Committee weighs bill to authorize broader data matches for public‑assistance eligibility; DCF officials say much of it already occurs

The Committee on Welfare Reform took testimony on House Bill 2360, a proposal directing the secretaries for children and health to enter into data‑matching agreements with commercial entities and state or federal agencies to check public‑assistance program eligibility and detect possible fraud. Proponents argued broader, routine matching would improve program integrity; opponents cautioned that the department already performs many matches and that additional third‑party alerts could overwhelm staff and delay benefit processing.

Steve Green of Opportunity Solutions Project told the committee the bill has three central elements: authorizing third‑party contracts to collect data, tightening redetermination timing, and publishing a public, aggregate report on program‑integrity findings. Green said actively looking for fraud produces results and gave an example…