S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8584
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
November 17, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring that two
electronic benefit transfer credit or debit cards be issued to certain
households receiving special supplemental nutrition program for women,
infants and children (WIC) benefits
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The section heading of section 2507 of the public health
law, as amended by chapter 12 of the laws of 2017, is amended and a new
subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and chil-
dren[; specialty formula].
3. ANY ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER SERVICES FOR WIC BENEFITS SHALL
ENSURE THAT TWO ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER CREDIT OR DEBIT CARDS ARE
ISSUED FOR USE BY ANY RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLD WHERE SUCH ADDITIONAL HOUSE-
HOLD MEMBER IS EITHER A PARENT, GUARDIAN OR CARETAKER OF THE COVERED
INFANT OR A SPOUSE, DOMESTIC PARTNER OR PARENT OF THE COVERED MOTHER.
NO CARD SHALL BE ISSUED TO ANY PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN UNLESS
SUCH PERSON IS A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF A MINOR CHILD.
(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER
CARDS.
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT REDUCE THE AVAILABILITY OR THE LEVEL OF
BENEFITS PROVIDED TO NEW OR EXISTING COVERED MOTHERS, INFANTS AND CHIL-
DREN IN ASSOCIATION WITH PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANS-
FER CARDS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.