Kaufer’s Plan to Address Residency Requirements for Public Assistance Passes House Health Committee
HARRISBURG – To help ensure that every dollar of public assistance is used to help the truly needy who reside in Pennsylvania, Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) is sponsoring
House Bill 1322, which would require applicants for general assistance to disclose previous states in which they have collected public assistance. His bill would also require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to notify other states of the change in residency of the applicant. The measure passed the House Health Committee with bipartisan support, a vote of 18-7, on Monday.
“The intent of public assistance is to help those Pennsylvanians who are in need, and it is fundamentally important that we ensure our tax dollars are being used to help those who live here and intend to remain living here,” Kaufer said. “This is a first step in addressing the large issue we face, related to cross-state applications that continue to lead to fraud, waste and abuse within our state’s public assistance system.”
Current law states that the Public Welfare Code governs public assistance laws and policies in Pennsylvania; however, there are no laws requiring DHS to notify other states of the change in residency of applicants.
For more information about Kaufer’s legislation, or any other state-related issue, contact Kaufer’s district office in Luzerne located at 161 Main St., by calling 570-283-1001. Information can also be found online at
RepKaufer.com or
Facebook.com/RepKaufer.
Representative Aaron Kaufer
120th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
717.705.2032
KCorbin@pahousegop.com
RepKaufer.com /
Facebook.com/RepKaufer