2023 Tennessee Code › Title 71 - WELFARE (§§ 71-1-101 — 71-7-103) › Chapter 5 - PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR POOR PERSONS (§§ 71-5-NEW — 71-5-2604) › Part 3 - FOOD STAMPS (§§ 71-5-NEW — 71-5-317) › Section 71-5-314 - Fraudulent receipt of food assistance - Penalties - Statute of limitations

(a)
A person commits an offense who, knowingly, obtains, or attempts to obtain, or aids, or abets any person to obtain, by means of a willfully false statement, representation, or impersonation, or by any other fraudulent means or in any manner not authorized by this part, or by the regulations or procedures issued or implemented by the department pursuant to this part, any food coupons, food stamps, or food assistance benefits provided by any electronic benefits transfer process, or any assistance provided pursuant to this part by any other means as determined by the department, to which such person is not entitled or of a greater value than that to which such person is entitled.
(b)
A person commits an offense who, knowingly, in any manner not authorized by this part or the regulations or procedures implemented by the department pursuant to this part, presents for payment, or causes to be presented for payment, transfers, exchanges, sells, or otherwise uses, or aids or abets any person to present for payment, transfer, exchange, sell, or otherwise use any food coupons, food stamps or food assistance benefits, or any electronic benefits card, authorization or personal identification number, device or other thing or means issued or utilized for the purpose of providing temporary assistance benefits pursuant to this part electronically or otherwise.
(c)
A person who receives food coupons, food stamps or food assistance benefits or any electronic benefits card, authorization or personal identification number, device or other thing or means issued or utilized for the purpose of providing food assistance benefits electronically or otherwise, knowing them to have been presented for payment, transferred, exchanged, sold or otherwise used in any manner not authorized by this part or the regulations or procedures implemented by the department pursuant to this part, commits an offense.
(d)
An offense under this section is a Class E felony if the value of such food stamps, food coupons, or food assistance sought to be obtained, or that is obtained, is one hundred dollars ($100) or more, and upon conviction of the offense, such person shall be sentenced for such offense as provided by law, or shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both, unless the offense is committed by means of a willfully false impersonation, assumption of a false identity, or presentation of a false identification, in which case the fine is not less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000); and, if the food stamps, food coupons, or food assistance sought to be obtained, or that is obtained, is of a value less than one hundred dollars ($100), such person commits a Class A misdemeanor and shall be sentenced or fined, or both, as provided by law.
(e)
(1)
In addition to or in lieu of the penalties in this section, the court may order that such person be disqualified from participation in the food coupon, food stamp, or food assistance program:
(A)
For twelve (12) months for the first offense;
(B)
For twenty-four (24) months for the second offense; and
(C)
Permanently for the third offense.
(2)
Individuals found by a court to have used or received benefits in a transaction involving the sale of a controlled substance, as defined in § 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (
21 U.S.C. § 802
), must be disqualified from participation in the food coupon, food stamp, or food assistance program:
(A)
For twenty-four (24) months for the first such violation; and
(B)
Permanently for the second such violation.
(3)
Individuals found by a court to have used or received benefits in a transaction involving the sale of firearms, ammunition, or explosives must be permanently disqualified from participation in the food coupon, food stamp, or food assistance program upon the first such violation.
(4)
Individuals convicted by a court for having trafficked benefits for an aggregate amount of five hundred dollars ($500) or more must be permanently disqualified from participation in the food coupon, food stamp, or food assistance program upon the first such violation.
(5)
Except as provided by subdivision (e)(1)(C), individuals found to have made a fraudulent statement or representation with respect to their identity or place of residence in order to receive multiple food coupons, food stamps, or food assistance program benefits simultaneously must be disqualified from participation in the food coupon, food stamp, or food assistance program for ten (10) years.
(6)
Disqualification of an adult pursuant to this section from eligibility for assistance under this part must not disqualify or suspend the eligibility of an innocent adult or child of the disqualified adult's family.
(f)
The department shall enclose a copy of the penalties provided in this section one (1) time, in notice form, to each recipient of assistance pursuant to this part and post a notice to such effect in noticeable places in each of its assistance offices.
(g)
In addition to any of the penalties in this section, any person convicted of any offense specified in subsection (a), (b) or (c) shall be ordered to make restitution in the total amount found to be the value of the food coupons, food stamps or food assistance that form the basis for the conviction. In the event any person ordered to make restitution pursuant to this section is found to be indigent and, therefore, unable to make restitution in full at the time of conviction, the court shall order a periodic payment plan consistent with the person's financial ability.
(h)
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, prosecutions for any of the offenses specified in subsection (a), (b) or (c) shall be commenced within four (4) years after the commission of the offense. For purposes of this subsection (h), any such offense that is based upon a willful failure to report information as required by law is considered a continuing offense until such information is reported.
(i)
(1)
In addition to any criminal provisions provided by this section, the department is authorized to address intentional program violations or overpayments in the food assistance program through any administrative means, including, but not limited to, settlement of such violations or overpayments by a written agreement with recipients or by the provision of administrative hearings pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, part 3, and federal regulations.
(2)
The department is authorized to initiate legal action to collect all overpayments and all payments made due to intentional program violations or fraud in the food assistance program.
(j)
The department shall implement the following procedures regarding electronic benefits card replacement requests:
(1)
The department shall, upon the third request within a twelve-month period, notify the recipient to provide information regarding fraud, abuse, and trafficking and inform the recipient of the consequences that result from a fourth request within a twelve-month period, as provided in subdivision (j)(2);
(2)
The department shall, upon the fourth replacement request within a twelve-month period, notify the recipient that the recipient's case is being monitored for suspicious activity and has been referred to the department's office of inspector general for investigation; and
(3)
If a third-party vendor provides replacement cards directly to recipients on behalf of the department, the vendor shall notify the department upon a third request within a twelve-month period by a recipient and upon any subsequent request thereafter.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 570,s 6, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 515, s 3, eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 789, s 5, eff. 12/1/2018.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 402, s 2, eff. 5/14/2013.
Acts 1971, ch. 136, § 19; T.C.A., § 14-2219; Acts 1980, ch. 572, § 3; 1981, ch. 390, §§ 1-3; 1982, ch. 647, § 1; 1985, ch. 34, § 1; T.C.A., § 14-27-114; Acts 1989, ch. 591, §§ 108-111; 1999, ch. 248, § 5.