HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2350

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to coordination between public assistance programs.

Brief Description:  Making changes regarding the coordination of general assistance programs.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Leonard and Winsley; by request of Dept. of Social and Health Services.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, January 20, 1992, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report: Do pass.  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:  The general assistance program has resource limits which allow a recipient to retain more resources than allowed for recipients of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program.  The Aid to Families with Dependent Children program allows children to receive benefits if they live with a relative of specified degree.  The current statutory definition of a relative of specified degree is more restrictive than that allowed under federal rules.  The Department of Social and Health Services was required to request a waiver from federal rules to allow aid to families with dependent children who are self employed.

Summary of Bill:  The resource limits for the General Assistance program and the Aid to Families with Dependent Children programs will be the same.  The statutory definition of a relative of specified degree will be the same as promulgated in federal rules.  The waiver request was denied by the federal government, and the statutory requirement that the Department of Social and Health Services submit the waiver request is repealed.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.