New Kansas rules limit spending of welfare benefits

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A new Kansas law tells poor families they can't use cash assistance from the state to attend concerts, get tattoos, see a psychic or buy lingerie. The list of don'ts runs to several dozen items.

More than 20 other states have such lists. But the one included by the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature in a bill signed Thursday by GOP Gov. Sam Brownback appears to be the most exhaustive, according to state Department for Children and Families officials.

It's inspired national criticism and mockery from "The Daily Show." Host Jon Stewart suggested that in accepting federal funds, Kansas should be forced to give up items like roads "paved with luxurious asphalt."

Many of the spending restrictions in the law already existed in state policy. Brownback said the list, which is a part of a broader welfare law taking affect July 1, is aimed at moving poor families from social services into jobs.

"I think it is important that every chance we get we encourage people to get back into the marketplace, get back into the job market," he said.

In a statement after the signing, Senate Minority Leader Democrat Anthony Hensley called the law "a punitive and highly judgmental piece of legislation" that would make it harder for Kansans to escape poverty.

Shannon Cotsoradis, president and CEO of the advocacy group Kansas Action for Children, said the list has attracted national attention because "it feels mean-spirited."

"It really seems to make a statement about how we feel about the poor," she said.

A 2012 federal law requires states to prevent benefit-card use at liquor stores, gambling establishments or adult-entertainment businesses.

At least 23 states have their own restrictions on how cards can be used, mostly for alcohol, tobacco, gambling and adult-oriented businesses, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

A few states - not Kansas - prohibit buying guns, according to the NCSL, and a few ban tattoos or body piercings. Massachusetts prohibits spending on jewelry, bail bonds, or "vacation services." A 2014 Louisiana law bars card use on cruise ships, which is also on the Kansas list.

Kansas Department for Children and Families officials said that it's difficult to track how often cash assistance is used for items on the state's new list because recipients can use their benefits cards to obtain cash. The law will limit ATM withdrawals of cash assistance to $25 a day.

The department said it reclaimed $199,000 in cash assistance from 81 fraud cases from July through February, but said most involved questions about eligibility. The state provided $14 million in cash assistance during the same period.

A 2014 federal report said a check of eight states' data showed transactions with benefit cards at liquor stores, casinos or strip clubs accounted for less than 1 percent of the total.

Phyllis Gilmore, Kansas' secretary for children and families, said at the bill signing that the state has not yet determined if it will increase the penalties for violating the restrictions.

Asked whether enforcement of the restrictions should be increased now that they have been codified into law, Brownback said, "I don't know that they should one way or the other."

Critics question whether such restrictions can be enforced. Elizabeth Schott, senior fellow with the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said enacting them simply creates an "aura of abuse."

"Undermining support for the programs is what the restrictions do," she said.

Gilmore said her state's list is a "composite" of others and has educational value, sending the message that cash assistance should be used for necessities.

Much of the new Kansas law codifies administrative policies enacted after Brownback took office in January 2011, so they'll be harder to undo later.

They include a requirement that cash assistance recipients work at least 20 hours a week, be looking for work or enroll in job training. The new law also includes a much-criticized provision shortening the lifetime cap on cash assistance to 36 months from 48 months, although the state Department for Children and Families said recipients rarely bump up against the lower limit.

Kansas restrictions on welfare funds

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A new Kansas law taking effect July 1 will restrict how poor families spend cash assistance from the state.

In addition to the limits on where and what they can buy with assistance funds, the law dictates that none of the money can be used in out-of-state purchases. Those who use benefit cards on ATMs will also find a $25 daily limit on withdrawals.

A complete list of what Kansas would prohibit using cash assistance on:

Items that cannot be purchased with cash assistance

• Alcohol

• Cigarettes

• Tobacco products

• Lottery tickets

• Concert tickets

• Professional or collegiate sporting events

• Tickets for entertainment events intended for the general public

• Sexually oriented adult materials

Places where cash assistance could not be used

• Retail liquor store

• Casino

• Gaming establishment

• Jewelry store

• Tattoo parlor

• Massage parlor

• Body piercing parlor

• Spa

• Nail salon

• Lingerie shop

• Tobacco paraphernalia store

• Vapor cigarette store

• Psychic or fortune telling business

• Bail bond company

• Video arcade

• Movie theater

• Swimming pool

• Cruise ship

• Theme park

• Dog or horse racing facility

• Pari-mutuel facility

• Sexually oriented business or any retail establishment which provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment

• Any business or retail establishment where minors under age 18 are not permitted.