Revision: April 11, 2024, 3:08 p.m.
HB 1598-FN-A - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Apr2024... 1308h
2024 SESSION
24-2311
05/10
HOUSE BILL 1598-FN-A
SPONSORS: Rep. Wallner, Merr. 19; Rep. DeSimone, Rock. 18; Rep. Mooney, Hills. 12; Rep. Long, Hills. 23; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
-----------------------------------------------------------------
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires the department of health and human services to prepare a report for the legislature and governor regarding budget requirements associated with management of social security and veterans benefits for children in placement through the department. The bill makes an appropriation to the department to hire a consultant to assist with the report and its implementation.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Apr2024... 1308h 24-2311
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Reporting; Management of Social Security and Veteran's Benefits for Children in Placement Through the Department of Health and Human Services; Appropriation.
I. The department of health and human services shall provide a report relative to management of social security and veterans' benefits for children in placement to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the chairpersons of the house children and family law committee, the house finance committee, the senate judiciary committee, the senate finance committee, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library. This report shall contain a budget proposal for the biennium ending June 30, 2027 for the purposes of implementing and managing social security payments and veteran's benefits for children in placement through the department of health and human services, and shall be submitted on or before December 31, 2024. To assist in the preparation of this report, and to assist the department with implementation of the report’s recommendations, including the budget proposal for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, the department shall hire a consultant with knowledge of other states’ efforts to manage such payments and benefits for children in placement.
II. There is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services the sum of $150,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2025, for the purpose of hiring the consultant required by paragraph I. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
24-2311
Revised 3/6/24
HB 1598-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
|
| |||||
Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | $1,433,000 | $2,870,000 | $2,899,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $1 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that social security payments and veterans benefits for children in the care of the Department are held securely until the child is no longer in the care of the Department. The Department states that the bill adds additional duties and responsibilities to its mandate, in that it will require a review of Social Security and Veterans Administration benefits eligibility for all children over whom the Department has custody or guardianship, as well as all children in a court-ordered or other placement. The Department states that this will require an annual accounting of benefits provided to certain individuals, among other responsibilities. The Department expects that six new positions will be needed, including two Supervisor IVs, two Program Specialist IIIs, one attorney, and one paralegal, at a total cost of $761,000 in FY25, $766,000 in FY26, and $795,000 in FY27.
In addition to the impacts above, the Department states that, by finding additional children eligible for Supplemental Security Income, the bill will result in a loss of Title IV-E federal revenue collected by the State. The Department estimates this loss in federal revenue at $704,000 per year. Finally, the Department assumes the bill will result in a further annual loss of $1,400,000 in federal SSI revenue paid directly to the State. The Department assumes state general funds will be needed to make up for the lost federal revenue, resulting in an increased general fund expenditure of approximately $2,104,000 per year.
This bill has an effective date of January 1, 2025. It is therefore assumed that the first year's costs will be 50 percent of the full-year cost of implementation. The bill contains an appropriation of $1 in FY25.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services