75th Legislative Session -- 2000

Committee: House Appropriations

                                            P - Present
                                            E - Excused
                                            A - Absent

Roll Call
P      Cerny
P      Burg
P      Sutton (Daniel)
E      Derby
E      Clark
P      Pummel
P      Klaudt
P      Wudel
P      Putnam, Vice-Chair
P      Richter, Chair


OTHERS PRESENT: See Original Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Chair Richter

MOTION:      TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 1/12/2000

Moved by:      Representative Wudel
Second by:      Representative Putnam
Action:      Prevailed by voice vote.

Chair Richter announced that House Appropriations would meet on Wednesday, January 19, at 3:00 p.m to hear the budget for GOED. Also, on Thursday, January 20, 2000 would meet at 7:00 p.m. to hear the budget for Education and Cultural Affairs.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Mr. Bill Pike, LRC, provided budget information for the committee (Document #1).

Mr. Jim Ellenbecker, Secretary, Department of Social Services, introduced members of his staff and reviewed the structure of the department. (Document #2).

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Mr. Ellenbecker briefed the committee on the major initiatives for FY 2001. These included the TANF program which emphasizes a “work first” philosophy. He said the Department contracts with the Department of Labor in training and placement of clients.

Mr. Vogel responded to questions from the committee regarding following up after a person has been off welfare for a period of six months. He said the department utilizes administrative staff to conduct a survey of these people and they have found that most feel they are better off than they were before being on the program, but others feel that they were better off before they started working.

Mr. Ellenbecker reported that in The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) they have about 2,700 participants. They are proposing increasing the eligibility from 140% to 150% which would increase the number of participants in not only CHIP but also Title XIX.

Secretary Ellenbecker advised the committee that for the fifth year in a row the Food Stamp Program achieved the highest case payment accuracy rate in the nation. This has resulted in a $652,879 bonus for the department.

Secretary Ellenbecker informed the committee that the recommended budget included an increase of $7,815,118 in general funds; $133,832,108 in federal funds; and $932,092 in other funds. The total increase of $22,579,318 represents an overall increase of 5.13%.

Major increases and decreases for the recommended budget were reviewed by Secretary Ellenbecker; Darla Blaseg, Finance Administrator and Mr. Mike Vogel. These are found on page 25 of Document #2.

Ms. Blaseg provided the committee with a funding chart for the TANF funds included in the FY 01 Budget (Document #3).

MOTION:      ADJOURN

Moved by:      Representative Putnam
Second by:      Representative Pummel
Action:      Prevailed by voice vote.

Jeanette Black

Committee Secretary