MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

3845

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent to
the Maryland Council on Higher Education.

Approved April 22, 1975.

No. 33
(House Joint Resolution 24)

A House Joint Resolution concerning

[[Banking Services for the Poor]]
Distribution Services for Food Stamps

FOR the purpose of requesting [[banks]] certain
institutions to help the poor and sell food stamps
during the regular [[banking]] business hours.

WHEREAS, The banks of Maryland are to be commended
for the adoption of the policy whereby all banks will
cash public assistance checks under the same terms,
conditions, and hours of service as they cash any other
check. This will mean that the welfare recipients
dependence on the corner grocery or liquor store to cash
checks for a fee or an obligation to make a purchase will
be greatly diminished; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, this policy will save the
State of Maryland an estimated $200,000 per year because
the recipient will carry tamper—proof identification
cards that will cause a sharp curtailment of stolen and
forged welfare checks; and

WHEREAS, [[However, the poor and needy of Maryland
face another problem whose effects could be greatly
diminished if the banks of Maryland would use their
efforts to aid these people.]] There is a critical
shortage of locations that handle the sale of food stamps
and this imposes a hardship not only on welfare
recipients, but also on the large numbers of the working
poor who are eligible for help in stretching their food
dollar; and

WHEREAS, The food stamp program is a federal program

which the federal government should effectuate by

allowing the Postal Service to sell and distribute food
stamps; and

WHEREAS, Because of their instant cash value, food
stamps have to be sold under secure conditions, but of