PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 05-13-136.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 388-400-0010 Who is eligible for state family assistance? and 388-442-0010 How does being a fleeing felon or having a drug-related felony impact my eligibility for benefits?
Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, Rose Room (one block north of the intersection of Pacific Avenue S.E. and Alhadeff Lane, behind Goodyear Tire. A map or directions are available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rapu/docket.html or by calling (360) 664-6097), 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA, on September 27, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than September 28, 2005.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA, e-mail fernaax@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5:00 p.m., September 27, 2005.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Stephanie Schiller, DSHS Rules Consultant, by September 23, 2005, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6097 or by e-mail at schilse@dshs.wa.gov.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The amended rule exercises the state's option to exempt individuals convicted of a drug-related felony from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families ban on receipt of benefits.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: This change is necessary to comply with SB 5213, passed during the 2005 legislative session (chapter 174, Laws of 2005).
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Amber Gillum, 1009 College S.E., Lacey, WA 98504, (360) 725-4612.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses, it only affects DSHS clients by outlining the rules clients must meet in order to be eligible for the department's cash assistance or food benefit programs.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These amendments are exempt as allowed under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in-part, "[t]his section does not apply to...Rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents."
August 18, 2005
Andy Fernando, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
3552.1(2) You are eligible for SFA if you are not eligible for temporary assistance for needy families for the following reasons:
(a) You are a qualified alien and have been in the United States for less than five years as described in WAC 388-424-0006;
(b) You are a alien who is permanently residing in the United States under color of law (PRUCOL) as defined in WAC 388-424-0001;
(c) You are a nineteen or twenty-year-old student that meets the education requirements of WAC 388-404-0005;
(d) You are a caretaker relative of a nineteen or twenty-year-old student that meets the education requirements of WAC 388-404-0005; or
(e) You are a pregnant woman who has been convicted of((:
(i))) misrepresenting their residence in order to receive
benefits from two or more states at the same time((; or
(ii) A drug-related felony as described in WAC 388-442-0010)).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 04-15-057, § 388-400-0010, filed 7/13/04, effective 8/13/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.04.510. 00-05-007, § 388-400-0010, filed 2/4/00, effective 3/6/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-400-0010, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]
Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.3553.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-18-002, filed 8/19/04,
effective 9/19/04)
WAC 388-442-0010
How does being a fleeing felon ((or
having a conviction for a drug-related felony )) impact my
eligibility for benefits?
(1) You are a fleeing felon if you
are fleeing to avoid prosecution, custody, or confinement for
a crime or an attempt to commit a crime that is considered a
felony in the place from which you are fleeing.
(2) If you are a fleeing felon, or violating a condition of probation or parole as determined by an administrative body or court that has the authority to make this decision, you are not eligible for TANF/SFA, GA, or Basic Food benefits.
(((3) You are a drug-related felon if you were convicted
of a felony committed after August 21, 1996 that has an
element of possession, use or distribution of a controlled
substance as defined in Title 21 of the U.S. Code, Section
802(6). When we determine you are a drug-related felon:
(a) If you were convicted in the state of Washington, we use the Felony Offender Reporting System (FORS) to verify the date of your conviction and to determine if your conviction is for a drug-related felony.
(b) If you were convicted of a felony outside of Washington, we contact the jurisdiction where you were convicted to verify the date of your conviction and determine if the conviction is for a drug-related felony.
(c) We consider a felony conviction for attempt or conspiracy to possess, use or distribute a controlled substance as a conviction for a drug-related felony.
(4) If you are a drug-related felon, you are not eligible for TANF/SFA (cash) benefits unless you meet the conditions under subsection (5) of this section.
(5) If you are a drug-related felon, you may be eligible for TANF/SFA benefits if you meet all of the following conditions:
(a) You were convicted only of possession or use, but not distribution of a controlled substance;
(b) You were not convicted of a felony involving a controlled substance within the three-year period before your most recent conviction;
(c) You were assessed as chemically dependent by a program certified by the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA); and
(d) You are taking part in or have completed a DASA certified program's rehabilitation plan consisting of chemical dependency treatment and job services.
(6) If you are pregnant, but cannot get TANF/SFA because you were convicted of a drug-related felony, you can get SFA while you are pregnant if you meet all other TANF/SFA eligibility criteria under WAC 388-400-0005 or 388-400-0010.))
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 2004 c 54. 04-18-002, § 388-442-0010, filed 8/19/04, effective 9/19/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.04.510. 00-05-007, § 388-442-0010, filed 2/4/00, effective 3/6/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-442-0010, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-442-0010, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]