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Minutes for HB2360 - Committee on Welfare Reform
Short Title
Directing the secretary for children and families to review and compare data for public assistance program eligibility.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 11, 2025
The Chair opened the hearing on HB2360.
Ms. Moyer provided a brief for the bill (Attachment 24). She explained that the bill would direct the Secretary for Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) to review and compare data for public assistance program eligibility; the bill would also require the DCF Secretary and the KDHE Secretary to review matching data and for the DCF Secretary to publish this data on a regular basis. A member requested a fiscal note for the bill.
Steve Greene, Opportunity Solutions Project, testified as a proponent for the bill (Attachment 25). He explained that the goal of the bill is to assure the right benefits go to those who qualify for public assistance while strengthening the policy related to eligibility and determination of benefits. He noted a recent Kansas error rate of over 12% for those receiving food stamps, an error rate above neighboring states and a result of Kansas not requiring households to report changes between recertifications unless the changes makes them ineligible. He said the more frequent cross-checks will improve program integrity.
Dr. Carla Whiteside-Hicks, Director of Economic and Employment Services, DCF, spoke in opposition to the bill (Attachment 26). She stated that the agency supports comprehensive eligibility verification, and she traced in detail the extensive processes in place that mirror the requirements of the bill. She also noted the work of the agency's fraud unit to investigate and prosecute welfare recipient fraud in all public assistance programs under the agency's jurisdiction. She said implementing all the provisions of the bill would add significant cost to the agency's budget.
Dr. Whiteside-Hicks responded to members' questions:
- The agency has determined that 10% of recipients commit intentional fraud.
- The agency partners with KDHE to track data and shares the use and cost of KEES (Kansas Eligibility Enforcement System).
- The agency uses many sources to track data.
Karen Siebert, Advocacy and Public Policy Advisor, Harvesters--The Community Food Network, Kansas Food Bank, Second Harvest Community Food Bank, testified in opposition to the bill (Attachment 27). She stated that the bill will have a negative impact on DCF services, is duplicative, and requires unnecessary costs for DCF.
The following; submitted written-only opponent testimony:
- Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children (Attachment 28), and
- Christine Osterlund, Deputy Secretary of Agency Integration and Medicaid Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Attachment 29).
The Chair closed the hearing on HB2360 and adjourned the meeting at 3:12 p.m. No further meeting was scheduled.
