Rep. works on Bridge Card bill wording

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A bill that aims to eliminate Bridge Card abuse is now in progress, State Rep. Dave Agema said Wednesday.

In 2009, there were more than 5,200 investigations into the abuse and there was about $18 million in fraud, according to a report from the Department of Human Services.

Agema, R-Grandville, announced last week he is working on legislation -- now Bill 5923 -- that requires the cards to include a picture of the cardholder. He said he has heard of multiple cases of people selling their cards and giving out their PIN numbers in exchange for cash.

Bridge Cards have replaced food stamps in Michigan, and work like debit cards.

But representatives from DHS said Agema's idea could be a challenge to turn into reality.

Complaints of fraud to the state's Web site and fraud hotline are nothing new. In 2009, there were more than 11,000.

"And when those complaints come in, we investigate them (and) we look for any evidence of fraud," said Gisgie Davila Gendreau, a spokesperson for DHS. "If we do find evidence, we turn it over to the local prosecutor's office."

Hundreds of those cases have been forwarded appropriately.

"And I can tell you that every dollar we spend investigating fraud, we recuperate $4.90," Gendreau said.

But security measures need to be amped up somehow, Agema said -- although DHS employees say the measure would cost more than it would save for the approximate 1.7 million Bridge Card users in Michigan.

"We put some preliminary work to determine how much something like this might cost and we're estimating to put a photo on a card like the photo on a bridge card -- it might cost as much as $6 a card," Gendreau said.

Another concern is delayed service. It's too early to gauge a potential impact, according to DHS.

"Our priority is to make sure we meet our clients' needs and that we do so efficiently," Gendreau said. "And it's too early to tell whether or not this would have an effect on our ability to provide services."

Part of the challenge involved with combating fraud is that it's more convoluted -- in 2009, federal agents say an investigation and arrest of four suspects in a Detroit convenience store led to the seizure of $90,000 during the arrest.

Some recipients allegedly sell the use of their food assistance for cash.

Many also have blamed the electronic card system and the online application process, but that aids investigators in tracking suspicious transactions or restricting purchases of alcohol or tobacco.

More than 100 Michigan stores have been kicked out of the food assistance program since fall 2007, the Associated Press reports.