S-3349               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4716

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Kreidler and Bauer

Read first time 1/21/86 and referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

AN ACT Relating to public assistance; adding a new section to chapter 74.12 RCW; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 74.12 RCW to read as follows:

          Effective January 1, 1987, upon the written request of a recipient or authorized payee of an aid to families with dependent children grant under this chapter, the secretary shall pay to the recipient's landlord, as defined in RCW 59.18.030, that portion of the monthly public assistance grant which is allotted for rent in the department's payment standard under RCW 74.04.770 or so much of such portion as is due as rent.  However, no direct payment may be made for rent of premises with respect to which the landlord is not in compliance with RCW 59.18.060.  Whenever a recipient requests direct payment to a landlord under this section, the secretary shall provide the recipient with a written statement notifying the recipient that the landlord may not legally require such direct payment.  The secretary shall charge the landlord a monthly fee set by the secretary in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of administering each direct payment made under this section, which fee shall not be charged to the tenant in the form of rent or otherwise.  Notwithstanding the terms of any lease or other rental agreement, the direct payment by the secretary shall constitute full payment of the tenant's rental obligation for the month to which the direct payment applies.  The secretary shall promptly terminate such payments to the landlord upon the recipient's written request, provided that the recipient gives written notice of such termination of direct payments to the landlord.  A landlord receiving payment under this section shall mail to the secretary, by certified mail, a copy of any  notice served upon the tenant under RCW 59.12.030 or 59.18.200 which terminates the tenancy, and such notice, when mailed to the secretary, shall constitute the landlord's request that the secretary cease making direct payments of rent to the landlord.         No recipient of public assistance is liable to the department for any amount incorrectly paid to a landlord under this section, and the department shall recover such overpayment from the landlord under RCW 74.04.700.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     There is appropriated from the general fund to the department of social and health services, for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, the sum of .......... dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for one-time system development costs to carry out the purposes of this act.