2012 -- S 2029 AS AMENDED

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LC00226

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

URGING GOVERNOR CHAFEE TO REQUEST AN IMMEDIATE AUDIT OF JP MORGAN

CHASE REGARDING DEBIT CARD FEES COLLECTED ON STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

BENEFITS BY JP MORGAN CHASE

     Introduced By: Senators Walaska, and Lynch

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Corporations

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     WHEREAS, The health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the State of Rhode Island

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      are matters of paramount importance to the legislature; and

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     WHEREAS, JP Morgan Chase provides debit card services for Rhode Island

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     unemployment, temporary disability insurance, Child Support, and SNAP (food stamp) benefits;

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     and

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     WHEREAS, JP Morgan Chase is a multi-national corporation with no branches in Rhode

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     Island; and

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     WHEREAS, JP Morgan Chase collects debit card fees from Rhode Island businesses and

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     those receiving unemployment, temporary disability insurance, Child Support, and SNAP

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     benefits; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island state government should examine the fees that are currently

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collected on government benefit funds, fees that are currently collected entirely by JP Morgan

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Chase; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island should encourage local small businesses to promote the Rhode

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      Island economy; and

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     WHEREAS, The contract to administer the state benefits debit card program has been

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placed out for bid; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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     Hereby respectfully urges Governor Lincoln Chafee, as part of the bid process, to request an

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immediate audit of all debit card fees collected by JP Morgan Chase per the current contract

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between the state and JP Morgan Chase 1 to reveal; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate respectfully requests that Governor Lincoln Chafee use his

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authority upon review of the results of the audit to negotiate the best new contract possible which

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shall clearly state all fees to be charged on the card for Rhode Island’s unemployed and

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temporarily disabled; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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     transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Governor Lincoln Chafee.

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LC00226

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