File #: Int 0854-2026    Version: * Name: Creating a SNAP anti-fraud officer and fraud awareness campaign.
Type: Introduction Status: Laid Over in Committee
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 4/16/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating a SNAP anti-fraud officer and fraud awareness campaign
Sponsors: Susan Zhuang, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Frank Morano, Chris Banks, Inna Vernikov, Nantasha M. Williams
Council Member Sponsors: 6
Summary: This bill would create the role of SNAP Anti-Fraud Officer within the Department of Social Services (DSS). The SNAP Anti-Fraud Officer would be required to identify locations with the highest instances of fraud, determine proactive measures to notify SNAP recipients of fraud, identify procedures to prevent fraud, coordinate with non-profits and organizations on fraud cases, and provide an annual report on SNAP fraud in New York City. The annual report would include details on the areas where the highest incidence of SNAP fraud cases occurred in the prior year, responses DSS took to address SNAP fraud cases, and any best practices and procedures DSS identified to respond to SNAP fraud.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 854, 2. Int. No. 854, 3. Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 4. Committee Report 4/13/26, 5. April 16, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 854

 

By Council Members Zhuang, Brooks-Powers, Morano, Banks, Vernikov and Williams

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to creating a SNAP anti-fraud officer and fraud awareness campaign

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-157 to read as follows:

§ 21-157 SNAP anti-fraud officer. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

EBT card. The term “EBT card” means an electronic benefits card.

Officer. The term “officer” means the SNAP anti-fraud officer established by this section.

SNAP. The term “SNAP” means the supplemental nutritional assistance program, administered by the United States department of agriculture.

SNAP fraud. The term “SNAP fraud” means the theft of information that is stored on a SNAP recipient’s EBT card and used to fraudulently spend such recipient’s SNAP benefits.

b. Officer. The commissioner shall establish the position of SNAP anti-fraud officer within the department. The officer shall have the power and duty to:

1. Identify locations with the highest instances of SNAP fraud;

2. Determine measures to notify SNAP recipients of instances of SNAP fraud;

3. Identify procedures and best practices the department can implement to prevent fraud; and

4. Coordinate with community-based organizations to raise awareness about SNAP fraud.

c. Report. No later than 60 days after the effective date of this local law and annually thereafter, the department shall publish a report on its website relating to information received related to SNAP fraud collected pursuant to subdivision b of this section. All data in such report shall be reported in a machine-readable format and shall include, at minimum:

1. Any measures taken by the department to notify clients about SNAP fraud;

2. Any actions taken by the department to respond to SNAP fraud or prevent future SNAP fraud;

3. The zip codes and council districts where the highest incidence of SNAP fraud cases were identified  in the prior year;

4. The number of SNAP fraud cases that occurred in each zip code and council district; and

5. Any procedures and best practices identified by the department to prevent SNAP fraud.

d. Public education campaign. The SNAP anti-fraud officer, in partnership with relevant community-based organizations as determined by the commissioner, shall develop and implement a public education campaign to increase awareness of SNAP fraud. Such public education campaign shall:

1. Prioritize neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by SNAP fraud;

2. Inform the public about how to receive assistance with SNAP fraud; and

3. Be conducted in English and the designated citywide languages as defined in section 23-1101.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

 

ACK

LS #22385/22387

3/30/2026 12:30PM