SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5307

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES,

                               FEBRUARY 27, 1991

Brief Description:  Allowing eighteen to twenty year old students to be included in AFDC.

SPONSORS:Senators L. Smith, Talmadge, Roach, McMullen, von Reichbauer, Stratton, West, Niemi, Wojahn and Johnson.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5307 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Stratton, and Talmadge. 

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786‑7190)

Hearing Dates:February 13, 1991; February 27, 1991

BACKGROUND:

States  are required by federal law to establish and update standards of need and determine benefit amounts and eligibility criteria for receipt of public assistance.  Such criteria currently does not include 18 to 20 year old full-time students.

SUMMARY:

Eligibility for assistance is expanded to include children between the ages of 18 and 20 who are full-time students reasonably expected to complete high school, or vocational or technical training.  Such students must reside with their legal guardians and meet current income and resource requirements of federal AFDC.  The state plan is amended to an AFDC "essential persons program" allowing 18 to 20 year old students to be eligible for federal AFDC children matching grants, to the extent permitted under federal law.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Earnings of fulltime students shall be disregarded in determining eligibility and benefits.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none 

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

In order to meaningfully complete school, persons 18 to 20 years old who are otherwise eligible should not suffer loss of benefits due to receipt of earned income.  When this occurs, it acts as a disincentive to entering the workforce.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Bernice Morehead, DSHS; Melissa Brechbiel, Tacoma Headstart; Tony Lee, Washington Association of Churches; Steve Lansing, Lutheran Public Policy Office