SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                            SB 5156

 

     AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES,

                         MARCH 2, 1993

 

 

Brief Description:  Allowing eighteen to twenty year old students to be included in AFDC.

 

SPONSORS: Senators Snyder, Moyer, Wojahn, Bauer, Talmadge, Pelz, McAuliffe, von Reichbauer, Winsley and Roach

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5156 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means. 

     Signed by Senators Talmadge, Chairman; Wojahn, Vice Chairman; Franklin, Fraser, Hargrove, McAuliffe, Moyer, Niemi, Prentice, Quigley, Sheldon, L. Smith, and Winsley.

 

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786‑7472)

 

Hearing Dates: January 27, 1993; March 2, 1993

 

 

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 18 to 20 year-old students may improve high school completion rate and job readiness, and reduce welfare caseload.

 

SUMMARY:

 

Full-time students under 20 years of age, and reasonably expected to complete high school or vocational/technical training are eligible for assistance.  Earnings of the full-time student shall be disregarded for purposes of determining eligibility.  Financial assistance includes assistance for the student's caretaker relative under specified circumstances.

 

An "aid to families with dependent children essential persons program" allows 18 to 20 year-old students to be eligible for federal AFDC matching grants.

 

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

 

Technical changes are made and student earnings are capped at federal standards.

 

Appropriation:  none

 

Revenue:  none

 

Fiscal Note:  available

 

TESTIMONY FOR:

 

Older students will be encouraged to complete school increasing their chances for employment.

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

 

TESTIFIED:  Bernice Morehead, Department of Social and Health Services (pro); Barbara Baker, Evergreen Legal Services (pro); Steve Lansing, Lutheran Social Services (pro)