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State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, questioned Quintero when she
said the department would need $40 million to hire 450 new
caseworkers.
“That’s a huge number. I’m astonished that we need 450 new
employees,” Hauter said.
Illinois DHS Assistant Secretary of Programs John Schomberg said
the caseworkers could save the state hundreds of millions of
dollars.
“By investing in these caseworkers we are preserving services
and access and keeping people on SNAP and Medicaid,” Schomberg
said.
Schomberg said the savings could come in the form of both direct
federal benefits and also in helping the state reduce its SNAP
error rate.
The Department of Human Services’ budget request for fiscal year
2027 is $6.9 billion in state general revenue funds and $10.6
billion when all state and federal dollars are included.
Quintero said the request reflects a 5.9% increase over
projected spending in 2026.
One DHS official told the committee it would be too costly for
the state to provide one-time food payments to people who lose
SNAP benefits.
State Rep. Dagmara Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, said up to 250,000
Illinoisans are at risk of losing SNAP benefits next month due
to new federal rules that require recipients to work.
“House Bill 4720 would create a one-time emergency assistance
payment of $600, which is about equal to three months of the
average SNAP benefit per person,” Avelar said.
When state Rep. Jackie Haas, R-Kankakee, asked about the fiscal
impact and DHS’ position, Illinois Department of Human Services
Legislative Affairs Director Kelly Hubbard responded.
“I did file a witness slip of opposition due to the cost of the
proposed program, which is outside of our current FY27 budget.
We estimate the cost would be $125 million,” Hubbard said.
An amended version of HB 4720 remained in committee after House
members wrapped up their time in session this week.
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