SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6098

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES,

                               FEBRUARY 4, 1992

Brief Description:  Clarifying public assistance eligibility for children who are students.

SPONSORS: Senators Roach, L. Smith, Gaspard and Newhouse

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6098 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Roach, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Stratton, and Talmadge.

Staff:  Mich'l Prentice Needham (786‑7439)

Hearing Dates: January 27, 1992; February 4, 1992

BACKGROUND:

States are required by federal law to establish and update standards of need and determine benefit amounts and eligibility criteria for receipt of public assistance.  Current criteria does not include 18 to 20 year-old full-time students.  Extending public assistance to eligible 18 to 20 year-old students may improve the school completion rate.

SUMMARY:

A pilot program is established to demonstrate improved school completion rates among full-time students aged 18 to 20.  The pilot program expands the eligibility for general assistance to include children attending school in Pierce County and living in the home of a court-appointed legal guardian who are under age 18, or under age 21 and full-time students making progress toward completing high school or the equivalent level of technical or vocational training. 

The program also expands eligibility to include children living in Pierce County who are under age 21, are ineligible for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) due to federal age requirements, and are full-time students making progress toward completion of high school or the equivalent level of technical or vocational training. 

Payment amounts are based on requirements for the AFDC program.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services shall report to the Legislature by December 1, 1996 on the effectiveness of the pilot program.  The program expires July 1, 1996.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

King, Clark, Cowlitz, Spokane or Kitsap counties are included as other choices for the pilot project.  Existing statutory language making supplemental payments subject to appropriation is restored.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Covering 18 to 20 year olds with public assistance will help keep them in school.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Bernice Moorehead, DSHS Income Assistance (pro)