SMART-CHIP-ENABLED LINK CARDS

Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that to reduce the risk of SNAP and TANF recipients becoming the victims of benefits fraud by means of card skimming, card cloning, or some other similar fraudulent method, the Department of Human Services shall begin the process of transitioning to the use of electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards embedded with smart chip technology that enables cardholders to make a payment transaction by either inserting their EBT card into a card-reader or by "tapping" their EBT card onto a payment terminal or card reader that is enabled to accept and process contactless payments. Provides that the transition to EBT cards embedded with smart chip technology shall be completed no later than January 1, 2026 and that all EBT cards issued by the Department on and after January 1, 2026 shall be enabled with smart chip technology. Provides that EBT cards, including LINK cards, issued by the Department prior to the Department's roll-out of smart-chip-enabled cards, shall be replaced by January 1, 2026 with EBT cards embedded with smart chip technology. Effective immediately.