SB116 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Clay ScofieldTrip PittmanBill HoltzclawGerald H. AllenScott BeasonBryan Taylor

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Public assistance benefits, purchase of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and lottery tickets with, prohibited, use of benefit funds in certain establishments prohibited, penalties for violations, Human Resources Department required to perform monthly matches to determine eligibility regarding incarceration or whether recipient is deceased

Summary

SB116 would restrict how public assistance benefits are used, ban certain purchases and withdrawals, impose penalties for violations, and add monthly checks for incarceration or death with procedures to protect minor children.

What This Bill Does

SB116 prohibits using public assistance benefits to buy alcohol, tobacco, or lottery tickets, and bans cash withdrawals at establishments that primarily sell alcohol, casinos, tattoo/piercing shops, psychic services, or adult entertainment venues, with escalating disqualification penalties for violators. It allows the parent of a minor to designate another person to receive benefits for the child if the parent is disqualified, and requires the Department to inform applicants and recipients of restrictions and penalties. It directs the Department to work with ATM providers to block cash access at ATMs in restricted locations if feasible and to adopt rules to implement these changes, and it requires monthly checks to determine incarceration or death status so benefits can be withheld or cards deactivated.

Who It Affects

• Recipients of public assistance benefits (including cash and Electronic Benefits Transfer users) who would face new restrictions on purchases and withdrawals and possible benefit disqualification.
• Parents/guardians of minor children receiving benefits, and others who may be designated as recipients for the child (protective payees), who would interact with new designation rules and the possibility of continued benefits for the child through an approved recipient.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits use of public assistance benefits to purchase alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or lottery tickets; violators face escalating disqualification: 1 month for first violation, 3 months for second, and permanent disqualification for third or subsequent violations, with a hearing right.
• Prohibits cash withdrawals or uses of EBT at establishments whose primary business is alcohol, casinos, tattoo/body piercing facilities, psychic services, or adult-oriented entertainment; violators face escalating disqualification as above.
• If a parent is permanently disqualified, the dependent child’s or other adult family member’s eligibility is not affected; a protective payee must be designated to receive benefits for the child, and the parent may designate another approved person to receive benefits for the child.
• The Department of Human Resources must inform all applicants and recipients of the restrictions and penalties by practical means.
• The Department must consult with ATM providers to consider blocking access to cash benefits at ATMs located in restricted establishments; if feasible, implement the program by October 1, 2015, and apply for any needed federal waivers.
• The Department is given rulemaking authority to implement this section.
• The Department shall perform monthly matches to check incarceration status and death status; if incarcerated or deceased, the EBT card shall be deactivated or not issued.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Assistance