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eGovernment Payments Council (eGPC)
The eGovernment Payments Council (eGPC) is an EFTA working group that focuses on the business, policy and operating issues involved in government electronic payment programs. These programs include the SNAP (formerly Food Stamp) Program, the WIC Program, Child Support Enforcement payments, subsidized child care payments and time-and-attendance data, Medicaid eligibility verification, unemployment compensation, and a host of others.
The mission of the eGPC is to promote policy and business practices favorable to the expansion of government-driven electronic payment transactions and systems.
The eGPC was formed in January 2009 through the merger of EFTA’s EBT Council and the Electronic Benefits and Services Council of NACHA-The Electronic Payments Association. eGPC members include financial institutions, state government agencies, EBT processors, ATM networks, non-profit advocates, equipment manufacturers, and technology companies.
The accomplishments of the eGPC are many and include:
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Helping Congress draft an exemption for EBT programs from Regulation E of the EFT Act, without which EBT could not have functioned.
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Launching "EBT: The Next Generation"--the only national conference devoted exclusively to EBT technology and applications, currently in its 12th year.
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Developing and administering a national set of operating rules, paving the way for interoperability of SNAP (Food Stamp) transactions across state lines.
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Taking the lead in the development of Accredited Standards Committee X9 (ASC X9) approved financial transaction processing standards that today allow commercial networks to process EBT transactions.
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Promoting the use of EBT technology for WIC, unemployment insurance, child support, and subsidized childcare payments and time-and-attendance functions.
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Producing the only nationwide survey and white paper on the use of debit cards to deliver government payments.
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Providing guidance to federal agencies on such programs as federal payment cards for the unbanked, coupons for digital television conversion subsidies, and others.
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