State Senate Passes Public Assistance Integrity Act [VIDEO]

For the second year in a row, the state Senate has passed the Public Integrity Act.

Senator James Seward says the bill prohibits welfare recipients from using cash assistance for the purchase of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets and for casino gambling.

Seward says the measure would also prevent individuals receiving welfare from using their electronic benefit cards to make ATM withdrawals from certain places including liquor stores and strip clubs.

The bills now goes to the Assembly.