Sharing information to prevent fraud

A canceled driver’s license could lead to a loss of state assistance benefits.

Sponsored by Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa), HF2232 would require the Department of Public Safety, on a monthly basis, to share with the Department of Human Services information on people who have had their driver’s license or state identification card canceled. Also forwarded would be information on people whose temporary legal presence has expired.

Furthermore, every six months the state court administrator would forward to the Department of Human Services the names of persons convicted of a felony drug crime.

“We’re going to ask the Department of Human Services to review that data and compare that against the 800,000 Minnesotans who are signed up for the variety of welfare programs that we offer in this state, and to follow through and use their normal due process that they use within their agency — which I understand is very extensive — to remove people who are illegally or improperly signed up for these programs,” Drazkowski said.

Approved March 14 by the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee, the bill awaits action by the House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee. A companion, SF1877, sponsored by Sen. Gretchen Hoffman (R-Vergas), awaits action by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Vicki Kunerth, deputy inspector general at the Human Services Department, is responsible for fraud and abuse investigations. She said the U.S. Attorneys Office and the Department of Homeland Security have told them that procuring false identifications to enroll in welfare programs is a common occurrence. “So we expect to find quite a number,” she said at the March 12 meeting.

After the department conducts its own investigation, Kunerth said they would expect to refer cases to the respective county attorney for prosecution.

Pat McCormack, director of Driver and Vehicle Services Division of the Public Safety Department, said if someone can’t prove who they say they are the division can revoke their driving privileges or ID card for possible fraud, but can’t take any criminal action.