e Government Payments Council (eGPC)

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e Government Payments Council (eGPC)

The eGovernment Payments Council (eGPC) is an industry council within the Electronic Funds Transfer Association (EFTA) that focuses on the business, policy and operating issues involved in government electronic payment programs. The council is a public-private partnership consisting of state and federal entities, advocacy groups, and for-profits firms. Formed in January 2009 through the merger of EFTA’s long standing EBT Council and the Electronic Benefits and Services Council of NACHA, the eGPC members include state government agencies, EBT processors, ATM networks, non-profit advocates, consulting firms, equipment and card manufacturers, and technology companies.

The mission of the eGPC is to promote policy and business practices favorable to the expansion of government-driven electronic payment transactions and systems. These programs and services include, but are not limited to:

• SNAP (formerly Food Stamps)
• WIC
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other cash supplemental assistance programs
• Child Support
• Subsidized child care, including capture of time-and-attendance data
• Unemployment compensation
• Summer Food Program Initiatives
• Farmers markets

The accomplishments of the eGPC are many and include:

• On an annual basis, the eGPC plans and hosts EBT: The Next Generation conference, the only annual national conference devoted exclusively to EBT.
• Developed and continued to administer the Quest® Operating Rules, a national set of operating rules that support the interoperability of SNAP (Food Stamp) transactions across state lines.
• Gained exemption for government card programs from the Durbin Interchange Amendment of Dodd-Frank legislation.
• Assisted Congress in drafting the initial exemption for EBT programs from Regulation E of the EFT Act, without which EBT could not have functioned.
• Produced the only nationwide survey and white paper on the use of debit cards to deliver government payments.
• Provide guidance to Federal Agencies on such programs as federal payment cards for the unbanked, photos on cards, wireless and chip/PIN technology enhancements and others.

The eGPC has made a difference in EBT and how it operates today. The eGPC is also actively involved in shaping the future of EBT in terms of technology, operations, and influencing federal policy. But this is only possible because of the active participation of the many industry participants from both public and private entities. We actively welcome and encourage new members. To request information for the eGPC, please contact Ms. Liz French at lizfrench@lizfrenchconsulting.com or Ms. Melanie Renner at MelanieRenner@efta.org.

Quest Operating Rules

Chair:
Amy Duncan
Director of Project Management, CDP, Inc.
amy.duncan@cdpehs.com
716-531-9057

Council Director:
Liz French
EFTA Senior Consultant
President, Liz French Consulting
LizFrench@lizfrenchconsulting.com
(651) 451-7015

Officers:

Vice Chairman, Policy and Technology:  Jeff Poli, VP, EBT Products, FIS
Vice Chairman, Rules & Practice:  Ellen Thompson, Vice President, MAXIMUS
Vice Chairman, SNAP/Cash State Forum:  Eileen Emory, EBT/ePayment Operations Supervisor, Idaho Dept of Health & Welfare
Vice Chairman WIC Agency Forum:  Susan Woodbury, State WIC Director, Oregon Health Authority
Vice Chairman, Retailer Forum:  Mike Zeher, Senior Director, Treasury Operations, Walmart
Secretary:  Lisa Cwanger Ichilov, Director, Project Management, Burger, Carroll & Associates, Inc.