
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 31USC3336]

 
                       TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE
 
                   SUBTITLE III--FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
 
            CHAPTER 33--DEPOSITING, KEEPING, AND PAYING MONEY
 
                         SUBCHAPTER II--PAYMENTS
 
Sec. 3336. Electronic benefit transfer pilot

    (a) The Congress finds that:
        (1) Electronic benefit transfer (EBT) is a safe, reliable, and 
    economical way to provide benefit payments to individuals who do not 
    have an account at a financial institution.
        (2) The designation of financial institutions as financial 
    agents of the Federal Government for EBT is an appropriate and 
    reasonable use of the Secretary's authority to designate financial 
    agents.
        (3) A joint federal-state \1\ EBT system offers convenience and 
    economies of scale for those states \1\ (and their citizens) that 
    wish to deliver \1\ state-administered benefits on a single card by 
    entering into a partnership with the federal \1\ government.\1\
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    \1\ So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
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        (4) The Secretary's designation of a financial agent to deliver 
    EBT is a specialized service not available through ordinary business 
    channels and may be offered to the states \1\ pursuant to section 
    6501 et seq. of this title.

    (b) The Secretary shall continue to carry out the existing EBT pilot 
to disburse benefit payments electronically to recipients who do not 
have an account at a financial institution, which shall include the 
designation of one or more financial institution \2\ as a financial 
agent of the Government, and the offering to the participating states 
\1\ of the opportunity to contract with the financial agent selected by 
the Secretary, as described in the Invitation for Expressions of 
Interest to Acquire EBT Services for the Southern Alliance of States 
dated March 9, 1995, as amended as of June 30, 1995, July 7, 1995, and 
August 1, 1995.
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    \2\ So in original. Probably should be ``institutions''.
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    (c) The selection and designation of financial agents, the design of 
the pilot program, and any other matter associated with or related to 
the EBT pilot described in subsection (b) shall not be subject to 
judicial review.

(Added Pub. L. 104-208, div. A, title I, Sec. 101(f) [title VI, 
Sec. 664], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009-314, 3009-385.)
