House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for HB2217 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Expanding the scope of the inspector general to audit and investigate all state cash, food or health assistance programs and granting the inspector general the power to subpoena, administer oaths and execute search warrants thereto.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 18, 2025
Chairperson Gossage opened the hearing on HB2217 and asked for the Revisor's Memorandum Brief by Jenna Moyer, Assistant Revisor, Office of Kansas Revisor of Statutes. Ms. Moyer answered questions from Senators Owens and Pettey. (Attachment 1)
Oral Proponents:
Steven D. Anderson, Certified Inspector General (CIG), Office of Kansas Attorney General told members the mission of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is to identify fraud, waste, abuse, and illegal acts in the Medicaid programs, which would be achieved through audits, reviews, and investigations. The provisions of HB2217 will allow the OIG to conduct audits and investigations of cash and food programs that have a severe lack of oversight. OIG would have the authority to handle internal employee investigations of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) employees, which are currently handled by DCF, and are criticized as a conflict of interest. OIG would be an independent investigative authority to conduct internal investigations. Mr. Anderson said as the OIG exists today, they have been able to identify over $330 million in fraud, waste, abuse, and savings. (Attachment 2)
CIG Anderson answered questions from Senators Holscher, Rose, Thompson, and Pettey.
Oral Opponents:
Marc Altenbernt, General Counsel for DCF related that currently cash and food programs are investigated by DCF's Fraud Investigation Department and Audit Department, both housed in the Office of the General Counsel. Mr. Altenbernt said that neither DCF or its clients would benefit from the proposed legislation as it would result in duplication of efforts, because federal statutes require the agency administering the TANF and SNAP Programs to be the the state agency responsible for investigating any case of alleged intentional Program violation. DCF is and will continue to be that agency. (Attachment 3) Mr. Altenbernt responded to questions from Senators Pettey, Holscher, Thompson, Erickson and Clifford.
Chairperson Gossage called attention to the Written-only Opponent testimony of Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children. (Attachment 4)
Chairperson Gossage closed the hearing on HB2217.
