Counties administer public and medical assistance programs on behalf of the state (such as SNAP for the Colorado Department of Human Services and Medicaid for Health Care Policy & Financing) and receive funding from the state (known as “county administration”) for this workforce. While they are county employees, caseworkers enroll families on behalf of the state following state and federal criteria and utilize their systems.
SB22-235, County Administration of Public Assistance Programs
SB22-235 is a Joint Budget Committee bill that was initiated by CCI, CHSDA, Denver and Boulder. The bill compliments the funding priority CCI/CHSDA outlined in a letter that was sent in September 2021 highlighting the underfunded nature of the county administration fund. The county administration fund supports every county’s work in determining the eligibility of neighbors in need of SNAP, Medicaid, Aid to Needy Disabled and Old Age Pension. In 2023, it has a balance of $135m.
Specifically, SB 235 will result in two work-products, both paid for with state general funds, described below.
CCI Position: Support
Sponsors: Sens. Rankin & Zenzinger, Reps. Herod & McCluskie
Final Status: Signed into Law
Work Product & Related Materials
Work Product 1 is a comprehensive assessment that will analyze best practices & recommend improvements (for both the county and state level) in administering public and medical benefits. Such as workflow enhancements, technology improvements, streamlining complicated policy requirements and much more. This work-product was completed in 2023.
Work Product 2 is a funding model, to be informed by the comprehensive assessment, that will help to better understand how much funding is needed to appropriately support this work. The funding model was developed in July 2024 and the results of the funding model must be submitted to the Joint Budget Committee by November 1, 2024. Beginning in 2025 and every three years thereafter, this funding model must be updated and modified.