April 30, 2012

It could have been much worse.  

Governor Dayton signed the Health and Human Services policy bill this morning.  Because of the strong advocacy of Affirmative Options members and others, The following proposed cuts to children were not included in the final bill:  

  • Lengthening the residency requirement to apply for benefits to 60
    days rather than 30
  • Denying benefits to anyone with a drug offense in the past 10-15 years
  • Drug screening as an eligibility requirement (positive test  = no
    benefits for 1-3 years)
  • Shortening the lifetime MFIP months to 36 from 60
  • Closing cases when household earns 100% of Federal Poverty Guidelines (from 115%)
  • Expediting sanctions  - three strikes and case closed
  • Prohibiting use of EBT cards outside of Minnesota
  • Mandated criminal background checks paid for by applicant

Provisions that passed but could have been worse if not amended (these will become law):

  • Restored 25 child care absent days for parents under 21 who are going to high school
  • EBT cards may only be used in MN, IA, WI, ND, SD
  • Anyone convicted of a drug felony in the past 10 years will be subject to mandatory random drug testing and will have cash benefits paid directly to the landlord or utility company.  (payments will cease when a housing unit is deemed uninhabitable - and tenants cannot be evicted because of stopped payment)
  • DHS will receive information on all MN drug convictions, all canceled drivers licenses, and immigration status changes to cross-check with MFIP caseloads
Last, but not least.....An AFFIRMATIVE option!  

This year, we would like to thank Representative Jim Abeler (R, Anoka) for authoring the Visible Child Work Group provision, which became law when Governor Dayton signed this bill.  This work group will  identify and recommend issues that will improve the well-being of children who are homeless or have experienced homelessness.  

Thank you to the advocates for tireless work to both maintain and strengthen Minnesota's safety net!  

 

April 18, 2012

Last night, the House and Senate Health and Human Services Conference Committee adopted a few provisions for changes in MFIP policies that would:

  • Prohibit the use of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at any terminal located in tobacco or liquor stores or in tattoo parlors
  • Disqualify a recipient for one year for first attempt to purchase alcohol or tobacco, three years for second attempt, and permanently for third attempt.  
  • Mandate the reporting to DHS of every case of an arrestee’s (for any offense) possession of multiple EBT cards within 30 days of arrest

Other provisions that must be discussed and then adopted, modifyed, or  eliminated before the bill goes to the governor:  

  • Absent days – House restores 25 allowable absent days for Child Care. Senate restores 25 days only for parents under 21 and in certain educational programs. IF current law stays in place, DHS will only allow 10 absent days per year beginning January 1, 2013.  
  • Data sharing – Courts to tell DHS every 6 months who has been convicted with a drug felony (to be cross checked with MFIP caseload).  Dept. of Transportation must tell DHS who has had a drivers license cancelled due to having more than one issued (to be cross checked with MFIP caseload).  Public Safety must tell DHS when immigration statuses are changed (to be cross checked with MFIP caseload) 
  • EBT cards restricted to use in MN, IA, WI, and ND
  • Mandatory vendoring (benefits paid to directly to landlords or utility companies) of benefits for people convicted of drug felonies in the 10 years prior to application or re-certification. 
  • Establishing the Visible Child work group 
Affirmative Options will be watching all further developments and will continue to provide updates!  

 

 

2012 Welfare Reform Proposals:
Taking Shelter and Food Away from Minnesota Children

THESE PROPOSALS WILL PLUNGE MORE CHILDREN INTO DEEP POVERTY, AND WILL INTENSIFY HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS ACROSS MINNESOTA.

  • 7 out of 10 people receiving assistance in the Minnesota Family Investment Program are children; half under the age of 5
  • 3,900 children are homeless each night in Minnesota; one half of those served at food shelves are children
  • Minnesota’s poverty rate has increased 62% in the past 10 years, greatly outpacing the predicted impact of the current economic situation 

What these proposals promise:

  • To cut off cash assistance sooner to many unemployed low-wage workers with children
  • To exclude assistance to anyone who has committed a drug offense in the past 10-15 years
  • To require drug screening and mandatory criminal background checks, each paid for by the applicant – no exceptions
  • To more quickly cut the assistance of people in vulnerable family situations and ill and disabled Minnesotans who are not “complying” with appropriate county paperwork

The consequences of these proposals:

  • Increase the growing number of homeless and hungry children in Minnesota
  • Increase government spending while removing support to Minnesota families most in need
  • Disproportionately harm communities of color due to disparities in the criminal justice system
  • Increase risk for women and children in domestic violence situations
  • Destabilize families
  • Remove support for low-income Minnesotans who have struggled with chemical dependency and their children
  • Use scare human services dollars to criminalize families in poverty
  • Introduce unconstitutional practices that will violate civil rights and civil liberties and may invite litigation against the State of Minnesota.
  • Reduce the likelihood people will seek much needed assistance for themselves and their families

Some of the Details in Budget Bills

The Health and Human Services bill passed last night and signed into law by Governor Dayton today differs in some important ways compared to the bill approved by the legislature in May.

Read more: A sobering end to a long session

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