SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 3022

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

          Health & Long-Term Care, February 20, 1998

Title:  An act relating to interstate agreements for public assistance cross matches.

Brief Description:  Authorizing interstate agreements for public assistance cross matches.

Sponsors:  Representative Boldt.

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, Strannigan and Wojahn.

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786-7472)

Background:  Concern exists regarding the potential for fraud by persons attempting to obtain welfare benefits in more than one state simultaneously.  Recently, an Interstate Fraud Task Force, including officials from Washington State, Oregon and Idaho met to discuss fraud prevention.  One fraud prevention method is for neighboring states to cross-match applicants.  This requires interstate agreements.

Summary of Bill:  The Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services is authorized to execute interstate agreements with neighboring states, to compare public assistance caseload data, for the purpose of identifying persons receiving grants in more than one state.

The Secretary reports to the House Children and Family Services Committee on the department's progress by July 1, 1998.  The sunset date for the act is July 1, 1999.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  Cross matching is an agreed-upon method of fraud prevention.  More states will be doing this.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Mark Boldt, prime sponsor (pro).