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CASS HUMAN SERVICE ZONE BOARD MEETING <br />April 3, 2023 <br />MINUTES <br />With quorum present, Chair Bollinger called the meeting to order at 1 :00 p.m. <br />Present: <br />Absent: <br />Presenter: <br />Commissioner Tony Grindberg; Rick Steen (via Teams); Julie Haugen (via Teams); <br />Dan Madler (via Teams); Gail Bollinger <br />Carey Fry; Brian Hagen; Michelle Kommer; <br />Gail Bollinger, Zone Director; Heather Collins, HR and Operations Administrator; <br />I. Approval of Minutes <br />II. Commissioner Grindberg made a motion to approve the March 2, 2023, Special Meeting <br />minutes. Mr. Steen seconded. Motion carried. <br />After reviewing the March 6, 2023, Board meeting minutes, Mr. Steen had a correction to <br />reflect his attendance via Teams. <br />Commissioner Grindberg made a motion to approve the March 6, 2023, Board minutes <br />with the correction that Mr. Steen appeared via Teams. Mr. Steen seconded. Motion <br />carried. <br />Ill. Guest Speaker -Jessica Thomasson, Executive Director Human Service Division, ND <br />DHHS, 'Addressing the Impact of the Benefits Cliff' <br />Ms. Thomasson was present to discuss issues clients encounter when they have <br />employment but also receive benefits through the State of North Dakota. She will share <br />her PowerPoint from today's meeting with Chair Bollinger, who will forward on to the Zone <br />Board members. <br />Ms. Thomasson reported there are 154,000 individuals served through the 19 Human <br />Service Zones in North Dakota. Many are affected by a benefits cliff when there is a change <br />in their income. Often, the change will decrease the benefits they receive. Often the change <br />is not enough to cover the difference that is created between the increase and the loss in <br />State benefits. This can lead to disincentivizing the need to obtain or maintain <br />employment. Ms. Thomasson explained people also experience hardship gaps, defined as <br />earned income being greater than the poverty level, but still less than the cost of living. <br />Discussions at the State level are happening on ways to decrease these issues such as <br />slowly phasing individuals from benefits, extending certification periods, provide online <br />budgeting tools, and raising eligibility limits. In many situations, when an individual <br />experiences a benefits cliff, their Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is <br />the first benefit they lose. Child Care Assistance is the biggest cliff, as this tends to use 15- <br />40% of a families' income and is the hardest to make up. <br />Commissioner Grindberg asked what metrics were in place to measure this progress. Ms. <br />Thomasson explained currently metrics are limited .. She explained the metrics that would <br />be beneficial would be very intensive to gather. <br />Chair Bollinger expressed her appreciation for Ms. Thomasson's presentation today and <br />the talking points she has provided to the Board.