HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1152

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Human Services

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to food stamps.

Brief Description:  Excluding certain child support from food stamp need and eligibility determination.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Winsley, Leonard, Riley, Tate, Cole, Mitchell, Dorn, Wineberry, Scott, Rust, Roland, Valle, R. Johnson, Franklin and Anderson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, February 20, 1991, DPA;

Appropriations, April 8, 1991, DP(w/o HS).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Leonard, Chair; Riley, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Minority Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Beck; Brekke; Hargrove; Hochstatter; R. King; and H. Myers.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Federal law allows states to exempt child support as income in determining food stamp need and eligibility.  This will allow additional food stamps to be issued to eligible persons.  If a state chooses to exempt child support as income, the state is financially responsible for the increased amount of the food stamps.  The United States Congress is currently considering whether the federal government should bear this financial burden.

Summary of Amended  Bill:  The Department of Social and Health Services is required to exclude child support as income in determining the need and eligibility for food stamps.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Provides a net appropriation of $416,000 to fund the legislation.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Appropriation:  Yes.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This legislation will simplify administration of the food stamp program, reduce the number of state staff conducting eligibility determinations and provide more food stamps to low income people.

Testimony Against:  Funding for this purpose is not included in the governor's budget request for the 1991-93 biennium.

Witnesses:  Bernice Morehead and Mick Determan, Department of Social and Health Services (oppose fiscal impact); Greg McNabb and Lonnie Johns-Brown, National Association of Social Workers (favor); and Susan Hubbard, National Organization of Women (favor).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass without amendment by Committee on Human Services.  Signed by 29 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Inslee, Vice Chair; Spanel, Ranking Minority Member; Silver, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Morton; Appelwick; Belcher; Bowman; Braddock; Brekke; Dorn; Ebersole; Ferguson; Fuhrman; Hine; Holland; Lisk; May; McLean; Mielke; Nealey; Peery; Pruitt; Rust; H. Sommers; Valle; Vance; Wang; and Wineberry.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146) and Wayne Kawakami (786-7384).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Human Services:  The Appropriations Committee did not adopt the amendment by the Human Services committee that provided an appropriation.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Appropriation:  Removed.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This legislation will provide more food stamps to low-income people, simplify the eligibility process and reduce staff in the Department of Social and Health Services.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Tony Lee, Washington Association of Churches.