New ‘fraud’ law creates hassle for state employees — and for legislators themselves

 

If harassing members of public employee unions was the intent, those who pushed the bill may have overshot their mark.

Buried deep in a government operations bill from last session is a significant headache for all state employees. But within that same measure is a touch of justice, too.
The headaches — and a lot of anxiety — come from a law favored by the Republican-controlled Legislature last session requiring that all state employees file copies of marriage and birth certificates to an Indiana company in order to verify dependents they claim for state health insurance.
The documents are to be audited by employees of HMS, Employer Solutions, a company that is receiving $400,000 to conduct the audits.
Not surprisingly, state employees, who only a few days ago received notice that the documents must be signed, sealed and delivered by May 11, find the requirements annoying, at best, offensive at worst.
New ‘fraud’ law creates hassle for state employees — and for legislators themselves