House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for SB85 - Committee on Government Efficiency
Short Title
Directing the secretary for children and families to review and compare data for public assistance program eligibility.
Minutes Content for Wed, Feb 5, 2025
Chair Erickson opened the hearing on SB 85.
Staff provided an overview of the bill. (Attachment 3)
Proponents:
Steven Greene on behalf of Clay Rhodes, Visiting Fellow, Opportunity Solutions Project, spoke in favor of the bill. (Attachment 4) This bill puts Kansas on a more sustainable path. Using commonsense data checks, this bill will help strengthen the program, defend taxpayer dollars, and protect the truly needy on the food stamps program.
Opponents:
Karen Siebert, Advocacy & Public Policy Advisor, Harvesters - The Community Food Network, appeared in opposition to the bill. (Attachment 5) The bill's requirement for "continuous review and comparison" of data will place more strain on the Department for Children and Families and threaten the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Assistance benefits of low-income Kansans.
Written opponent testimony:
Dr. Carla Whiteside-Hicks, Director of Economic & Employment Services (Attachment 6)
Chair Erickson closed the hearing on SB 85.
The next committee meeting is February 6, 2025. The meeting was adjourned at 10:22 am.
