5 million to install chip technology on EBT cards and a statutory amendment criminalizing electronic skimming; lawmakers cited verified thefts and urged further assistance for victims.
Senators on the floor described a continuing problem of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card theft and discussed steps in the supplemental budget to address it. The Senate’s supplemental package includes $15,500,000 to install chip technology on EBT cards, and the chamber adopted an amendment clarifying that using electronic devices such as skimmers to steal SNAP benefits is criminalized.
Senator Edward J. Kennedy (Worcester) and other floor speakers recounted audit and Department of…
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