Committee sends bill tightening state oversight of public-assistance eligibility to the floor

Representative John Vanderrata of District 22 (Ada County) presented House Bill 90 to the House Health and Welfare Committee, saying the bill would clarify who may change eligibility for public-assistance programs.

Vanderrata said the bill “tightens it up a little bit so it's pretty clear that 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.” He described the bill as clarifying language that implements the intent of a prior bill.

Representative McCann questioned whether federal waivers that decreased eligibility would allow the department to change eligibility without legislative approval. Vanderrata replied that amendments to the state plan and waivers would still require legislative approval under the bill as he read it.

Representative Wheeler asked for examples of nonfinancial criteria that might expand benefits; Vanderrata said many benefits have non-dollar criteria and that removing the word “financial” was intended to ensure the legislature reviews any expansion of benefits, even when a dollar amount is not attached.

Committee members moved to send House Bill 90 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and approved the motion by voice vote; there was no public testimony on the measure recorded in the meeting transcript.