HARRY HUGHES, Governor

701

AN ACT concerning

Public Assistance Fraud

FOR the purpose of extending to applicants for certain
assistance at public expense the provisions that
require the reading of a statement of conduct
constituting fraud and acknowledgment of the penalties
for fraud; and recodifying these provisions.

BY repealing

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 230A(c)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1976 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

Section 16

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1969 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

230A.

[(c) Any person receiving assistance at public expense
shall read, or have read to them, a statement of what
conduct constitutes fraud under this section and shall sign
a statement acknowledging that he understands that the
penalties for welfare fraud may be a fine of not more than
$1,000 or imprisonment for not more than three years, or
both fine and imprisonment.]

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

16.

(A)   (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE
THE MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2)   "ASSISTANCE AT PUBLIC EXPENSE" MEANS ANY
ASSISTANCE ENUMERATED IN ARTICLE 27, § 230A(A) OF THE CODE.

(3)   "FRAUD" HAS THE MEANING STATED IN ARTICLE
27, § 230A(A) OF THE CODE.

(B)   EACH APPLICANT FOR OR RECIPIENT OF ASSISTANCE AT
PUBLIC EXPENSE SHALL READ OR HAVE READ TO HIM OR HER A