HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1675

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to public assistance applicants.

Brief Description:  Requiring the department of social and health services to determine if public assistance applicants are fugitives from justice.

Sponsors:  Representatives Koster, Campbell, Ballasiotes, Radcliff, Carrell, Stevens, Smith, McMorris, Pennington, Clements, Blanton, Sherstad, Benton, Boldt and Honeyford.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/23/95, 2/28/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Cooke, Chairman; Lambert, Vice Chairman; Stevens, Vice Chairman; Boldt; Buck; Carrell and Padden.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Thibaudeau, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Patterson and Tokuda.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  The Department of Social and Health Services is required to disclose the address and location of people described in a felony arrest warrant or a warrant for an illegal alien after receiving a written request from an officer of the law or United States immigration official.  The department does not currently determine  whether  applicants for assistance are fugitives from justice.

Summary of Bill:  Requires the Department of  Social and Health Services to determine whether applicants are fugitives from justice.  If the department determines an applicant is a fugitive from justice it will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency and deny the applicant assistance.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 16, 1995.

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

Testimony For:  The legislation should be amended to repeal statutes related to indigent funerals and burials.

Testimony Against:  Screening all public assistance applicants to determine if any of them are fugitives from justice will require increased appropriations for additional  state employees and computer equipment.

Testified:  Bill Bergh, Department of Social and Health Services (concerns); T.K. Bentler, Washington State Funeral Directors' Association; James H. Noel, Washington State Funeral Directors' Association (pro); Lacrese Green; and B.D. Daly, Washington State Funeral Directors' Association.