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St. Lawrence County legislators support bill to limit misuse of public assistance benefits and increase offender penalties

Posted 3/5/14

By JIMMY LAWTON CANTON -- St. Lawrence County legislators pledged support for a bill that would limit misuse of benefits and strengthen penalties for offenders. St. Lawrence County legislators voted …

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St. Lawrence County legislators support bill to limit misuse of public assistance benefits and increase offender penalties

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County legislators pledged support for a bill that would limit misuse of benefits and strengthen penalties for offenders.

St. Lawrence County legislators voted Monday to support the Public Assistance Integrity Act, which prohibits the sale or purchase of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or lottery tickets with public assistance benefits and prohibits the use an electronic benefit transfer transaction, at a liquor store, casino or adult entertainment facility.

St. Lawrence County legislative chairman Jonathan Putney, a Waddington Democrat, said he felt the county should support the act after he became aware of apparent abuses of public assistance.

“This bill will put some teeth into penalties and create regulations that prohibit and discourage abuse,” he said.

The bill has support from Senate members Patricia Ritchie, Betty Little and Joseph Griffo, as well as Assembly members Addie Russell, Ken Blankenbush Janet Duprey.

“We are hearing about people using assistance to purchase beer, liquor and tobacco products as well as other services that the benefits were not intended for,” Putney said. “Social welfare programs were implemented to help families in need, people of lower income and people with disabilities. At the end of the day we want to make sure those funds are available for the people that need them.”

Putney said the majority of people receiving public assistance are not abusing the program, but regulations have been unable to keep up with technology and a few “bad apples” have found a way to work around restrictions.