HB 761 -- Arrest Warrants for Public Assistance Recipients

Sponsor:  Bennett

This bill requires the Division of Family Services to place a
hold on an application for public assistance benefits for any
applicant with an outstanding felony arrest warrant.  The hold
is to remain in effect until the warrant has been satisfied.
The bill specifies that applicants who make a false or
misleading statement concerning felony warrants are guilty of
perjury.  The division is also required to place a hold on the
disbursement of public assistance benefits for recipients with
outstanding felony arrest records.  Such a hold is to be removed
once the warrant has been satisfied, except in cases when the
recipient is arrested pursuant to the warrant.  The division is
required to review a list of outstanding arrest warrants
provided on a weekly basis by the Missouri Highway Patrol before
disbursing public assistance benefits.  If the division
disburses assistance to an individual whose name appears on the
Highway Patrol's arrest warrant list at the time of
disbursement, the division is required to reimburse the general
revenue fund from division appropriations for the amount of the
disbursement.