South Carolina General Assembly
119th Session, 2011-2012

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Bill 3739

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A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 6 TO CHAPTER 5, TITLE 43 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO PRINT AND MAKE AVAILABLE PLACARDS TO RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ACCEPT SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS), STATING ON THE PLACARD THAT FOOD STAMP FRAUD IS A CRIME, AND A NUMBER TO CALL TO REPORT SUSPECTED FOOD STAMP FRAUD; TO REQUIRE THESE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS TO PROMINENTLY DISPLAY THE PLACARDS AT REGISTERS AND ENTRANCES IN THESE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS; AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT TO CHARGE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS FOR THE ACTUAL COST OF THE PLACARDS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Chapter 5, Title 43 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 6

Food Stamp Fraud Warning and Reporting

Section 43-5-810.    (A)    The Department of Social Services shall print and make available placards for retail establishments that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, formerly the federal food stamp program) for the purchase of eligible food items. The cardboard placard must not be less than eight inches by twelve inches and must bear the following inscription in letters not less than three-fourths of an inch high:

'Food Stamp Fraud is a Crime

To Report Suspected Food Stamp Fraud

Call (local Department of Social Services number to be printed).'

(B)(1)    The department shall print placards for each county to be used by retail establishments in that county, and the placard must include the Department of Social Services telephone number for that county.

(2)    Retail establishments that accept SNAP benefits shall obtain placards for their respective counties from the department and shall prominently display a placard at each checkout register and at each public entrance door to the establishment.

(C)    The department may charge retail establishments for the placards, but the amount charged must not exceed the actual cardboard placard and printing costs and mailing or shipping costs, if any, and no administrative or personnel costs may be included in the amount charged."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on February 24, 2011 at 10:19 AM