(1) The cabinet shall establish and maintain policies and practices necessary to ensure compliance with 42 U.S.C. § 608(a)(12).
(2) If a cash recipient of public assistance benefits uses an automated teller machine or any other means or device to withdraw cash using an electronic benefit transfer card issued by the cabinet, that cash may only be used for goods and services necessary for the welfare of the family, including but not limited to food, clothing, housing, utilities, child care, transportation, medicine, and medical supplies.

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 205.193

  • Cabinet: means the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. See Kentucky Statutes 205.010
  • Federal: refers to the United States. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • Month: means calendar month. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Public assistance: means money grants, assistance in kind, or services to or for the benefit of needy aged, needy blind, needy permanently and totally disabled persons, needy children, or persons with whom a needy child lives or a family containing a combination of these categories, except that the term shall not be construed to permit the granting of financial aid where the purpose of such aid is to obtain an abortion. See Kentucky Statutes 205.010
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Year: means calendar year. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010

(3) If in the normal course of operations, the cabinet finds that an individual has violated subsection (2) of this section, the cabinet:
(a) Shall through any means practical and to the extent permitted under state and federal law, including but not limited to garnishment of future cash assistance benefits, seek recoupment from the individual of any funds used in violation of subsection (2) of this section; and
(b) May:
1. Impose a fine on the individual in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500);
2. Upon the first violation, disqualify the individual from receiving public assistance benefits by means of a direct cash payment or an electronic benefits transfer card for not more than one (1) month;
3. Upon the second violation, disqualify the individual from receiving public assistance benefits by means of a direct cash payment or an electronic benefits transfer card for not more than three (3) months; and
4. Upon the third violation, disqualify the individual from receiving public assistance benefits by means of a direct cash payment or an electronic benefits transfer card for not more than one (1) year.
(4) The cabinet shall:
(a) Through any means practical, inform all applicants for, and cash recipients of, public assistance benefits of the restrictions and sanctions contained in this section;
(b) Investigate cases in which it believes cash benefits may be being used in violation of subsection (2) of this section; and
(c) Within ninety (90) days after July 14, 2022, promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A necessary to administer this section.
Effective: July 14, 2022
History: Created 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 211, sec. 2, effective July 14, 2022.