Senate Finance Committee members pressed YDC claims administrators and the Attorney General’s office for clearer accounting after a committee member cited an audit showing significant past payouts and pending obligations.

A committee member summarized audit figures, saying, “It's through March 31. We've spent $130,000,000 out of the fund. That is 123,000,000 to claimants and $7,000,000 on administrative fees. We're committed to $9,000,000 over the next 2 years for claims settled through March 31.” Jen Foley, general counsel for YDC claims administration, answered that committed payouts for resolved claims for 2026–27 are “26,000,000 plus,” and that the number is rising as new resolved claims are issued. She also said she would provide more specifics in the quarterly report and take questions back to the audit division when senators requested table references.

Why it matters: Committee members said they need a clearer reconciliation of paid claims, committed payouts, pending claims, and administrative costs before approving appropriations. Senators asked whether the $37 million in the audit labelled “pending claims” referred to filed claims, agreed claims awaiting payment, or claims still under evaluation; Foley said she would take that question back and provide detail with the next quarterly report.

Committee requests and context: Senators asked for breakout figures, including which award payments are lump sums versus periodic payments, the schedule of attorney fee payments, and how a requested AG buffer would affect appropriation needs. The committee placed the YDC claims item on hold to allow administrators to return with the audit tables and a reconciliation of committed and pending obligations.

Ending: The committee requested a follow-up report with specific table references and a clearer accounting of pending and committed obligations, expected in the upcoming quarterly report.