SB152 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Arthur OrrDick BrewbakerGerald O. DialBryan TaylorJerry L. Fielding

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Public assistance, fraud in obtaining, crime established, penalties, theft of services, knowledge requirement deleted, Sec. 13A-8-10 am'd.

Summary

SB152 broadens public assistance fraud laws, creates new penalties, and removes the knowledge requirement from theft of services.

What This Bill Does

It makes it unlawful to knowingly provide false information, misrepresent facts, or hide changes in circumstances to obtain or continue public assistance; it also bans misusing identifications, submitting false or inflated claims, and other fraudulent acts. It holds administrators and those who handle public assistance accountable for misappropriation and fraud. It requires agencies to screen for fraud using fraud-prone profiles and to use verification systems, and it sets penalties based on the fraud amount, while stating repayment is not a defense.

Who It Affects

• Public assistance applicants and recipients who could face criminal charges for fraud, misrepresentation, or withholding information.
• Public assistance program administrators, employees, and service providers who must prevent, detect, report, and address fraud, with specific reporting duties and potential penalties for noncompliance.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits a range of fraudulent acts to obtain or continue public assistance, including false statements, failure to disclose changes, aiding others, misuse of benefit cards or authorizations, false claims, overbilling, and improper receipt of benefits.
• Abolishes the knowledge requirement in theft of services, expanding when a person can be charged for obtaining services without paying, and clarifies what counts as services.
• Sets penalties: aggregate fraud valued at $200 or more in 12 consecutive months is a Class C felony; fraud under $200 in 12 consecutive months is a Class A misdemeanor.
• Requires state agencies to create fraud-prone case profiles, conduct preeligibility fraud screening, and may use the Income and Eligibility Verification System to detect fraud.
• Service providers who receive compensation for public assistance services must notify the Department of Human Resources within 10 days of payments or contributions; failure to notify is a Class A misdemeanor.
• Defines that repayment of improper benefits is not a defense, and establishes evidentiary rules using warrants, transaction histories, and records as evidence; permits certain records to be used as business records.
• Amends Section 13A-8-10 to remove the knowledge requirement for theft of services and adds related definitions; notes the bill is exempt from certain local-expenditure requirements and establishes an effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses