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House panel debates DCF budget, rejects $12.1 million SNAP add and approves voter-registration proviso
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Summary
The House appropriations subcommittee debated whether to restore $12.1 million to cover increased state SNAP administrative costs and narrowly rejected the request; the panel separately approved a proviso to prohibit agencies from mailing voter-registration packets unless an applicant affirmatively requests one after an inspector-general finding of unsolicited mailings.
Lawmakers on the House appropriations panel on Thursday debated multiple adjustments to the Department for Children and Families (DCF) budget, voting down a motion to add $12.1 million to cover an increased state share of SNAP administration but approving a separate proviso to stop unsolicited voter-registration mailings.
The failed motion, offered by Representative Henry Helgerson, sought to restore $12.1 million he said would follow a federal change that shifts more SNAP administrative costs to the state (from roughly a 50/50 to a 75/25 state/federal split). "My objective is that we follow ... the formula and continue in the matching rate," Helgerson said when offering the amendment. Supporters argued the funding would help maintain the program's low error rate and avoid potential federal penalties; Representative Owsley said the $12 million "could save us $40,000,000 in a penalty" if it kept the error rate below federal thresholds. Opponents pointed to agency accountability concerns and ongoing legal and operational issues; Vice Chair Williams noted testimony from the attorney general that the state already faces potential fines related to data-sharing issues and said he opposed adding funds without clearer agency performance.
Separately, Representative Kevin Carpenter introduced a proviso aimed at preventing further unsolicited mailings of voter-registration packets after what he described as an inspector-general finding. Carpenter said the state sent "740,003 of them were unsolicited, costing us $446,258.12." The proviso would require agencies to mail a registration packet only when the applicant checks a "yes" box requesting it; the committee approved the amendment by voice vote.
Why it matters: The SNAP funding debate centers on whether to absorb a federal administrative-match change within the baseline budget or to leave the program to adapt without the added state money. The voter-mailing proviso responds to an inspector-general finding and seeks to lower recurring postage costs and reduce confusion for beneficiaries.
Committee next steps: The committee adopted the Social Services Budget Committee recommendations for DCF as amended. Staffers and committee members indicated several items could be revisited in later budget work sessions.
Quotes from the hearing: "If we don't get our error rate below 5%, it's roughly equivalent of about a $40,000,000 fine," Representative Owsley said in arguing for funding. Vice Chair Williams said agency shortcomings warranted caution: "...we owe $11,200,000 per quarter for it not being shared," he said referencing testimony about data-sharing and related legal exposure. Representative Carpenter framed the mailings as an efficiency and compliance problem: "740,003 of them were unsolicited, costing us $446,258.12."
Outcome: Motion to add $12.1 million — failed. Voter-registration proviso — approved by voice vote. Committee adjourned and will continue KDHE and other agency budget work at the next meeting.
