Bill Text: IA SSB3068 | 2019-2020 | 88th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to public assistance program oversight, and including effective date provisions.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-12 - Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 2272. [SSB3068 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2019-SSB3068-Introduced.html
Senate
Study
Bill
3068
-
Introduced
SENATE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
COMMITTEE
ON
LABOR
AND
BUSINESS
RELATIONS
BILL
BY
CHAIRPERSON
SCHULTZ)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
public
assistance
program
oversight,
and
1
including
effective
date
provisions.
2
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
3
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DIVISION
I
1
DATA
MATCHING
——
PREVENTION
OF
MULTIPLE
ISSUANCES
OF
2
SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
(SNAP)
BENEFITS
3
Section
1.
DATA
MATCHING
——
PREVENTION
OF
MULTIPLE
4
ISSUANCES
OF
SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
(SNAP)
5
BENEFITS.
By
July
1,
2020,
the
department
of
human
services
6
shall
request
any
federal
waiver
or
approval
necessary
from
the
7
food
and
nutrition
service
of
the
United
States
department
of
8
agriculture
in
order
to
comply
with
section
4011
of
the
federal
9
Agriculture
Improvement
Act
of
2018,
Pub.
L.
No.
115-334,
and
10
the
regulations
adopted
under
the
Act.
Upon
receipt
of
any
11
necessary
federal
waiver
or
approval,
the
department
shall
12
contract
with
a
third-party
vendor
to
conduct
national
accuracy
13
clearinghouse
matches
and
corresponding
actions
in
accordance
14
with
the
federal
law
and
regulations
to
provide
real-time
15
prevention
of
duplicate
participation
upon
a
potential
16
beneficiary’s
application
for
SNAP
benefits.
17
Sec.
2.
EFFECTIVE
DATE.
This
division
of
this
Act,
being
18
deemed
of
immediate
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
19
DIVISION
II
20
INCOME
AND
IDENTITY
VERIFICATION
——
PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS
21
Sec.
3.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.1
Definitions.
22
As
used
in
this
chapter,
unless
the
context
otherwise
23
requires:
24
1.
“Applicant”
means
an
individual
who
is
applying
for
25
public
assistance
benefits
in
the
state.
26
2.
“Asset”
or
“asset
test”
means
all
assets
of
the
members
27
of
the
applicant’s
household,
including
all
of
the
following:
28
a.
All
bank
accounts,
excluding
retirement
accounts
of
29
members
of
the
household.
30
b.
All
cash,
excluding
the
first
two
thousand
dollars
of
31
members
of
the
household.
32
c.
All
lottery
and
gambling
income
of
the
household
whether
33
received
as
a
lump
sum
or
installment
payments.
34
d.
All
real
estate,
excluding
the
primary
household
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residence
and
surrounding
lot.
1
e.
All
other
personal
property
excluding
personal
2
belongings,
household
goods,
and
one
vehicle.
3
3.
“Department”
means
the
department
of
human
services.
4
4.
“Public
assistance”
means
SNAP
(the
supplemental
5
nutrition
assistance
program),
the
Medicaid
program,
FIP
(the
6
family
investment
program),
and
CHIP
(the
children’s
health
7
insurance
program).
8
5.
“Recipient”
means
an
individual
who
is
receiving
public
9
assistance
benefits
in
the
state.
10
Sec.
4.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.2
Asset
test
for
supplemental
11
nutrition
assistance
program.
12
1.
For
the
purposes
of
determining
eligibility
for
receipt
13
of
SNAP
benefits,
the
department
shall
conduct
an
asset
test
14
on
all
members
of
the
applicant’s
household.
The
allowable
15
financial
resources
to
be
included
in
or
excluded
from
a
16
determination
of
eligibility
for
SNAP
shall
be
those
specified
17
in
7
U.S.C.
§2014(g)(1).
18
2.
Prior
to
determining
eligibility
for
SNAP
benefits,
19
the
department
shall
access,
at
a
minimum,
for
every
member
20
of
the
applicant’s
household,
the
following
information
from
21
the
following
federal,
state,
and
miscellaneous
sources,
or
22
successor
sources:
23
a.
Federal
sources
and
information:
24
(1)
Earned
and
unearned
income
information
maintained
by
25
the
internal
revenue
service.
26
(2)
The
following
sources
and
information
maintained
by
the
27
United
States
social
security
administration:
28
(a)
Earned
income
information.
29
(b)
Death
register
information.
30
(c)
Prisoner
or
incarceration
status
information.
31
(d)
Supplemental
security
income
information
maintained
in
32
the
state
data
exchange
database.
33
(e)
Beneficiary
records
and
earnings
information
maintained
34
in
the
beneficiary
and
earnings
data
exchange
database.
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(f)
Earnings
and
pension
information
maintained
in
the
1
beneficiary
earnings
exchange
record
system
database.
2
(3)
The
following
sources
and
information
maintained
by
the
3
United
States
department
of
health
and
human
services:
4
(a)
Income
and
employment
information
maintained
in
the
5
national
directory
of
new
hires
database
by
the
office
of
child
6
support
enforcement
of
the
administration
for
children
and
7
families.
8
(b)
Other
federal
data
sources
maintained
by
the
office
of
9
child
support
enforcement
of
the
administration
for
children
10
and
families.
11
b.
State
sources
and
information:
12
(1)
The
department’s
sources
and
information
including
but
13
not
limited
to
all
of
the
following:
14
(a)
Income
and
employment
information
maintained
by
the
15
child
support
recovery
unit.
16
(b)
Child
care
assistance
information
maintained
by
the
17
division
of
child
and
family
services.
18
(c)
Enrollment
status
in
other
public
assistance
programs.
19
(2)
The
department
of
workforce
development
sources
and
20
information
including
all
of
the
following:
21
(a)
Employment
information.
22
(b)
Employer
weekly,
monthly,
and
quarterly
reports
of
23
income
and
unemployment
insurance
payments.
24
(3)
Utility
payment
and
emergency
utility
payment
25
information
maintained
by
the
state
under
the
low
income
home
26
energy
assistance
program.
27
(4)
The
Iowa
public
employees’
retirement
system
for
28
earnings
and
pension
information.
29
c.
Miscellaneous
sources:
30
(1)
Any
existing
real-time
database
of
persons
currently
31
receiving
benefits
in
other
states,
such
as
the
national
32
accuracy
clearinghouse.
33
(2)
Any
databases
maintained
by
the
Iowa
lottery
34
commission.
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3.
Prior
to
determining
eligibility
for
SNAP
benefits,
the
1
department
shall
access
information
for
every
member
of
the
2
applicant’s
household
from
the
following
public
records:
3
a.
A
nationwide
public
records
data
source
of
physical
asset
4
ownership.
The
data
source
may
include
but
is
not
limited
to
5
real
property,
automobiles,
watercraft,
aircraft,
and
luxury
6
vehicles,
or
any
other
vehicle
owned
by
the
applicant.
7
b.
National
and
state
financial
institutions
in
order
8
to
locate
undisclosed
depository
accounts
or
verify
account
9
balances
of
disclosed
accounts.
10
4.
The
department
shall
enter
into
a
memorandum
of
11
understanding
with
any
department,
division,
bureau,
section,
12
unit,
or
any
other
subunit
of
a
department
to
obtain
the
13
information
specified
in
this
section.
14
5.
The
provisions
of
this
section
shall
not
apply
if
every
15
member
of
the
applicant’s
household
receives
supplemental
16
security
income.
17
Sec.
5.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.3
Cooperation
with
child
support
18
enforcement
——
supplemental
nutrition
assistance
program
19
eligibility.
20
An
applicant
for
SNAP
benefits
who
is
in
arrears
for
a
21
period
of
more
than
six
months
on
a
child
support
obligation
22
pursuant
to
a
court
or
administrative
order
issued
pursuant
to
23
chapter
252A,
252C,
252F,
598,
or
600B,
or
any
other
chapter
24
under
which
child
support
is
granted,
shall
be
required
to
25
cooperate
with
the
child
support
recovery
unit
as
a
condition
26
of
eligibility
as
specified
in
7
C.F.R.
§273.11(o)
and
(p).
27
Sec.
6.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.4
Verification
and
authentication
28
systems
——
public
assistance
programs.
29
1.
By
July
1,
2021,
the
department
shall
redesign
an
30
existing
system;
establish
a
new
computerized
income,
asset,
31
and
identity
eligibility
verification
system;
or
contract
with
32
a
third-party
vendor
to
provide
for
identity
verification,
33
identity
authentication,
asset
verification,
and
dual
34
enrollment
prevention
in
order
to
deter
waste,
fraud,
and
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abuse
in
each
public
assistance
program
administered
by
the
1
department.
2
2.
The
department
may
contract
with
a
third-party
3
vendor
to
develop
a
system
or
provide
a
service
to
verify
4
or
authenticate
income,
assets,
and
identity
eligibility
of
5
applicants
and
recipients
to
prevent
fraud,
misrepresentation,
6
and
inadequate
documentation
when
determining
eligibility
7
for
public
assistance
programs.
The
system
or
service
shall
8
be
accessed
prior
to
determining
eligibility,
periodically
9
between
eligibility
redeterminations,
and
during
eligibility
10
redeterminations
and
reviews.
The
department
may
also
contract
11
with
a
third-party
vendor
to
provide
information
to
facilitate
12
reviews
of
recipient
eligibility
conducted
by
the
department.
13
3.
A
contract
entered
into
under
this
section
shall
provide,
14
at
a
minimum,
for
all
of
the
following:
15
a.
The
establishment
of
the
annual
savings
amount
from
16
utilization
of
the
system
or
service,
and
a
provision
that
17
the
contract
may
be
terminated
contingent
upon
the
savings
18
exceeding
the
total
yearly
cost
to
the
state
for
utilization
of
19
the
system
or
service.
20
b.
That
the
contract
shall
not
preclude
the
department
21
from
continuing
to
conduct
additional
eligibility
verification
22
or
authentication
processes,
to
receive,
review,
or
verify
23
additional
information
related
to
the
eligibility
of
an
24
individual,
or
from
contracting
with
a
third-party
vendor
to
25
provide
additional
eligibility
authentication
or
verification
26
information.
27
4.
The
department
shall
seek
federal
approval
as
necessary
28
to
implement
and
administer
this
section.
29
Sec.
7.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.5
Public
assistance
programs
——
30
applicant
and
recipient
eligibility
verification.
31
1.
All
applications
for
initial
public
assistance
32
program
benefits
and
all
determinations
of
ongoing
recipient
33
eligibility
shall
be
processed
through
a
system
as
specified
in
34
this
section.
Complete
initial
applications
shall
be
processed
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within
ten
days
of
receipt
or
the
minimum
period
required
by
1
federal
law.
Prior
to
determining
initial
eligibility
of
an
2
applicant
for,
or
ongoing
eligibility
of
a
recipient
of,
public
3
assistance,
the
department
shall
access
information
for
every
4
applicant
or
recipient
from
the
following
federal,
state,
and
5
other
sources:
6
a.
Federal
sources
and
information:
7
(1)
Earned
and
unearned
income
information
maintained
by
8
the
internal
revenue
service.
9
(2)
The
following
sources
and
information
maintained
by
the
10
United
States
social
security
administration:
11
(a)
Earned
income
information.
12
(b)
Death
register
information.
13
(c)
Prisoner
or
incarceration
status
information.
14
(d)
Supplemental
security
income
information
maintained
in
15
the
state
data
exchange
database.
16
(e)
Beneficiary
records
and
earnings
information
maintained
17
in
the
beneficiary
and
earnings
data
exchange
database.
18
(f)
Earnings
and
pension
information
maintained
in
the
19
beneficiary
earnings
exchange
record
system
database.
20
(3)
The
following
sources
and
information
maintained
by
the
21
United
States
department
of
health
and
human
services:
22
(a)
Income
and
employment
information
maintained
in
the
23
national
directory
of
new
hires
database
by
the
office
of
child
24
support
enforcement
of
the
administration
for
children
and
25
families.
26
(b)
Other
federal
data
sources
maintained
by
the
office
of
27
child
support
enforcement
of
the
administration
for
children
28
and
families.
29
(4)
Information
maintained
by
the
United
States
citizenship
30
and
immigration
services
of
the
United
States
department
of
31
homeland
security.
32
(5)
Payment
information
for
public
housing
and
section
8
33
housing
assistance
guidelines
maintained
by
the
United
States
34
department
of
housing
and
urban
development.
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(6)
National
fleeing
felon
information
maintained
by
the
1
United
States
federal
bureau
of
investigation.
2
b.
State
sources
and
information:
3
(1)
The
department’s
sources
and
information
including
but
4
not
limited
to
all
of
the
following:
5
(a)
Income
and
employment
information
maintained
by
the
6
child
support
recovery
unit.
7
(b)
Child
care
assistance
information
maintained
by
the
8
division
of
child
and
family
services.
9
(c)
Enrollment
status
in
other
public
assistance
programs.
10
(2)
The
department
of
workforce
development
sources
and
11
information
including
all
of
the
following:
12
(a)
Employment
information.
13
(b)
Employer
weekly,
monthly,
and
quarterly
reports
of
14
income
and
unemployment
insurance
payments.
15
(3)
Utility
payment
and
emergency
utility
payment
16
information
maintained
by
the
state
under
the
low
income
home
17
energy
assistance
program.
18
(4)
The
Iowa
public
employees’
retirement
system
for
19
earnings
and
pension
information.
20
c.
Other
sources
including
all
of
the
following:
21
(1)
Any
existing
real-time
database
of
persons
currently
22
receiving
benefits
in
other
states,
such
as
the
national
23
accuracy
clearinghouse.
24
(2)
An
available
database
of
persons
who
currently
hold
a
25
license,
permit,
or
certificate
from
any
state
agency,
the
cost
26
of
which
exceeds
five
hundred
dollars.
27
(3)
Wage
reporting
and
similar
information
maintained
by
28
states
contiguous
to
Iowa.
29
(4)
A
database
which
is
substantially
similar
to,
or
a
30
successor
of,
a
database
established
in
this
chapter.
31
2.
Prior
to
determining
the
initial
eligibility
of
an
32
applicant
for,
or
the
ongoing
eligibility
of
a
recipient
33
of,
public
assistance
benefits,
the
department
shall
access
34
information
for
every
applicant
or
recipient
from,
at
a
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minimum,
the
following
public
records:
1
a.
A
nationwide
public
records
data
source
of
physical
asset
2
ownership.
The
data
source
may
include
but
is
not
limited
to
3
real
property,
automobiles,
watercraft,
aircraft,
and
luxury
4
vehicles,
or
any
other
vehicle
owned
by
the
applicant
for
or
5
recipient
of
assistance.
6
b.
A
nationwide
public
records
data
source
of
incarcerated
7
individuals.
8
c.
A
nationwide
best
address
and
driver’s
license
data
9
source
to
verify
that
individuals
are
residents
of
the
state.
10
d.
A
comprehensive
public
records
database
from
which
the
11
department
may
identify
potential
identity
fraud
or
identity
12
theft
that
is
capable
of
closely
associating
name,
social
13
security
number,
date
of
birth,
phone,
and
address
information.
14
e.
National
and
local
financial
institutions
in
order
15
to
locate
undisclosed
depository
accounts
or
verify
account
16
balances
of
disclosed
accounts.
17
f.
Outstanding
default
or
arrest
warrant
information.
18
Sec.
8.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.6
Identity
authentication.
19
Prior
to
the
department
awarding
public
assistance
20
benefits,
an
applicant
shall
complete
a
computerized
identity
21
authentication
process
to
confirm
the
identity
of
the
22
applicant.
Identity
authentication
shall
be
accomplished
23
through
a
knowledge-based
questionnaire
consisting
of
financial
24
and
personal
questions.
The
questionnaire
shall
contain
25
questions
tailored
to
assist
persons
without
a
bank
account
or
26
those
who
have
poor
access
to
financial
and
banking
services
27
or
who
do
not
have
an
established
credit
history.
The
28
questionnaire
may
be
submitted
by
the
applicant
online,
in
29
person,
or
via
telephone.
30
Sec.
9.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.7
Case
review
of
applicant
and
31
recipient
information
——
fraudulent
activity
——
child
support
32
obligation.
33
1.
If
the
information
obtained
from
a
review
of
an
34
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
information
under
this
chapter
does
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not
result
in
the
department
finding
a
discrepancy
or
change
1
in
an
individual’s
circumstances
affecting
eligibility,
the
2
department
shall
take
no
further
action.
3
2.
If
the
information
obtained
from
a
review
of
the
4
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
information
under
this
chapter
5
results
in
the
department
finding
a
discrepancy
or
change
in
6
the
individual’s
circumstances
affecting
eligibility,
the
7
department
shall
respond
in
accordance
with
the
provisions
of
8
section
239.8.
9
3.
Public
assistance
shall
not
be
granted
to
a
household
if
10
a
member
of
the
household
has
been
found
guilty
of
fraudulent
11
activity
directly
related
to
any
public
assistance
program.
12
4.
An
applicant
for
public
assistance
benefits
who
is
in
13
arrears
in
payment
for
a
period
of
more
than
six
months
on
a
14
child
support
obligation
pursuant
to
a
court
or
administrative
15
order
issued
pursuant
to
chapter
252A,
252C,
252F,
598,
16
or
600B,
or
any
other
chapter
under
which
child
support
is
17
granted,
shall
not
be
granted
public
assistance
benefits
until
18
the
applicant
enters
into
a
payment
arrangement
with
the
child
19
support
recovery
unit
or
is
found
by
the
child
support
recovery
20
unit
to
have
no
ability
to
pay
the
child
support
obligation.
21
Sec.
10.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.8
Notice
and
right
to
be
heard.
22
1.
An
applicant
for,
or
recipient
of,
public
assistance
23
shall
be
provided
written
notice
and
the
opportunity
to
explain
24
any
issues
identified
in
a
review
performed
under
this
chapter
25
for
initial
eligibility
or
redetermination
of
eligibility.
26
A
self-declaration
by
an
applicant
or
recipient
shall
not
27
be
accepted
as
verification
of
categorical
and
financial
28
eligibility
during
such
review.
29
2.
The
notice
provided
to
the
applicant
or
recipient
shall
30
describe
in
sufficient
detail
the
circumstances
of
the
issue
31
identified,
the
manner
in
which
the
applicant
or
recipient
32
may
respond,
and
the
consequences
of
failing
to
respond
to
33
the
notice
or
resolve
the
issue
identified.
The
applicant
or
34
recipient
shall
be
provided
ten
days
to
respond
to
the
notice.
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The
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
response
shall
be
in
writing.
1
The
department
may
request
additional
information
as
necessary
2
to
reach
a
decision.
3
3.
An
applicant
or
recipient
may
respond
to
the
notice
as
4
follows:
5
a.
By
disagreeing
with
the
findings
of
the
department.
If
6
the
applicant
or
recipient
responds
in
a
timely
manner
and
7
disagrees
with
the
findings
of
the
department,
the
department
8
shall
reevaluate
the
circumstances
to
determine
if
the
9
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
position
is
valid.
If,
through
10
reevaluation,
the
department
finds
that
the
department
is
in
11
error,
the
department
shall
take
immediate
action
to
correct
12
the
error.
If,
through
reevaluation,
the
department
affirms
13
that
the
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
position
is
invalid,
the
14
department
shall
determine
the
effect
on
the
applicant’s
or
15
recipient’s
eligibility
and
take
appropriate
action.
Written
16
notice
of
the
department’s
determination
and
the
actions
taken
17
shall
be
provided
to
the
applicant
or
recipient.
18
b.
By
agreeing
with
the
findings
of
the
department.
If
19
the
applicant
or
recipient
responds
in
a
timely
manner
and
20
agrees
with
the
findings
of
the
department,
the
department
21
shall
determine
the
effect
on
the
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
22
eligibility
and
take
appropriate
action.
Written
notice
of
the
23
department’s
determination
and
actions
taken
shall
be
provided
24
to
the
applicant
or
recipient.
25
4.
If
the
applicant
or
recipient
fails
to
respond
to
the
26
notice
in
a
timely
manner,
the
department
shall
provide
notice
27
to
terminate
the
applicant’s
application
or
to
discontinue
28
the
recipient’s
enrollment
for
failure
to
cooperate,
and
29
shall
terminate
the
applicant’s
application
or
discontinue
30
the
recipient’s
enrollment.
The
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
31
eligibility
for
such
public
assistance
shall
not
be
established
32
or
reestablished
until
the
issue
has
been
resolved.
33
Sec.
11.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.9
Referrals
for
fraud,
34
misrepresentation,
or
inadequate
documentation.
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1.
Following
a
review
of
an
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
1
eligibility
under
this
chapter,
the
department
may
refer
cases
2
of
suspected
fraud
along
with
any
supportive
information
to
the
3
department
of
inspections
and
appeals
for
review.
4
2.
In
cases
of
substantiated
fraud,
upon
conviction,
the
5
state
shall
review
all
appropriate
legal
options
including
6
but
not
limited
to
removal
of
a
recipient
from
other
public
7
assistance
programs
and
garnishment
of
wages
or
state
income
8
tax
refunds
until
the
department
recovers
an
equal
amount
of
9
benefits
fraudulently
claimed.
10
3.
The
department
may
refer
suspected
cases
of
fraud,
11
misrepresentation,
or
inadequate
documentation
relating
to
12
initial
or
continued
eligibility
to
appropriate
state
agencies,
13
divisions,
or
departments
for
review
of
eligibility
issues
in
14
programs
providing
public
benefits
other
than
those
as
defined
15
in
this
chapter.
16
Sec.
12.
NEW
SECTION
.
239.10
Administration
——
rules
——
17
reporting.
18
1.
The
department
of
human
services
shall
adopt
rules
19
pursuant
to
chapter
17A
to
administer
this
chapter.
20
2.
The
department
shall
submit
a
report
to
the
governor
21
and
the
general
assembly
by
January
15,
2022,
and
by
January
22
15
annually
thereafter
through
January
15,
2027,
detailing
the
23
impact
of
the
verification
and
authentication
measures
taken
24
under
this
chapter.
The
report
shall
include
data
for
all
25
affected
public
assistance
programs
including
the
number
of
26
cases
reviewed,
the
number
of
cases
closed,
the
number
of
fraud
27
investigation
referrals
made,
and
the
amount
of
savings
and
28
cost
avoidance
realized
from
the
provisions
of
this
chapter.
29
Sec.
13.
IMPLEMENTATION.
30
1.
The
department
of
human
services
shall
request
federal
31
approval
including
for
any
state
plan
amendment
or
waiver
32
necessary
to
administer
this
division
of
this
Act.
33
2.
The
provisions
of
this
division
of
this
Act
requiring
34
federal
approval
shall
be
implemented
upon
receipt
of
such
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federal
approval.
1
3.
The
provisions
of
this
division
of
this
Act
not
requiring
2
federal
approval
shall
be
implemented
as
specified
in
this
Act,
3
or
if
not
specified
in
this
Act,
no
later
than
July
1,
2021.
4
EXPLANATION
5
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
6
the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
7
This
bill
relates
to
public
assistance
program
oversight.
8
Division
I
of
the
bill
requires
the
department
of
human
9
services
(DHS),
by
July
1,
2020,
to
request
any
federal
waiver
10
or
approval
necessary
from
the
food
and
nutrition
service
of
11
the
United
States
department
of
agriculture
in
order
to
comply
12
with
the
provision
of
the
federal
Agriculture
Improvement
13
Act
of
2018
and
the
regulations
adopted
under
the
Act
to
14
provide
real-time
prevention
of
duplicate
participation
upon
a
15
potential
beneficiary’s
application
for
SNAP
(the
supplemental
16
nutrition
assistance
program).
DHS
is
required,
upon
receipt
17
of
any
necessary
federal
waiver
or
approval,
to
contract
with
a
18
third-party
vendor
to
conduct
national
accuracy
clearinghouse
19
matches
and
corresponding
actions
in
accordance
with
the
20
federal
law
and
regulations.
21
Division
II
of
the
bill
relates
to
various
eligibility
22
verification
and
authentication
measures
under
new
Code
chapter
23
239.
24
The
bill
provides
definitions
used
in
the
new
Code
chapter.
25
The
bill
requires
DHS
to
conduct
an
asset
test
on
all
members
26
of
the
household
of
an
applicant
for
SNAP
benefits.
The
bill
27
specifies
the
minimum
information,
federal,
state,
and
other
28
data
sources,
and
public
records
that
DHS
must
access
prior
to
29
determining
eligibility
for
an
applicant’s
SNAP
benefits.
The
30
bill
requires
DHS
to
enter
into
a
memorandum
of
understanding
31
with
any
department
or
subunit
of
a
department
to
obtain
the
32
information
specified.
The
bill
provisions
do
not
apply
if
33
every
member
of
the
applicant’s
household
receives
supplemental
34
security
income.
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The
bill
requires
that
an
applicant
for
SNAP
benefits
who
1
is
in
arrears
for
a
period
of
more
than
six
months
on
a
child
2
support
obligation
shall
be
required
to
cooperate
with
the
3
child
support
recovery
unit
as
a
condition
of
eligibility
for
4
SNAP
benefits.
5
The
bill
requires
that
by
July
1,
2021,
DHS
shall
redesign
6
an
existing
system;
establish
a
new
computerized
income,
7
asset,
and
identity
eligibility
verification
system;
or
8
contract
with
a
third-party
vendor
to
provide
for
identity
9
verification,
identity
authentication,
asset
verification,
and
10
dual
enrollment
prevention
in
each
public
assistance
program
11
administered
by
DHS.
DHS
may
contract
with
a
third-party
12
vendor
to
develop
a
system
or
provide
a
service
to
verify
13
income,
assets,
and
identity
eligibility
of
applicants
and
14
recipients.
The
system
or
service
shall
be
accessed
prior
15
to
determining
eligibility,
periodically
between
eligibility
16
redeterminations,
and
during
eligibility
redeterminations
17
and
reviews.
DHS
may
contract
with
a
third-party
vendor
18
to
provide
information
to
facilitate
reviews
of
recipient
19
eligibility
conducted
by
DHS.
A
contract
entered
into
to
20
provide
a
system
or
service
must
establish
the
annual
savings
21
amount
from
utilization
of
the
system
or
service,
and
include
a
22
provision
that
the
contract
may
be
terminated
contingent
upon
23
the
savings
exceeding
the
total
yearly
cost
to
the
state
for
24
utilization
of
the
system
or
service.
The
contract
does
not
25
preclude
DHS
from
continuing
to
conduct
additional
eligibility
26
verification
or
authentication
processes
to
receive,
review,
or
27
verify
additional
information
related
to
the
eligibility
of
an
28
individual;
or
from
contracting
with
a
third-party
vendor
to
29
provide
additional
eligibility
authentication
or
verification
30
information.
DHS
shall
seek
federal
approval
as
necessary
to
31
implement
and
administer
this
provision
of
the
bill.
32
The
bill
requires
that
for
all
applications
for
initial
33
public
assistance
program
benefits
and
all
determinations
of
34
ongoing
recipient
eligibility
processed
by
DHS,
DHS
shall
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access
information
for
every
applicant
or
recipient
from
1
specified
federal,
state,
and
other
sources,
and
from
specified
2
public
records.
3
The
bill
requires
that
prior
to
awarding
public
assistance
4
benefits
to
an
applicant,
the
applicant
shall
complete
a
5
computerized
identity
authentication
process
to
confirm
the
6
identity
of
the
applicant
through
the
use
of
a
knowledge-based
7
questionnaire
consisting
of
financial
and
personal
questions
8
tailored
to
assist
persons
without
a
bank
account
or
those
who
9
have
poor
access
to
financial
and
banking
services
or
who
do
10
not
have
an
established
credit
history.
The
questionnaire
11
may
be
submitted
by
the
applicant
online,
in
person,
or
via
12
telephone.
13
The
bill
provides
that
if
information
obtained
from
a
14
review
of
an
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
information
under
the
15
bill
does
not
result
in
DHS
finding
a
discrepancy
or
change
16
in
an
individual’s
circumstances
affecting
eligibility,
DHS
17
shall
take
no
further
action.
Public
assistance
shall
not
be
18
granted
to
a
household
if
a
member
of
the
household
has
been
19
found
guilty
of
fraudulent
activity
directly
related
to
any
20
public
assistance
program.
An
applicant
for
public
assistance
21
benefits
who
is
in
arrears
in
payment
for
a
period
of
more
than
22
six
months
on
a
child
support
obligation
shall
not
be
granted
23
public
assistance
benefits
until
the
applicant
enters
into
a
24
payment
arrangement
with
the
child
support
recovery
unit
or
is
25
found
by
the
child
support
recovery
unit
to
have
no
ability
to
26
pay
the
child
support
obligation.
27
If
the
information
obtained
from
a
review
of
the
applicant’s
28
or
recipient’s
information
under
the
bill
results
in
DHS
29
finding
a
discrepancy
or
a
change
in
the
individual’s
30
circumstances
affecting
eligibility,
DHS
shall
provide
written
31
notice
to
the
individual
and
the
opportunity
to
explain
any
32
issues
identified.
A
self-declaration
by
an
applicant
or
33
recipient
shall
not
be
accepted
as
verification
of
categorical
34
and
financial
eligibility
during
such
review.
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_____
The
notice
provided
to
the
applicant
or
recipient
shall
1
describe
in
sufficient
detail
the
circumstances
of
the
issue
2
identified,
the
manner
in
which
the
applicant
or
recipient
3
may
respond,
and
the
consequences
of
failing
to
respond
to
4
the
notice
or
resolve
the
issue
identified.
The
applicant
or
5
recipient
shall
be
provided
10
days
to
respond
to
the
notice.
6
The
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
response
shall
be
in
writing.
7
DHS
may
request
additional
information
as
necessary
to
reach
8
a
decision.
9
The
bill
specifies
the
processes
and
results
depending
upon
10
whether
an
applicant
or
recipient
responds
by
disagreeing
11
or
agreeing
with
the
findings
of
a
review
by
DHS.
If
the
12
applicant
or
recipient
fails
to
respond
to
the
notice
in
a
13
timely
manner,
DHS
shall
provide
notice
to
terminate
the
14
applicant’s
application
or
to
discontinue
the
recipient’s
15
enrollment
for
failure
to
cooperate,
and
shall
terminate
16
the
applicant’s
application
or
discontinue
the
recipient’s
17
enrollment.
The
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
eligibility
18
for
such
public
assistance
shall
not
be
established
or
19
reestablished
until
the
issue
has
been
resolved.
20
Following
a
review
of
an
applicant’s
or
recipient’s
21
eligibility,
DHS
may
refer
cases
of
suspected
fraud
along
with
22
any
supportive
information
to
the
department
of
inspections
23
and
appeals
for
review.
In
cases
of
substantiated
fraud,
24
upon
conviction,
the
state
shall
review
all
appropriate
legal
25
options
including
but
not
limited
to
removal
of
a
recipient
26
from
other
public
assistance
programs
and
garnishment
of
wages
27
or
state
income
tax
refunds
until
DHS
recovers
an
equal
amount
28
of
benefits
fraudulently
claimed.
DHS
may
refer
suspected
29
cases
of
fraud,
misrepresentation,
or
inadequate
documentation
30
relating
to
initial
or
continued
eligibility
to
appropriate
31
state
agencies,
divisions,
or
departments
for
review
of
32
eligibility
issues
in
other
public
assistance
programs.
33
Under
the
bill,
DHS
shall
adopt
administrative
rules
to
34
administer
the
Code
chapter.
DHS
shall
submit
a
report
to
the
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S.F.
_____
governor
and
the
general
assembly
by
January
15,
2022,
and
1
by
January
15
annually
thereafter
through
January
15,
2027,
2
detailing
the
impact
of
the
verification
and
authentication
3
measures
taken
under
the
bill.
The
report
shall
include
data
4
for
all
affected
public
assistance
programs
including
the
5
number
of
cases
reviewed,
the
number
of
cases
closed,
the
6
number
of
fraud
investigation
referrals
made,
and
the
amount
of
7
savings
and
cost
avoidance
realized
from
the
provisions
of
the
8
bill.
9
DHS
shall
request
federal
approval
including
for
any
state
10
plan
amendment
or
waiver
necessary
to
administer
Division
II
of
11
the
bill,
and
the
provisions
of
Division
II
requiring
federal
12
approval
shall
be
implemented
upon
receipt
of
such
federal
13
approval.
The
provisions
of
Division
II
that
do
not
require
14
federal
approval
shall
be
implemented
as
specified
in
the
bill
15
or,
if
not
specified
in
the
bill,
no
later
than
July
1,
2021.
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