By: Bivins S.C.R. No. 1 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The electronic benefit transfer system uses advanced 1-2 technology to automate the delivery of food stamps and other 1-3 governmental services to its clients in a more efficient and 1-4 effective manner; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Under this innovative new system, clients who 1-6 receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) payments, 1-7 food stamps, Medicaid, and other governmental services are able to 1-8 access their benefits electronically using plastic debit cards at 1-9 such places as grocery stores, pharmacies, and doctors' offices; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, In 1991 an electronic benefit transfer project was 1-12 initiated in Texas following a performance review of the Texas 1-13 Department of Human Services by the comptroller of public accounts; 1-14 the comptroller then appointed a task force of citizens from all 1-15 parts of Texas to work on the project; and 1-16 WHEREAS, The electronic benefit transfer system is being 1-17 developed as a collaborative effort among state agencies; 1-18 currently, the comptroller of public accounts is taking the lead in 1-19 coordinating the project, the Texas Department of Human Services is 1-20 serving as the administering agency, and the Treasury Department 1-21 and the Department of Information Resources are contributing 1-22 agencies; and 1-23 WHEREAS, The electronic benefit transfer project has set 1-24 August, 1993, as a goal for the implementation of a three-month 2-1 pilot project in Houston; following completion of the pilot project 2-2 and pending federal approval, the overall goal of the electronic 2-3 benefit transfer project is to implement the system statewide; now, 2-4 therefore, be it 2-5 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas 2-6 hereby urge the electronic benefit transfer project under the 2-7 guidance of the citizens task force and the various cooperating 2-8 state agencies--the comptroller of public accounts, the Texas 2-9 Department of Human Services, the Treasury Department, and the 2-10 Department of Information Resources--to set 1995 as the goal for 2-11 the statewide implementation of the electronic benefit transfer 2-12 system; and, be it further 2-13 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be 2-14 forwarded to the citizens task force and to the state agencies 2-15 collaborating in the electronic benefit transfer project as a 2-16 formal expression of the sentiment of the Texas Senate and House of 2-17 Representatives.