Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-01-58-.04 - MONITORING AND PENALTIES

(1) Any Families First/TANF recipient or caretaker must submit to the Department a signed Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP) acknowledging his/her understanding that it is illegal to knowingly use an EBT card containing public assistance benefits at any POS device, ATM, or other online system used for the processing of payments or withdrawal of funds located in any liquor store, casino, gambling casino, gaming establishment, adult cabaret, or tobacco store (however, ATM use is permitted in tobacco stores) to purchase any goods or services as described in this Chapter.

(2) The Department shall monitor EBT transactions on a quarterly basis to determine whether there is any illegal use of EBT cards under this Chapter.

(a) Any Families First/TANF recipient or caretaker who knowingly participates or knowingly allows another to use the recipient's EBT card in an EBT transaction at an ATM machine, POS device, or other online system used for processing of payments or withdrawal of funds in any prohibited business location shall be subject to the following penalties:

1. First or Second Violation. The Families First/TANF recipient or caretaker shall be required to reimburse the Department for the amount of the purchase at a POS machine or the amount of the cash withdrawn and used from an ATM.

2. Third or Subsequent Violation. The Families First/TANF recipient or caretaker shall be required to reimburse the Department for the amount of the purchase at the POS machine or the amount of cash withdrawn and used from an ATM, and:

(i) The Families First/TANF recipient or caretaker shall be permanently prohibited from accessing temporary public assistance benefits, to the extent permitted by federal law, by means of direct cash payment or an EBT card.

(ii) The Department shall afford the Families First/TANF recipient or caretaker an administrative hearing prior to taking any action to disqualify the individual from direct receipt of public assistance benefits.

(iii) The Department shall designate a protective payee to administer the temporary public assistance grant for the benefit of the AU in the event a Families First/TANF recipient or caretaker is prohibited from receipt of public assistance benefits by means of direct cash payment or an EBT card under this Chapter.

3. Any illegal EBT transaction under this Chapter shall be classified as an overpayment and the Department shall initiate collection proceedings pursuant to Chapter 1240-01-52.

(b) Any person or business entity, or any agent or employee of the person or business entity, which knowingly accepts EBT card purchases for any goods or services at any prohibited business location, shall be subject to the following penalties:

1. First Violation. The first violation shall result in a civil penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

2. Second Violation. The second violation within five (5) years of the first violation shall result in a civil penalty of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500).

3. Third or Subsequent Violation. The third or subsequent violation within five (5) years shall result in a civil penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000).

4. The Department may refer any person or business entity that violates this Chapter to the district attorney for that district, who may bring an action to suspend the business license and permits of the person or business entity for one (1) year for any violation under this Chapter.

5. The Department may bring a civil action to enforce any civil penalties assessed to any person or business entity under this Chapter in a complaint filed in the chancery court of the county where the person or business entity is located.

(3) The Department may, at its discretion and to the extent permitted under federal law, take action to block POS devices, online systems used for the withdrawal of funds or processing of payments, and ATMs located in any prohibited location from accepting an EBT card transaction.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-01-58-.04

Original rule filed April 2, 2014; effective July 1, 2014. Emergency rules filed July 1, 2016; effective through December 28, 2016. Amendments filed September 28, 2016; effective 12/27/2016.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201 et seq.; 71-3-126; 42 U.S.C. § 608(a)(12).