This bill amends the Human Services Code of Pennsylvania to enhance security measures for access devices used by public assistance recipients. It introduces a new subarticle titled "Access Device Security," which outlines the responsibilities of recipients in the event of theft. Specifically, if a recipient discovers that their access device has been stolen and misused, they are required to report the incident to the department through a verified statement as soon as possible. The department is also granted the authority to investigate claims of theft to assess the situation and the financial impact on the recipient.

Additionally, the bill mandates the department to implement various security measures aimed at protecting recipients from financial harm due to access device theft. These measures include replacing magnetic strip access devices with those that utilize embedded chip technology, establishing monitoring systems with transaction alerts, promoting a mobile application for locking and unlocking access devices, streamlining theft reporting procedures, and conducting outreach to educate recipients on theft prevention. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 992 (Jun 24, 2025): P.L.31, No.21