Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill to link Transit Assistance Program to benefits portal advanced; sponsors say modest IT cost could boost enrollment
Summary
House File 1685 would add a link from the Minnesota benefits portal to Metro Transit's Transit Assistance Program application to raise awareness and enrollment among eligible low‑income residents.
Representative Kraft moved House File 1685 proposing a technical integration: add a link from the Minnesota benefits portal to Metro Transit's Transit Assistance Program (TAP) application. TAP offers a reduced‑fare GoTo card for eligible low‑income riders; sponsors said take‑up is low relative to the eligible population and that a simple portal link would raise awareness and enrollment at modest cost.
Kraft said about 150,000 people apply for SNAP in the metro area each year and that linking TAP to the benefits portal could increase TAP enrollment substantially if even a small share of applicants are made aware of the program. He cited a fiscal note of roughly $37,000 for the MNIT integration and described a mechanism where transferring the appropriation through DCYF could allow a federal match and reduce the net state cost.
Testimony in support
- Nas Nurkade (Move Minnesota Action) said the TAP program works but awareness and enrollment are low; outreach is fragmented and linking the application would improve efficiency and access for transit‑dependent residents. - Sarah Silva (CAPI USA) spoke about experiences helping clients navigate multiple benefit applications and urged streamlining; she said having TAP on the benefits portal would help case managers and participants.
Committee action and next steps
Representative Kraft moved adoption of an author's amendment (DE1‑1) to place the bill in preferred form; the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote. The author renewed the motion to lay House File 1685 over for possible inclusion; the motion carried. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the procurement and funding transfer to MNIT and about timelines for implementation. The fiscal note of $35,000–$37,000 was discussed and the author explained the structure to secure federal match via a transfer to DCYF.
Ending
The committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion; sponsors said the change is a small technical integration that could increase TAP enrollment and lower costs for transit‑dependent Minnesotans.
