H-1478.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1880

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Boldt, Benton, Schoesler, L. Thomas, Carrell, Johnson, Radcliff, Blanton, McMahan, Campbell, Smith, Honeyford, Silver and Thompson

Read first time 02/13/95.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Making persons convicted of certain crimes relating to receipt of public assistance ineligible for public assistance for five years.

    AN ACT Relating to welfare fraud; amending RCW 74.08.290; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that those individuals who abuse and defraud the welfare system not only steal scarce resources, but also perpetuate myths about people on public assistance.  The taxpayers of this state have limited resources with which to help those in need and it is imperative that the legislature use its authority to ensure that those resources are assisting the truly needy.

    To protect the integrity of the welfare system the legislature must put into place mechanisms that guard against abuse.  The message must be sent that we will not tolerate welfare fraud.

    People who are caught abusing public trust by defrauding the welfare system should be punished and not allowed to receive public assistance.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 74.08.290 and 1959 c 26 s 74.08.290 are each amended to read as follows:

    The department is hereby authorized to suspend temporarily the public assistance granted to any person for any period during which such person is not in need thereof.

    If a recipient is convicted of any crime or offense, and punished by imprisonment, no payment shall be made during the period of imprisonment.

If a recipient or applicant is convicted of a crime under RCW 74.08.331, 9A.56.030, or 9A.56.040 in relation to the unlawful receipt of public assistance, the recipient or applicant is ineligible for public assistance for a period of five years from the date of conviction.  If a recipient or applicant is charged with a crime under RCW 74.08.331, 9A.56.030, or 9A.56.040 in relation to the unlawful receipt of public assistance, and enters into a deferred prosecution agreement with the prosecutor or is convicted of a reduced charge under a plea agreement, the recipient or applicant is ineligible to receive public assistance for five years from the date of entry of the agreement or conviction.

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