State would group counties to coordinate public benefit services

State agencies must contract with one county department to run a shared service that handles benefit fraud cases. The service handles fraud investigations, recovery, dispute conferences, state hearings, waivers, and court cases tied to eligibility or fraud affecting food or cash assistance benefits. It must serve the listed medical, food, cash, child care, and adult financial assistance programs. The service may subcontract with other counties. The service fund may pay for its work only if the legislature appropriates money. The service must be operating and in use by July 1, 2027. Counties must transfer all fraud work, including open cases, by July 1, 2028.

State agencies must organize county benefit work into no more than 12 groups that share work under a common plan. The groups would handle eligibility and case processing for the listed public assistance programs using shared workflows. Full rollout depends on necessary technology being ready and working. Counties must receive adequate time, training, and support. The state must begin overseeing the grouped delivery model on July 1, 2028, if the technology needed for shared work is ready.

State agencies must set county performance standards, monitor results, and publish program performance information. The standards and contracts cover state and county departments administering public assistance programs, with measurable targets, support, and corrective action steps. Contracts must account for program specific state and federal rules. The public dashboard must follow state privacy and confidentiality laws. Agencies must set minimum standards by February 1, 2027, and sign county contracts by July 1, 2027. Monitoring must occur at least monthly; dashboard reporting begins in January 2027 and continues monthly.