§ 56-26.18. Application for relief - Allowance of false claims - Penalty.

Every applicant for emergency relief or general assistance shall make a written application, containing a written certification, under penalty of perjury, alleging that all facts set out in such application are true and correct.  And said application shall be forthwith acted upon, with dispatch and without delay.

Any person, whose duty it is to pass upon the eligibility of persons to participate in any benefits provided in this act, who shall knowingly, willfully or intentionally allow, or cause to be allowed, any claim to any person known to be ineligible for such relief, or, who aids, or abets, or persuades any person to sign an application to obtain by means of a willfully false statement or representation or other fraudulent device, assistance to which an applicant is not entitled or assistance greater than that to which an applicant is justly entitled shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof shall be imprisoned not less than one (1) year or more than five (5) years or be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or be both so fined and imprisoned in the discretion of the court.

Added by Laws 1957, p. 455, § 6, emerg. eff. Jan. 22, 1957.  Amended by Laws 1984, c. 263, § 12, operative July 1, 1984; Laws 1997, c. 133, § 497, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 362, eff. July 1, 1999.

Note

NOTE:  Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 497 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.