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PR 26-0777

Health and Human Service Programs and Benefits Eligibility and Delivery Data-Sharing Clarifications Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Phil Mendelson

Allows DHS to share data between FSA and ESA to streamline ABAWD SNAP time-limit exemptions and improve eligibility determinations across health and human services.

Retained by the Council with comments from the Committee on Human Services
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Bill Summary · PR 26-0777

Summary of Bill PR 26-0777 (Session 26) — Health and Human Service Programs and Benefits Eligibility and Delivery Data-Sharing Clarifications Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill, along with companion amendments, aims to clarify and authorize data-sharing within the District of Columbia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) and between DHS and other District agencies that provide health or human services.
  • The goal is to improve efficiency and coordination in determining eligibility for federal and District health and human service programs, with a focus on expediting and clarifying eligibility determinations, and to support program delivery.
  • A specific immediate objective is to enable data sharing between DHS’s Family Services Administration (FSA) and Economic Security Administration (ESA) to streamline time-limit exemption determinations for SNAP recipients who are Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD), particularly in light of new federal requirements and the District’s ABAWD waiver status.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Emergency and Temporary Acts: Enacted as a set of amendments (permanent, temporary, and emergency) to address urgent data-sharing clarifications and to ensure swift implementation.
  • Data-Sharing Clarifications:
    • Allows DHS to share client information between FSA and ESA under the authority of the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010.
    • The data-sharing is intended to facilitate the determination of eligibility for SNAP ABAWD time-limit exemptions.
  • ABAWD SNAP Time Limits:
    • The District’s ABAWD waiver expired at the end of 2025; starting June 2026, ABAWDs seeking or renewing SNAP must be screened for compliance with, or exemption from, ABAWD work requirements.
    • Non-exempt, non-compliant ABAWDs may receive SNAP for up to three months within a 36-month (three-year) period.
    • DHS/ESA will use data matches to proactively identify time-limit exemptions for ABAWDs who access services from both FSA ( homeless services) and ESA (economic security) to reduce unnecessary burdens on eligible individuals.
  • Future Looking Implications:
    • The data-sharing framework built here could, in the future, support exempting individuals from the newer Medicaid Community Engagement requirements anticipated to take effect in 2027.

Affected Entities and Stakeholders

  • District of Columbia DHS offices:
    • Family Services Administration (FSA)
    • Economic Security Administration (ESA)
  • Other District agencies providing health or human services that may engage in data-sharing arrangements under the clarified authority.
  • SNAP ABAWD participants, particularly those who are homeless or connected with DHS services, and potentially Medicaid applicants/recipients who may benefit from time-limit exemptions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Emergency Declaration Resolution: The bill includes an emergency declaration to enable rapid adoption, reflecting an urgent need prompted by the ABAWD waiver expiration and new federal requirements.
  • Effective Timing:
    • The ABAWD screening and exemptions process would begin in June 2026.
    • The resolution emphasizes immediate effect to address the current and near-term needs.
  • Legislative Path: The measure is introduced by the Mayor and is subject to Council consideration, with a note that the Council will act on an emergency basis (single reading) per the resolution’s statement.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Operational Impact: Enables DHS to coordinate data-sharing workflows across FSA and ESA, potentially reducing time and administrative burden to determine ABAWD exemptions and eligibility.
  • Beneficiary Impact: Aims to minimize disruption for ABAWD SNAP recipients by better identifying exemptions and reducing erroneous or unnecessary loss of benefits due to time-limit rules.
  • Policy Impact: Creates a clearer, legally grounded basis for inter-department data exchange within the District’s social safety net programs, which could influence future eligibility determinations (e.g., Medicaid) as data-sharing capabilities expand.

Bottom Line

PR 26-0777 establishes emergency- and temporary-authorized data-sharing clarifications within DC’s DHS to improve eligibility determinations for SNAP ABAWDs and aligns inter-agency processes to reduce administrative burdens. It responds to ABAWD waivers' expiration and anticipates broader coordination benefits for health and human service programs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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