FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2634

                          C 80 L 98

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Denying public assistance to fugitives from justice.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Children & Family Services (originally sponsored by Representatives H. Sommers, Cooke, Dickerson, McDonald, Gombosky, Bush, Tokuda, Wolfe, O'Brien, Kessler, Keiser, Anderson, Ogden, B. Thomas and Thompson).

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background: During 1996, Congress created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant which replaced the Aid For Dependent Families (AFDC) program.  As part of the restrictions placed on block grant funds, Congress prohibited the use of  TANF funds for persons who were fleeing prosecution or violating their parole.  In Washington, there is no similar restriction on benefits from the state welfare program, general assistance.  General assistance pays benefits to Washington residents who are  poor, unemployable due to a physical, mental, or emotional incapacity, and who do not receive federal aid.

Summary: Eligibility for state general assistance is denied to persons fleeing a felony prosecution or who are violating a condition of parole, community supervision, or probation imposed for a felony or gross misdemeanor offense.

Votes on Final Passage:

House960

Senate430

Effective:June 11, 1998