Electronic benefits transfer system.

Existing law, administered by the State Department of Social Services, provides for the establishment of a statewide electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system for the purpose of providing financial and food assistance benefits to needy Californians. Existing law authorizes a fee to be charged to the recipient for EBT cash withdrawal transactions that exceed 4 per month, not to exceed the amount allowed by applicable state and federal law. This bill would specify that all reasonable measures should be taken to ensure that recipients have free access to the EBT system. The bill would revise fee provisions applicable to the EBT system, to identify the fee to be charged by the electronic benefits processor for transactions in excess of 4 per month as a transaction fee. This bill, to the extent permitted by federal law, would prohibit any person or corporation operating a device within the state that accepts electronic benefits transactions, from charging a recipient a surcharge or similar fee to make cash withdrawals or point of sale purchases, as specified.