46-217

46-217. Finger imaging program; temporary
assistance to needy families

A. The department shall establish a finger imaging program.

B. Every adult applicant for or adult recipient or eligible minor parent recipient
of temporary assistance for needy families as a condition of eligibility for assistance
is required to be finger imaged as required by this section.

C. Finger images obtained pursuant to this section shall be used only for the
purposes of determining eligibility for temporary assistance for needy families and
preventing multiple enrollments in assistance programs and may not be accessed by any
other agency of this state for another purpose.

D. The department shall adopt rules:

1. Setting forth the finger imaging requirements and any exceptions to these
requirements for physical or other impairment.

2. For administratively appealing multiple enrollment determinations.

E. An applicant for or recipient of temporary assistance for needy families is not
eligible for this assistance unless the adult applicant, adult recipient or eligible
minor parent provides finger images pursuant to the finger imaging program.

F. If an adult applicant for or adult recipient or eligible minor parent recipient
of temporary assistance for needy families refuses to comply with the finger imaging
requirements the department shall deny these benefits to the assistance unit.

G. If an adult applicant for or adult recipient or eligible minor parent recipient
of temporary assistance for needy families complies with the finger imaging requirements
and meets all other eligibility requirements, the department shall approve these
benefits. If the finger image of an applicant, adult recipient or eligible minor parent
for assistance matches another finger image on file, a fraud investigator shall be
notified and the applicant or recipient shall be made aware of the match. If a finger
image is not accessed within a one year period, it shall be purged from the file. If the
investigator verifies the fraud, the department shall terminate benefits. The applicant
or recipient may appeal this termination pursuant to section 46-205. If the match is
appealed, the finger image match shall be verified by a trained individual before the
termination of benefits.

H. The director of the department of economic security shall report to the
chairperson of the senate appropriations committee and the chairperson of the house of
representatives appropriations committee on February 15, 1997, and each year thereafter
as to the actual and projected savings from reduced caseloads in the temporary assistance
for needy families program directly attributable to the finger imaging program prescribed
by this section.