SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2634

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Health & Long-Term Care, February 20, 1998

Title:  An act relating to disqualifying fugitives from receiving general assistance.

Brief Description:  Denying public assistance to fugitives from justice.

Sponsors:  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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  2/20/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Benton, Fairley, Franklin, Strannigan and Wojahn.

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786-7472)

Background:  The federal welfare reform act (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) prohibited Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds from being used to assist persons who were fleeing felony prosecution or violating parole.  Washington State has no similar prohibition regarding persons applying for general assistance.

Summary of Bill:  General assistance, a form of welfare benefit available to qualified persons without dependents, is not available for anyone who is fleeing to avoid prosecution for a felony or attempted felony, or who is violating a condition of probation, community supervision or parole imposed for a felony or gross misdemeanor conviction.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.