HF 272

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:35am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; establishing a finger imaging system to identify
applicants for and recipients of public assistance programs; imposing penalties;
requiring a report; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
256.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

[256.0161] PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; FINGER IMAGING SYSTEM.

Subdivision 1.

Establishment; purpose.

By July 1, 2010, the commissioner of
human services shall establish and implement a finger imaging system. Every applicant
for or recipient of public assistance, including minors, is required to be finger imaged
under this section as a condition of eligibility for public assistance. Absent a criminal
court order, finger images obtained under this section shall be used only for the purposes
of determining eligibility for public assistance and preventing multiple enrollments in
assistance programs and shall not be accessed by any other agency of this state for any
purpose.

Subd. 2.

Duties; authority.

(a) The commissioner shall:

(1) implement a finger imaging system in all counties, with 50 percent of the costs of
implementation and usage to be paid by the commissioner and the remaining 50 percent
paid by individual counties;

(2) maintain and manage a centralized database of finger images; and

(3) notify applicants of public assistance of the finger imaging requirement at the
time of application.

(b) The commissioner may develop a competitive request for proposals for a finger
imaging system and may contract with a firm the commissioner deems able to design
and implement the finger imaging system.

Subd. 3.

Suspected fraud; penalties.

In the case of suspected fraud, the
commissioner shall develop: (1) a procedure for manual verification of an applicant's or
recipient's fingerprints by a person qualified to perform fingerprint verifications; and (2) a
hearing process for applicants or recipients suspected of fraud. Penalties for violations of
public assistance fraud shall not be imposed under this section without manual verification
and a hearing under this subdivision.

Subd. 4.

Report.

Beginning July 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, the commissioner
shall provide a written report to the chairs of house of representatives and senate
committees having jurisdiction over human services, ranking minority leaders, and the
governor. The report must include:

(1) a comparison of caseload data before and after the implementation of the finger
imaging system;

(2) attempts at and instances of multiple enrollments by applicants and recipients;

(3) an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the system; and

(4) recommendations to improve the system.

EFFECTIVE DATE.

This section is effective July 1, 2009.