1998
RESOLUTIONS
1998
RESOLUTIONS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE OFFICERS
RESOLUTION 1998-01: EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION TO THE
ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the responsibility for making arrangements for the 51st Annual Conference requires dedication and cooperation, and
WHEREAS, the logistical task of preparation requires significant time and effort, and
WHEREAS, Gary Broker and Richard Humiston, Arrangements Co-Chairpersons, and the entire Arrangements Committee have performed in an outstanding manner in hosting the 1998 HSFO Annual Conference.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers expresses its sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Gary Broker and Richard Humiston and to each member of the Arrangements Committee, for their hard work, hospitality, and accomplishments in hosting the 1998 HSFO 51st Annual Conference.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE OFFICERS
RESOLUTION 1998-02: EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION TO THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the responsibility of developing, coordinating, and delivering a program which challenges, informs, and stimulates the participants requires creativity, dedication, time, effort, and commitment, and
WHEREAS, Ted Martin, Program Chairperson, and the entire Program Committee have performed :in an outstanding manner in preparing the program for the 51st Annual Conference of the National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers, so as to meet or exceed the expectations for that committee,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers expresses its sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Ted Martin and to each member of the Program Committee, for their efforts in preparing an outstanding program for the 1998 HSFO 51st Annual Conference.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE OFFICERS
RESOLUTION 1998-03: EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION TO MARTIE BLAZIS
WHEREAS, Martie Blazis has been an active and dedicated member of the Association for many years, and
WHEREAS, she has served the Association in various capacities including committee chair, regional director, and as the President of the organization in 1997, and
WHEREAS, she has retired from state government in the State of Illinois.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers with deep gratitude and sincere appreciation, hereby recognizes Martie Blazis for her many years of dedication to the organization, and hereby extends wishes of good luck and success in her retirement.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE OFFICERS
RESOLUTION 1998-04: URGE U.S. TREASURY TO RESCIND CMIA POLICY STATEMENT NUMBER 19 RELATED TO THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) AND THE MANDATORY AND MATCHING CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT (CCDF) FUNDS
WHEREAS, Section 103 of Title I of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 created a Block Grant for TANF and Section 603 of Title VI of the same Act created the Child Care Development Fund with Mandatory and Matching components, and
WHEREAS, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 eliminated any matching relationship for the federal funds provided under the Act except for the Matching component of the Child Care Development Fund, and
WHEREAS, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 only required that a state maintain a certain level of historic state expenditures by the end of the federal fiscal year and not for any shorter time period and States are required to report the amount of State funds expended for Maintenance of Effort and Child Care Matching to DHHS on a quarterly basis, and
WHEREAS, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 was intended to provide states the maximum latitude in developing their programs, and
WHEREAS, the United States Treasury has issued a policy which required the draw down of federal cash in accordance with the federally-funded portion of TANF program expenditures taking into account the state MOE amounts (100% of historical expenditures as shown in TANF-ACF-PI-96-02) in any time period, and
WHEREAS, the United States Treasury, under direction of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and in conjunction with DHHS are preparing to issue additional guidelines requiring States to contribute the Maintenance of Effort on a shorter time frame than annually.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers urge OMB and the U. S. Treasury to rescind CMIA Policy Statement number 19, and to allow States to draw down federal TANF grant funds when States incur allowable TANF expenditures, regardless of the level of State funds expended, as long as the States' spending requirements are met, in accordance with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE OFFICERS
RESOLUTION 1998-05: EBT SETTLEMENT LIABILITY
WHEREAS, FCS regulations improperly place liability on states for the successful settlement of EBT food benefit transactions through to posting into retailers accounts, and
WHEREAS, after initial expectations, it is not now believed by FCS, the Federal Reserve and others that the Asset Management Account features of the ASAP system are capable of or appropriate for addressing the liability issues, and
WHEREAS, settlement liability continues to present significant problems and concerns for States, and
WHEREAS, alternative approaches have been identified to address the settlement liability issue, and
WHEREAS, a cooperative approach involving staff from FCS, U. S. Treasury, PCIE (President's Council for Innovation and Efficiency), as well as States and other appropriate parties is needed to identify and implement a satisfactory resolution to the settlement liability issue.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers requests staff from the entities mentioned above meet to complete the identification and subsequent implementation of a process that will eliminate state liability in all State EBT systems for the successful transfer and settlement of federal funds for properly authorized EBT food benefit transactions and the FCS change its regulations to reflect the elimination of state liability for these transactions.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE HUMAN SERVICES FINANCE OFFICERS
RESOLUTION 1998-06: URGE THE SECRETARY OF DHHS TO CALCULATE CHANGES IN EACH STATES' ADMINISTRATIVE GRANT FOR THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM BY LIMITING THE SCOPE OF THE CALCULATION TO THE COSTS OF DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY
WHEREAS, the 105th Congress passed, and President Clinton signed into law, the Agriculture Research Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-185), that requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to calculate an adjustment for each States' administrative grant for the Food Stamp Program, and
WHEREAS, the Secretary has issued draft guidance to the States for a method to make the calculation that goes beyond the scope of the law by including costs incurred by States that are not administrative costs common to determining the eligibility of individuals for public assistance, and also fails to recognize the unique cost allocation plan processes of each State, and
WHEREAS, States were administering their respective Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plans in accordance with principles contained on OMB Circular A-87, as approved by DHHS, which require that costs be allocated to programs based on the relative benefit received by those programs, and
WHEREAS, similar reductions are being considered for each States' administrative grant for the Medicaid program.
NOW THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
The National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers urge the Secretary of DHHS to limit the scope of the calculation to costs of determining eligibility, in accordance with P.L.105-185, to recognize that each State is unique in its cost allocation methodologies, and to consider in the determinations the extent to which States allocated costs to programs in proportion to the benefit derived by those programs in accordance with OMB Circular A-87.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:
The National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers oppose efforts to reduce funding for administering the Medicaid program.
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