Human services staff briefed the commission on how changes tied to Proposition 314 and a federal executive order affect verification of eligibility for city public benefits that require an application.

Mary Wykofsky told commissioners that programs with an application and income contingency — for example rent and utility assistance, housing choice voucher applications, emergency repair and major housing rehabilitation — will be subject to verification. She said the city has used an affidavit process since 2010 and now will run the documentation through the SAVE system to confirm lawful presence in the United States.

Wykofsky said staff is taking a conservative approach and moving forward with verification while litigation over the federal definition of “public benefits” continues in multiple states. She described the procedural step for staff: applicants provide documentation, staff runs the information through SAVE, and if SAVE indicates the person does not have lawful presence, staff will report that finding as required by the proposition; applicants have the option to withdraw their application voluntarily.

A commissioner asked where the mandate to report a negative SAVE result is specified. Wykofsky replied that it is “on line 11 of the proposition,” said staff can forward the language, and described criminal penalties cited in the proposition for failure to report or for a false application.

Commissioners sought and received clarification that the verification requirement applies only to programs with an application process. Wykofsky confirmed services that do not require an application — such as Career Center assistance or food bank distributions based on residency — are not subject to SAVE verification.