Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee
SSB 6186
Brief Description: Concerning disclosure of certain recipient information to the Washington state patrol.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Kauffman, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Valdez and Wilson, C.).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Requires the Department of Social and Health Services or the Health Care Authority to disclose whether a public welfare recipient who is the subject of a missing person's report has accessed his or her benefits upon a law enforcement officer's written request.
Hearing Date: 2/19/24
Staff: Corey Patton (786-7388).
Background:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the Health Care Authority (HCA) are required to disclose the current address and location of a recipient of public welfare upon written request by a properly identified officer of the law or United States immigration official, provided the officer:

  • furnishes the person's name and social security account number; and
  • satisfactorily demonstrates that such recipient is a fugitive, the location or apprehension of such fugitive is within the officer's official duties, and the request is made in the proper exercise of those duties.

 

When the DSHS or HCA becomes aware that a public assistance recipient is the subject of an outstanding warrant, the DSHS or HCA may contact the appropriate law enforcement agency and, if the warrant is valid, provide the recipient's location.
Summary of Bill:

The Department of Social and Health Services or the Health Care Authority must, to the extent allowed under federal law, disclose whether a public assistance recipient who is the subject of a missing person's report has accessed his or her benefits in the last 30 days upon written request of a law enforcement officer from a state, local, or tribal law enforcement agency, for the purpose of assisting the officer in confirming whether the recipient is alive.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.