HB576 Alabama 2014 Session

Existing law prohibits the use of fraudulent means to establish eligibility for public housing and Medicaid

This bill would prohibit certain fraudulent conduct in obtaining public assistance under any state or federally funded public assistance program and would provide penalties

This bill would provide for the forfeiture of any funds, proceeds, or property obtained by fraudulent conduct in obtaining public assistance

This bill would also authorize the Department of Revenue to intercept state income tax refunds of individuals who owe debts to a public housing authority

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to crimes and offenses; to provide a definition; to prohibit certain conduct in obtaining public assistance under any state or federally funded public assistance program; to provide penalties; to provide for the admissibility of certain records relating to public assistance fraud; to provide for the forfeiture of any funds, proceeds, or property obtained by fraudulent conduct in obtaining public assistance; to amend Section 40-18-100, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for the interception of state income tax refunds of persons fraudulently or improperly obtaining public assistance from a housing authority; and in connection therewith to have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.