Bill would give Attorney General concurrent authority and direct IDHW to build fraud detection system, lawmakers told

Supporters of S 1419 framed the bill as an integrity measure that gives state officials new tools to detect and prosecute fraud in the Idaho Child Care Program. Representative Jordan Redman described the bill as a policy measure to strengthen oversight; Director Juliette Charron said IDHW needs additional tools and described administrative actions already taken.

"IDHW took administrative action—including terminating providers and suspending licenses—to address 28 providers identified by the audit," Director Juliette Charron told the committee, and she said the bill would create concurrent jurisdiction for the Office of the Attorney General to pursue criminal fraud cases that currently stagnate at the county level. Charron and other staff said IDHW has authority to audit benefit programs but lacks certain enforcement tools this statute would provide.

Opponents cautioned that moving program details into statute could limit future administrative flexibility. Fred Birnbaum of the Idaho Freedom Foundation said the State should not be in the child care business and pointed to the bill's sunset as evidence of limited confidence. Committee members pressed staff on how existing fraud cases were handled and on the budgetary implications of the proposed integrity measures.

Committee direction included staff follow‑up: IDHW was asked to deliver the 360 review report to the committee within a week and to coordinate with the Attorney General's office on how concurrent jurisdiction would be implemented if S 1419 advances.