75th Legislative Session -- 2000

Committee: House Appropriations

                                            P - Present
                                            E - Excused
                                            A - Absent

Roll Call
P      Cerny
P      Burg
P      Sutton (Daniel)
E      Derby
P      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

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Mr. Jim Ellenbecker, Secretary, Department of Social Services, appeared before the committee to answer questions regarding the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expansion (Documents 1 & 2).

In his remarks Secretary Ellenbecker explained that expansion from 140% to 150% would increase general funds to $121,575, and expanding to 200% would be an increase of $525,864.

In response to Representative Wudel's question on the Maintenance of Effort in the TANF program, Secretary Ellenbecker responded that the department stays at 80% of the Maintenance of Effort in order to avoid having a shortfall. Darla Blaseg, Finance Administrator, Department of Social Services, explained that a shortfall required repaying not only the shortfall, but a substantial penalty.

Ms. Susan Randall, SD Coalition for Children, urged the committee to support expansion to 200% so that children that are uninsured would be covered by the program. She added that the South Dakota Nurses Association also wanted to be on record in support of expansion to 200 per cent.

Ms. Mary Kirk, Director of Head Start, Pierre, also urged support of expansion to 200%.

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MOTION:      ADJOURN

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

Jeanette Black

Committee Secretary