SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6406

              As Passed Senate, February 16, 1998

Title:  An act relating to the adoption support program.

Brief Description:  Exempting income from the adoption support program from gross family income calculations for the basic health plan.

Sponsors:  Senators Anderson, Brown, Long, Franklin, Strannigan, Winsley and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ways & Means:  1/29/98, 2/10/98 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/16/98, 39-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Brown, Fraser, Hochstatter, Loveland, Roach, Rossi, Schow, B. Sheldon, Spanel and Thibaudeau.

Staff:  Tim Yowell (786-7435)

Background:  The Adoption Support Program is a state- and federally-funded program which provides subsidies to families who adopt a child who would otherwise be hard to place because of age, background, or medical condition.  The subsidy level is tied to the basic foster care rate, and currently ranges from $3,800 to $5,500 per year, depending upon the child's age.  Additionally, the adopted child's health care is covered through Medicaid.

The Basic Health Plan (BHP) subsidizes health insurance coverage for citizens whose family income is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.  Two-hundred percent (200 percent) of poverty currently ranges from $21,200 per year for a family of two, to $37,500 per year for a family of five.  The BHP subsidy level is adjusted for both age and income level, and presently ranges from approximately $625 per year for a 40-54 year old just under 200 percent of poverty, to $1,400 per year for a 40-54 year old at 100 percent of poverty.

In calculating the BHP subsidy level, the adopted child is currently counted in determining the family size, and the adoption support subsidy is counted as income.

Summary of Bill:  Funds received from the Adoption Support Program are not counted as income for purposes of determining BHP eligibility and subsidy levels.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  No one.