SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6367

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 5, 1992

Brief Description:  Limiting public assistance for persons living in Washington state for less than twelve months.

SPONSORS: Senators Oke, Roach, West, Sutherland, Nelson, Vognild, Saling, Bauer, Patterson, Amondson, Metcalf, McCaslin, Erwin, Thorsness, Owen, Craswell, L. Smith, Newhouse, Bailey, McDonald, Barr, von Reichbauer, Anderson and Sellar

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786‑7472)

Hearing Dates: February 6, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Public assistance in Washington State is awarded to individuals meeting specific eligibility requirements, which vary with type of program.  Due apparently to the recession, there has been a nationwide increase in demand for various forms of public assistance.  In Washington, for example, some welfare caseloads have increased more than 15 percent in the past two years.  Because benefit amounts vary among jurisdictions, many states are concerned about becoming "welfare magnets," and incurring the social costs of net in-migration of those qualifying for assistance.

SUMMARY:

Public assistance is limited, for those residing in Washington for less than one year, to the amount of assistance that would have been received from a similar program in the state of most recent residence, if less than the amount paid in Washington.

The Department of Social and Health Services surveys other states' public assistance levels, and adopts, by rule, a scale of assistance based on "state of origin."

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 28, 1992