Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB126

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/24/23
• Refer: 3/24/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Participation in the federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System. (FE)

Impact

The legislation mandates DHS to share and access data from the PARIS, which could lead to significant improvements in managing public assistance resources. Specifically, the bill emphasizes identifying veterans, their dependents, and survivors receiving Medical Assistance, ensuring they are made aware of and encouraged to apply for any eligible federal military-related healthcare benefits. This could enhance the support provided to these groups, leveraging existing federal resources more effectively within state frameworks.

Summary

Assembly Bill 126 aims to enhance the efficiency of public assistance programs within the state by establishing active participation in the federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS). This federal initiative is designed to prevent recipients from obtaining duplicate benefits across multiple states. By requiring the Department of Health Services (DHS) to engage with federal and neighboring state agencies, the bill seeks to streamline eligibility verification processes for public assistance programs in Wisconsin.

Contention

While the bill generally appears to have a supportive intent, there may be concerns regarding data privacy and the administrative burden placed on state agencies to manage additional reporting requirements. Additionally, there could be discussions around the potential impact on vulnerable populations who may be hesitant to share their information with a broader network, fearing loss of benefits or unnecessary scrutiny. Some stakeholders may object to the bill based on distrust in governmental data sharing practices or concerns over mishandling sensitive information.