HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 932

BYRepresentatives Nutley, Padden, Leonard, Ebersole, Sanders, J. Williams, Lewis, Doty, Nealey, L. Smith, Brough, Winsley, Wineberry, Silver, Ballard, Betrozoff, Taylor, Miller and D. Sommers 

Relating to rental payments to landlords from public assistance.

House Committe on Housing

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (8)

     Signed by Representatives Nutley, Chair; Leonard, Vice Chair; Barnes, Ebersole, Padden, Sanders, Todd and J. Williams.

House Staff:Kenny Pittman (786-7392)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING MARCH 3, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is authorized as the single state agency to administer public assistance programs.  The administration of public assistance programs must be in conformance with federal laws as well as be consistent with state public assistance laws.

DSHS presently administers its public assistance programs with provisions for protective and vendor payments on behalf of recipients.  These provisions allow DSHS to make payments from public assistance funds when recipients are incapable of self- care or when directed by recipients as a vendor payment.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is instructed to study a program to have public assistance funds paid directly to landlords by DSHS when voluntarily requested by the public assistance recipient.  A pilot program is to be developed by DSHS using from three to seven local governing bodies from throughout the state to determine the feasibility of a statewide program and whether the program would increase the supply of housing available to persons on public assistance.

DSHS is required to report on the study findings by the October 31, 1987 and on the progress of the pilot program by the convening of the 1988 legislature and again in 1989.  The act expires June 30, 1989.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  A study and pilot program is to be done by DSHS rather than instructing DSHS to begin a program immediately that allows a public assistance recipient to voluntarily request DSHS to send rent payments to a landlord from public assistance income.

Fiscal Note:    Requested March 3, 1987

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Robert Krueger, Mobile Home Park Owners Association; Don Eldridge, Thurston Rental Association; and Carroll Duval, Apartment Operators of King County and Seattle.

House Committee - Testified Against: Barbara Baker, Legal Services; and Tony Lee, Washington State Catholic Conference.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Having payments come from DSHS could make housing more available to those on public assistance.  Landlords could be more certain of payments, and could therefor make more units available.  A pilot program could be considered to deal with administrative questions and concerns.

House Committee - Testimony Against: It would be difficult to administer such a program.  The fiscal impact could be significant.  Landlords could try to force tenants on public assistance to "volunteer" to have funds sent directly to the landlord, or refuse to rent to persons on public assistance.  Further study encouraged.