Texas Department of Human Services to Co-Host Electronic Funds Transfer Association's National Conference on Electronic Benefits Transfer.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 2000

Agency that pioneered EBT Will Serve as Official

State Host of EBT--The Next Generation

The Texas Department of Human Services, which today operates the largest electronic benefits program in the nation will co-host a national conference on the future of EBT technology, it was announced today.

The conference, "EBT--The Next Generation," will be held Nov. 12-14 in San Antonio. Hundreds of delegates from around the country and abroad are expected to take part in the three-day event, which will examine how electronic technologies can be used to deliver government services more efficiently.

The conference is hosted annually by EFTA's EBT Industry Council, the nation's oldest EBT trade group.

Now in its third year, EBT--The Next Generation takes a hard, business-practice look at EBT technology, according to Kurt Helwig, executive director of EFTA. This year's conference will focus on such topics as whether advanced transaction security is worth the cost, technology adoption by public health providers, the relative merits of debit cards versus smart cards for EBT, and whether there is currently a need for operating rules in advanced EBT applications.

"The Texas Department of Human Services helped pioneer EBT in the mid-1990s," said Arthur W. Burger, chairman of the EBT Industry Council, and a member of the Board of Directors of EFTA. "By serving as a co-host the Next Generation conference, TDHS is playing an important role in helping states and the private sector get to the next level of EBT technology and performance."

"As a leader in EBT, we recognize the importance of sharing our experience and knowledge with other states and organizations," DHS Commissioner Eric M. Bost said. "This conference provides an excellent opportunity to share what we've learned, as well as educating ourselves about new developments in EBT technology."

About the Electronic Funds Transfer Association

The Electronic Funds Transfer Association is an inter-industry trade association dedicated to the advancement of electronic payment systems and commerce. Its members include financial institutions, manufacturers, and technology companies and shared EFT networks.

About the Texas Department of Human Services

The Texas Department of Human Services (TDHS) oversees and manages a wide variety of services for the citizens of Texas, including financial assistance programs, nutrition programs, nursing home oversight, and many other programs.

Over the years, TDHS has earned a reputation for utilizing new technologies to improve service delivery to clients. EBT, implemented statewide in November 1995, is just one example. Currently over 1.4 million recipients access their Food Stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits via the Lone Star Card at over 13,000 Texas retail outlets.

TDHS is currently in the process of transitioning its EBT system to a new platform, using an innovative multi-vendor procurement strategy.

About the EBT Industry Council

The EBT Industry Council is the nation's oldest trade group dedicated specifically to the business and policy issues of electronic benefits transfer systems and technology.

The Council has been an active proponent of legislation and regulations that have enabled the proliferation of EBT systems across the U.S. Council members assisted the federal government in drafting the first set of operating rules for EBT, helped to write the technical specifications that enabled commercial point-of-sale systems to deliver government benefits, and actively supported legislation requiring reasonable liability standards for EBT consumers.