HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5652
As Passed House:
April 11, 1995
Title: An act relating to welfare fraud.
Brief Description: Temporarily prohibiting public assistance payments for willful violators of public assistance eligibility provisions.
Sponsors: Senators Gaspard, McDonald, Smith, Quigley, Wojahn, Hargrove, Heavey, Winsley, Sheldon, Fraser, Loveland, Fairley, Oke, McAuliffe, Spanel, Kohl, Franklin, Drew, Haugen, Owen, Bauer, Snyder, Deccio and Rasmussen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Children & Family Services: 3/28/95, 3/31/95 [DPA].
Floor Activity:
Amended.
Passed House: 4/11/95, 90-4.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 6 members: Representatives Cooke, Chairman; Lambert, Vice Chairman; Stevens, Vice Chairman; Boldt; Buck and Carrell.
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: Recipients of public assistance who are convicted of unlawful practices designed to qualify for or continue to receive public assistance are currently subject to conviction, imprisonment, and fines.
Summary of Bill: Applicants for or recipients of any form of public assistance who intentionally provide false or misleading information to establish or maintain eligibility for public assistance will be ineligible to receive assistance for six months for a first violation, 12 months for a second violation, and permanently for a third violation. The Department of Social and Health Services is required to participate in the "systematic alien verification for entitlements" program.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Bill: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: People who fraudulently obtain public assistance should be punished.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Senator Marc Gaspard, prime sponsor.