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B 26-0752

Health and Human Service Programs and Benefits Eligibility and Delivery Data-Sharing Clarifications Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

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

The bill broadens and clarifies interagency data sharing to determine eligibility for health and human services, improving coordination and SNAP ABAWD timing.

Retained by the Council with comments from the Committee on Human Services
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · B 26-0752

Overview

  • Bill: B 26-0752
  • Session: 26
  • Jurisdiction: District of Columbia
  • Title: Health and Human Service Programs and Benefits Eligibility and Delivery Data-Sharing Clarifications Temporary Amendment Act of 2026
  • Purpose: To temporarily clarify and broaden authorization for data sharing within the Department of Human Services (DHS) and between DHS and other District agencies to determine eligibility for health and human service programs, improve program coordination, and explicitly define data-sharing authority and agency terminology.

Main purpose and intent

  • Facilitate determinations of eligibility for federal and District health and human service programs by clarifying data-sharing authorities.
  • Improve coordination across health and human service programs to deliver benefits more efficiently.
  • Specifically enable DHS to share client information between its Family Services Administration and its Economic Security Administration under the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination framework.
  • Address operational needs related to time-limit exemption determinations for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients, particularly ABAWD (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents) requirements.

Key provisions and changes

  • Temporary amendment to the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005:
    • Section 9(a)(7): Replaces wording to emphasize data sharing consistent with confidentiality rules and authorized uses/mandatory disclosures under the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Act of 2010.
    • Section 12(12): Similar revision to strengthen references to confidentiality and mandatory disclosures under the 2010 Data-Sharing Act.
  • Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010:
    • Section 101(1): Expands the definition of eligible entities to include “authority, or instrumentality of the District of Columbia government, or any subdivision of such agency, department, unit, authority, or instrumentality.”
    • Section 102(a): Clarifies language regarding data-sharing procedures (adjusts the text around section 103 for consistency).
  • Due to these adjustments, the act broadens who can participate in data-sharing arrangements and clarifies that data sharing must comply with the authorized uses and mandatory disclosures defined in federal and District law, particularly under Title I of the 2010 Data-Sharing Act.
  • Fiscal impact statement: Reaffirms the CFO’s assessment as the basis for any fiscal impact analysis.
  • Effective date and expiration:
    • Effective after mayoral approval and a 30-day congressional review period.
    • Sunset: The act expires 225 days after taking effect.

Who or what would be affected

  • DHS programs and client data, particularly:
    • Family Services Administration
    • Economic Security Administration
  • Other District agencies that provide health or human services, as the data-sharing authority is broadened to include additional agencies, departments, units, authorities, or instrumentalities.
  • SNAP/ABAWD program operations, specifically timing for time-limit exemption determinations and related eligibility processes.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Enactment steps:
    • Requires mayoral approval, followed by a 30-day congressional review period.
    • If enacted, the temporary amendments take effect after the review period.
  • Duration:
    • The act is temporary and will expire 225 days after it takes effect, unless extended or made permanent by subsequent legislation.
  • Status:
    • Introduced by Mayor’s chair and retained by the Council with committee commentary as of July 14, 2026.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Pros:
    • Streamlined eligibility determinations for SNAP and other health/human services through improved data-sharing and coordination.
    • Reduced administrative burden on ABAWD SNAP recipients by leveraging clearer data-sharing authorities.
    • Clarified statutory language reduces ambiguity in interagency data exchanges.
  • Cons/risks:
    • Temporary in nature; requires future action to extend or codify beyond 225 days.
    • Increased data-sharing scope mandates rigorous adherence to confidentiality and mandatory disclosures under the Data-Sharing Act and related legal safeguards.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language one-page brief or a comparison with the existing law to highlight exact changes side-by-side.

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

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