By Hilderbran                                   H.B. No. 2508

      75R8711 SAW-F                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to a study and a pilot project related to the use of

 1-3     finger-imaging in the electronic benefits transfer program.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  (a)  The Texas Department of Human Services

 1-6     shall, in cooperation with the comptroller, conduct a study and

 1-7     implement a pilot project related to the use of finger-imaging to

 1-8     replace the use of personal identification numbers in the

 1-9     electronic benefits transfer program.

1-10           (b)  The study shall examine:

1-11                 (1)  the most effective method of using finger-imaging

1-12     at the point of access to electronic benefits;

1-13                 (2)  the equipment and technology required to use

1-14     finger-imaging;

1-15                 (3)  system design for using finger-imaging; and

1-16                 (4)  appropriate pilot sites.

1-17           (c)  On the basis of the study, the department shall develop

1-18     a pilot project.  The department shall implement the pilot project:

1-19                 (1)  at no cost to retailers who participate in the

1-20     project;

1-21                 (2)  with advice from the Electronic Benefit Transfer

1-22     Merchant Advisory Committee; and

1-23                 (3)  using only private and federal funds.

1-24           (d)  Not later than September 1, 1998, the department shall

 2-1     submit to the comptroller an interim report on the pilot project.

 2-2           (e)  Not later than February 1, 1999, the department shall

 2-3     submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of

 2-4     the house of representatives a report on the feasibility of

 2-5     statewide use of finger-imaging in the electronic benefits transfer

 2-6     program.

 2-7           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and

 2-8     expires September 1, 1999.

 2-9           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-10     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-11     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-12     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-13     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.