Recent Policy Events

May 2012
At the 15th Annual Western Regional Conference in Portland, Oregon, Women In Government featured a segment on the benefits of implementing electronic transactions and payroll cards. The session provided examples of successful programs where states have improved efficiencies and reduced administrative costs through the use of electronic transactions and debit cards. The speakers also discussed about how payroll cards can also provide valuable benefits to employees, and help create financial security and opportunities for asset building. The first speaker, Cathy Beyda, is of counsel in Paul Hastings’ Corporate practice and is located in the firm’s Palo Alto Office. Ms. Beyda spoke about her work advising numerous financial institutions, payroll card companies, and employers on issues relating to electronic wage payment, including the development of multi-state compliant paperless wage payment programs. She spoke about how she has counseled the nation's largest payment brand on strategies for influencing legal developments and removing barriers to electronic wage payment, and on the use of prepaid cards to disburse workers' compensation and other benefits. To learn more about her extensive experience, view her presentation here. The second speaker, Leigh Phillips, also provided legislators with a wealth of experience on the issue. Ms.Phillips is the Director of the San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment (SF OFE). She spoke about her creation, management, and implementation of several key initiatives, such as the “Bank On” program. This program is the first municipal effort to bank the unbanked, and has since been replicated in dozens of cities and states across the country. To learn more about her work, visit the JoinBankOn website, and view her presentation here.
 

June 2011
Women In Government discussed Electronic Transactions, and how states can utilize prepaid credit cards in various state programs to their benefit, at the 14th Annual Western Regional Conference. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma spoke about her experience passing legislation that would bring these electronic benefits to California. As states seek ways to improve efficiencies and reduce government operating costs, some states have reaped the benefits of transitioning from paper transactions to electronic transactions. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma recognized that a large majority of Americans are ‘unbanked’ and do not have bank accounts. While trying to assist the struggling population in her district using food stamps, Assemblywoman Ma advocated that instead of stigmatized paper food stamps, people could use prepaid credit cards, such as Green Dot. The cards can be limited, for instance, if allocated for school supplies, to only be used at office supply stores. As many states seek to modernize the processes of state funded programs, they can look to electronic transactions. To view Assemblywoman Ma's presentation, please click here.