HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 5729

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                       Human Services

Title:  An act relating to the family emergency assistance program.

Brief Description:  Changing the family emergency assistance program.

Sponsors:  Senator Rinehart.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Human Services, March 25, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Riley, Vice Chair; Cooke, Ranking Minority Member; Talcott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Karahalios; Lisk; Padden; Patterson; and Thibaudeau.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background: The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) Emergency Assistance Program provides food, shelter, clothing, medical care and other necessary items to needy persons.  The eligibility and resource standards for emergency assistance are stricter than the standards for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).  The state receives federal Title IV-A matching funds for the Emergency Assistance Program.

The department presently provides many other emergency services to the public.  If the department added these other services to the Emergency Assistance Program, the state would receive additional Title IV-A matching funds.

The family preservation services statute provides that matching federal funds shall supplement and not supplant state funds for the program.

Summary of Bill:  DSHS may provide emergency assistance in the form of family reconciliation services, family preservation services, home-based services, short-term substitute care, crisis nurseries, therapeutic child care or other necessary services. 

A person is eligible for emergency assistance if his or her income is at, or less than, 100 percent of the federal poverty level.  When determining eligibility for emergency assistance, the department may consider the applicant's other resources.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Additional federal support for emergency social services for children and families will allow the state to conserve limited state funds.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Dick Anderson, Department of Social and Health Services; and Gail McGaffick, Behavioral Science Institute.