Appropriations subcommittee hears human services budget: $7.3 billion gross, $1.3 billion general fund

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Services heard a presentation on the fiscal year 2024–25 human services appropriations that fund child welfare, public assistance, juvenile justice, disability determinations and local office operations. House Fiscal Agency analysts Sydney Brown and Cassidy Elkman told the committee the human services portion has a gross appropriation of $7.3 billion and a general fund appropriation of $1.3 billion, with about 80% federal funding and roughly 18% general fund.

Brown and Elkman said the human services portion represents about 9% of the state’s roughly $81.4 billion budget and that health and human services as a whole make up about 46% of the state budget. They told members that public assistance programs account for the largest share—about 62%—of the human services gross appropriation, and that child welfare programs consume the largest share of general fund dollars (about 63% of the human services general fund).

The analysts noted roughly $45.6 million of the human services gross total is one‑time funding in FY 2024–25. They also described program funding sources as a mix of federal block grants, federal entitlement funds, state restricted funds and interdepartmental transfers. Local office operations—more than 100 district and local DHHS offices—handle on‑the‑ground casework and account for substantial personnel costs; the presenters said personnel accounted for about 13% of total human services appropriations in FY 2023–24. Brown cited the settlement of a children’s‑rights lawsuit as a driver of increased staffing and reduced caseload‑to‑worker ratios.

Committee members asked follow‑up questions about lines that are funded from multiple sources, county reimbursement of child‑care fund costs and whether unlicensed kinship placements are checked by DHHS. Analysts said they would supply additional breakdowns on multiply funded line items and noted that DHHS conducts home checks for kin placements even when the relative is not a licensed foster parent.

The presenters also reviewed child support enforcement funding and reported that about $1.3 billion in child support was collected and distributed in fiscal year 2024. The analysts closed by making their full, abridged and supporting materials available on the House Fiscal Agency website and offering to follow up on members’ data requests.