Pennsylvania Senate Committee Advances Bills to Protect Social Services
Pennsylvania senators unanimously passed bills to crack down on criminals who steal food assistance benefits and target other social services programs.
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — State senators unanimously advanced three bills Tuesday designed to strengthen protections for Pennsylvanians who depend on government programs for healthcare, childcare, and food assistance.
The measures passed without major objections during a 22-minute committee meeting, addressing growing concerns about fraud targeting vulnerable populations across the state.
Enhanced Penalties for SNAP Card Skimming
Senate Bill 362, authored by Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), creates new criminal penalties for individuals who steal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits through card skimming devices. The practice involves criminals stealing card information from SNAP recipients to access their food assistance benefits.
Under the legislation, first-time benefit theft becomes a third-degree felony, while repeat offenses are elevated to second-degree felonies. The bill also includes amended language that permanently bars anyone convicted of SNAP fraud from participating in the program.
“These are benefits meant to help families put food on the table. They support children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families who are trying to get by,” Boscola said in submitted committee remarks. “When criminals steal those benefits, they are stealing from people who can least afford it and from the taxpayers who fund these programs.”
Challenges in Replacing Stolen Benefits
The legislation addresses a problem for SNAP recipients whose benefits are stolen through skimming. According to committee materials, stolen benefits are difficult to replace, leaving many families without food assistance after being victimized.
Pennsylvania is currently transitioning toward chip-enabled benefit cards to combat skimming, but the implementation process will take several months to complete statewide.
Additional Social Services Protections
The committee also advanced companion bills targeting fraud in childcare assistance and Medicaid programs, though specific details of those measures were not outlined in Tuesday’s proceedings.
The anti-fraud initiatives align with efforts during the Trump administration’s second term to prevent abuse of social services programs. Federal and state officials have increasingly focused on protecting taxpayer-funded assistance programs from criminal exploitation.
All three bills now advance to the full Senate for consideration. The measures received bipartisan support in committee, suggesting strong legislative backing for enhanced social services protections.
The legislation comes as Pennsylvania continues to serve thousands of residents through SNAP, Medicaid, and childcare assistance programs. Officials have not released specific data on the scope of skimming-related benefit theft in the state.
