{"data":{"id":"us-al/ala.-code-41-1-12","jurisdiction":"us-al","citation":"Ala. Code § 41-1-12","heading":"State Agencies Required to Take Certain Measures to Prevent Fraud Before Paying Benefits to Recipients.","body":"(a) For purposes of this section, “benefit” means a payment of public funds based on the recipient’s ability to meet certain qualifications or criteria. The term does not include a tax credit, tax rebate, or tax refund, nor does it include any grant that requires highly specialized expertise or qualifications whereby a limited number of persons would qualify.\n(b) Before any state agency, department, board, or commission may begin to process or pay benefits to recipients pursuant to a new program or newly instituted benefit, the agency, department, board, or commission shall consult with the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts to determine if there is a system or service in place which could aid the agency, department, board, or commission in detecting, defraying, or preventing fraudulent payments. If such a system or service exists, the agency, department, board, or commission shall determine whether such a system or service can be integrated with, modify, or replace its current systems or programs and shall use the system or service to the full extent practicable. This shall be a management decision of the agency, department, board, or commission.\n(c) This section does not apply to group health benefits administered by a state agency, department, board, or commission.","path":["Title 41 State Government.","Chapter 1 General Provisions.","Article 1 In General."],"source_url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=41-1-12","current_through":"Act 2026-611","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T14:01:54Z","sha256":"db83bfafda75ab42be95281723742fae5a562a01e4b568d3a688dd706778bb7a","source_id":"us-al","stale":false,"prev":"us-al/ala.-code-41-1-11","next":"us-al/ala.-code-41-1-13"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}