House Study Bill 504 - Introduced HOUSE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON MEYER) A BILL FOR An Act relating to identity authentication requirements for 1 public assistance benefits. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5534YC (4) 89 pf/rh
H.F. _____ Section 1. NEW SECTION . 239.1 Definitions. 1 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise 2 requires: 3 1. “Applicant” means an individual who is applying for 4 public assistance benefits in the state. 5 2. “Department” means the department of human services. 6 3. “Public assistance” means SNAP (the supplemental 7 nutrition assistance program), the Medicaid program, FIP (the 8 family investment program), and CHIP (the children’s health 9 insurance program). 10 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 239.2 Identity authentication. 11 Unless otherwise prohibited by federal law or regulation, 12 prior to the department awarding public assistance benefits, an 13 applicant shall complete a computerized identity authentication 14 process to confirm the identity of the applicant. Identity 15 authentication shall be accomplished through a knowledge-based 16 questionnaire consisting of financial and personal questions. 17 The questionnaire shall contain questions tailored to assist 18 persons without a bank account or those who have poor access 19 to financial and banking services or who do not have an 20 established credit history. The questionnaire may be submitted 21 by the applicant online, in person, or via telephone. 22 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 239.3 Administration —— rules —— 23 reporting. 24 1. The department of human services shall adopt rules 25 pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this chapter. 26 2. The department shall submit a report to the governor 27 and the general assembly by January 15, 2024, and by January 28 15 annually thereafter through January 15, 2025, detailing the 29 impact of the identity authentication measures taken under this 30 chapter. 31 Sec. 4. IMPLEMENTATION. 32 1. The department of human services shall request federal 33 approval including for any state plan amendment or waiver 34 necessary to administer this Act. 35 -1- LSB 5534YC (4) 89 pf/rh 1/ 2
H.F. _____ 2. The provisions of this Act requiring federal approval 1 shall be implemented upon receipt of such federal approval. 2 3. The provisions of this Act not requiring federal approval 3 shall be implemented no later than July 1, 2023. 4 4. The department may contract with multiple third-party 5 vendors to administer this Act. 6 EXPLANATION 7 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 8 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 9 This bill requires that prior to awarding public assistance 10 benefits to an applicant, the applicant shall complete a 11 computerized identity authentication process to confirm the 12 identity of the applicant through the use of a knowledge-based 13 questionnaire consisting of financial and personal questions 14 tailored to assist persons without a bank account or those who 15 have poor access to financial and banking services or who do 16 not have an established credit history. The questionnaire 17 may be submitted by the applicant online, in person, or via 18 telephone. The bill requires the department of human services 19 to adopt administrative rules to administer the bill and to 20 submit reports to assess the impact of the bill, and includes 21 implementation provisions. 22 -2- LSB 5534YC (4) 89 pf/rh 2/ 2