Mass. General Laws c.18 § 5L

Food stamp benefits trafficking; penalty

This is an unofficial version of a Massachusetts General Law.

Updates

Amended by St. 2025, c. 14, § 8, effective August 5, 2025

(a)

As used this section and section 5M, ''food stamp benefits'' shall mean benefits issued pursuant to the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. §§ 2011 to 2029, inclusive, as amended, including such benefits contained on an electronic benefit transfer card.

(b)

An individual commits the offense of food stamp benefits trafficking if the individual knowingly:

• (1) presents for payment or redemption or transfers food stamp benefits in any form, including transfers to another, who does not, or does not intend to, use the food stamp benefits for the benefit of the household for whom the benefits were intended, as defined in the regulations of the department; or
• (2) possesses, buys, sells, uses, alters, accepts or transfers food stamp benefits in any manner not authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. § 2011, as amended;
• (3) steals food stamp benefits using an unauthorized electronic or other intercept device.

(c)

A store owner who knowingly violates this section and who possesses a license to sell lottery tickets under sections 26 and 27 of chapter 10 shall be referred to the director of the state lottery commission for possible disciplinary action. A store owner possessing a license pursuant to said section 26 or 27 of said chapter 10 who knowingly violates this section a second or subsequent time shall have such license suspended for not less than 30 days and shall be referred to the director of the state lottery commission for possible further disciplinary action.

Last updated:	August 5, 2025