Oppose HB2940's Punitive Penalties for Public Benefits Workers

I urge you to oppose House Bill 2940, the Arizona Secure Benefits Integrity Act, scheduled for consideration in the House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee this Wednesday. While I support responsible stewardship of public resources, this legislation imposes unnecessarily punitive measures on state employees who administer AHCCCS and SNAP benefits. The bill prohibits approval or renewal of benefits without affirmative verification through documentary evidence or electronic databases, requiring queries across multiple state and federal systems including Social Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security, IRS, state wage databases, property records, and incarceration records. However, the most troubling provision mandates immediate termination and forfeiture of Arizona State Retirement System benefits for any employee found to have willfully failed to comply with these verification requirements. Arizona's eligibility verification processes for AHCCCS and SNAP are already tightly managed with existing safeguards against fraud and improper payments. The Department of Economic Security and AHCCCS administration currently verify applicant information through established protocols that balance program integrity with timely service delivery to eligible Arizonans. Threatening retirement benefit forfeiture for overworked and under-resourced caseworkers creates a climate of fear that will harm both employees and the vulnerable populations they serve. These workers already manage heavy caseloads while navigating complex federal and state regulations. Adding severe penalties for alleged non-compliance will likely result in excessive denials as employees prioritize self-protection over serving eligible constituents who depend on these programs for healthcare and nutrition assistance. The bill's approach of proof before payment sounds reasonable in theory, but in practice it will delay critical benefits for families facing medical emergencies or food insecurity. Children, seniors, and people with disabilities should not suffer prolonged waits for benefits because caseworkers fear losing their pensions over administrative disputes about verification procedures. I ask that you vote no on HB2940 and instead support measures that provide adequate staffing and resources for existing verification systems without punishing dedicated public servants.