Senate panel weighs summer EBT fraud reimbursement, child services and workforce registry funding

The Senate Ways and Means Committee reviewed House adjustments to the Department for Children and Families (DCF) budget and debated funding and proviso language for the Summer EBT (Sun Bucks) program, mentoring grants and child-care workforce items.

Amanda Prosser of Legislative Research presented the House adjustments and described the Summer EBT mechanics and related administrative funding. She told the committee the House had appropriated funds to the State Finance Council for Summer EBT administrative costs contingent on the DCF secretary certifying submission of a federal waiver exempting candy and soda from EBT-eligible purchases.

Why it matters: Summer EBT provides $40 a month per eligible child ($120 per summer) to help replace school meal benefits during summer months. Committee members focused on fraud exposure in the card administration and whether the state should use SGF to reimburse verified fraud losses.

Key committee actions and discussion

- Summer EBT fraud reimbursement and in-state restriction: Senator Clayse moved (and Senator Peck seconded) to add $10,000 SGF for FY2026 to reimburse clients who report fraudulent Summer EBT payments, with proviso language drafted to restrict card purchases to in-state (Kansas) purchases for the purpose of holding a proviso slot for conference. The committee approved the motion.

- Program mechanics and fraud: Committee staff explained the Sun Bucks card can be used out of state; the staff described the type of fraud at issue as “skimming” (devices placed on card readers to capture data), and said the vendor administering Summer EBT is Fidelity Information Services. Staff noted federal reimbursement for SNAP fraud had previously existed but that authority has since expired; reimbursement here would be limited to the Summer EBT program.

- Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters: The House had added funding for the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas and for Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters in response to public testimony; the committee discussed the age range in mentoring (motions noted mentor/mentee age ranges in testimony) and approved the House additions cited on the green sheet as conferenceable.

- Children—s Initiative Fund (CIF) and workforce registry: The House had proposed not using CIF to fund a workforce registry; the committee adopted a conferenceable posture by moving $1,000,000 SGF in place of CIF funding for workforce registry discussion in conference (motion by Senator Clayse).

What the committee did not adopt

- A motion by Senator Petty to add $8,000,000 SGF to replace federal dollars used for foster care accounting failed on a voice vote; committee discussion noted the agency had changed how funds flow to children and that additional detail is needed.

Speakers (selection)

- Amanda Prosser — Legislative Research (presentation). - Senator Clayse — Moved the Summer EBT client reimbursement carve-out and in-state proviso slot. - Senator Peck — Seconded Clayse—s motion and asked clarifying questions. - Senator Petty — Raised concerns about program vetting and prior review time; moved the foster care replacement funding which failed.

Clarifying details

- Summer EBT benefit: $40 per month, $120 per child per summer. - Fraud exposures described by staff: skimming at point-of-sale devices; vendor administering the program is Fidelity Information Services.

Community relevance and next steps

Committee members emphasized border-county implications of an in-state card restriction and the need to balance fraud protection with access in counties that border other states. The approved $10,000 placeholder for fraud reimbursement and the in-state proviso slot were described as conference positions to allow further drafting and negotiation with the House.

Searchable tags: DCF, Summer EBT, Sun Bucks, fraud reimbursement, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, workforce registry

Provenance

topicintro: {"block_id":"segment_120","local_start":0,"local_end":46,"evidence_excerpt":"Hello, Committee. Amanda Prosser, Legislative Research. We're going to be looking at page 12 of the green sheet and if you have your budget summary notebooks, I believe it's volume 2, page 2 83.","reason_code":"topicintro"}

topfinish: {"block_id":"segment_165","local_start":0,"local_end":73,"evidence_excerpt":"Okay. Any other quest questions for Amanda? Senator Petty.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}