H-0684.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1293

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Boldt, Thompson, Dunn, Mielke and L. Thomas

Read first time 01/21/97.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Limiting public assistance payments for persons who have not resided in Washington for the preceding twelve continuous months.

    AN ACT Relating to limiting public assistance payments; and amending RCW 74.12.030.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 74.12.030 and 1971 ex.s. c 169 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements of RCW 74.08.025, as now or hereafter amended, an applicant for aid to families with dependent children must be a needy child who is a resident of the state of Washington.

(2) For any person otherwise qualified to receive public assistance under this chapter who has resided in the state of Washington for less than twelve continuous months immediately preceding receipt of any public assistance under this title, any monthly benefit level shall not exceed the maximum aid payment that would have been received from the recipient's state of prior residence, unless that amount exceeds the payment level available to the recipient in Washington state.  If the payment from a recipient's prior state of residence exceeds the amount that would otherwise be available in Washington state, the recipient shall receive an amount equal to the Washington state benefit level.

The department shall conduct a periodic survey of the other states to determine their public assistance levels for programs similar to those in the state of Washington and shall by rule adopt a scale of public assistance limits based on state of origin.

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