Bill > SB1915

This bill expands the requirement for verifying an applicant's United States citizenship or lawful presence to include local governments, such as cities and counties, when they administer public benefits. It also grants the state's Attorney General and Reporter the authority to investigate potential violations of these verification requirements by local entities and to withhold state funds from those found to be non-compliant. Furthermore, the bill mandates that state and local governments report individuals who are not lawfully present in the U.S. but are receiving public benefits to the state's centralized immigration enforcement division, with penalties for intentional failure to report, and clarifies that the Department of Children's Services is exempt from providing information that could identify children or families receiving their services. The bill also specifies that local governments must implement these verification procedures by July 1, 2026, or upon their next reprinting of forms or updating of electronic systems, whichever comes first.