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