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Panel backs read-only Maxis access for veterans staff to speed benefit referrals
Summary
The House Veterans and Military Affairs Division recommended re-referral of House File 16 62 to the Human Services Finance and Policy Committee to give Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs staff read-only access to the Maxis eligibility database, aiming to streamline connections between veterans and state benefits.
The House Veterans and Military Affairs Division on March 5 recommended re-referral of House File 16 62 to the Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, a technical measure to allow Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs staff limited, read-only access to the Maxis eligibility database.
Representative Ray Rauer moved the bill and described it as a technical change intended to help Minnesota veterans connect more quickly to state benefits. “By allowing these agency staff members read only access to Maxis, they would be able to quickly and efficiently connect this veteran with other services that they may qualify for,” Rauer said during testimony.
John Kelly, director of government affairs for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, testified that the change is intended to reduce the time required to determine eligibility across federal and state benefits and emphasized the access would be read-only. “Maxis access allows the Veterans Stable Housing Initiative to identify those veterans not eligible for federal benefits and more effectively connect them to eligible state resources,” Kelly said. He also told the division MDVA has been coordinating with the Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Department of Human Services and that an amendment could be filed later in Human Services.
Representative Anna Feist flagged a potential chapter 13 (data/privacy) implication and said she would like the judiciary chair to consider whether the bill should be heard there. Representative Rauer said he would check in with the other committee chair.
After brief questions and no objections, the division voice-voted to recommend the bill’s re-referral to the Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.
The bill’s sponsor and MDVA staff said the change would not alter DHS administration of benefits; it would grant MDVA staff read-only visibility into Maxis, which is managed by the Department of Children, Youth and Families, to speed referrals and eligibility screening for programs such as the Veterans Stable Housing Initiative.
House File 16 62 was recommended to be re-referred to the Human Services Finance and Policy Committee by voice vote.
