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COMMITTEE ACTION:
SSB 3068—Public Assistance Restrictions
SSB 3068, as amended,directs the
Department of Human Services to comply with federal regulations that require
data matching with a national clearinghouse to provide real-time prevention of
duplicate participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
program. The bill also creates additional oversight and restrictions, including
eligibility determination and redeterminations, identity authentication, and
asset identification for public assistance programs. The
definition of public assistance includes children’s health insurance programs,
Medicaid, SNAP and the Family Investment Program (FIP). DHS is required to
redesign the current system, establish a new system or contract with third
parties to do multiple data matches on all applicants. The bill lists many sources
of possible data matches and databases that must be checked from federal, state
and other public sources. A contract for the services must save more money than
the contract costs. The bill requires verification to occur “in-between”
initial eligibility determination and annual renewal, but it does not define
what that means. The bill sets up a process for recipients to dispute a
discrepancy or change in circumstances.
[2/12: 7-4
(Yes: Republicans; No: Democrats)]