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Committee clears House Bill 90 to floor, says legislature must approve eligibility expansions
Summary
House Bill 90, presented by Representative John Vanderrata, passed the Health and Welfare Committee with a due-pass recommendation; the bill clarifies that changes expanding public-assistance eligibility through state-plan amendments, waivers or agency guidance require legislative approval.
Representative John Vanderrata, R- District 22 of Ada County, asked the Health and Welfare Committee to send House Bill 90 to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation. Vanderrata described the measure as clarifying that changes that expand eligibility for public-assistance programs must go through the Legislature.
"No additional benefits or no additional costs can be done to the state plan, amendment, agency guidance or other documents that it really needs to go through the state legislature," Vanderrata said, summarizing the bill's intent to limit unilateral executive-branch changes that would expand benefits.
Committee members asked questions about how waivers and reductions in eligibility would be treated. Representative McCann asked whether department waivers that decreased eligibility could be implemented without legislative approval; Vanderrata responded that he believed amendments to the state plan would require the Legislature's approval.
Representative Wheeler queried for examples of nonfinancial criteria that might expand benefits; Vanderrata said he did not have a specific example at hand. Representative Bell asked whether instances had triggered the bill; Representative Manuel replied the bill was intended as a preventive clarification rather than a corrective measure.
A committee member moved that House Bill 90 be sent to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; the chair announced the motion carried and the bill will go to the full House. No public testimony was recorded in the hearing.
