H-1564.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1822
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives McMorris, Sump, Boldt, Mulliken, Carrell and Schoesler
Read first time 02/10/97. Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.
AN ACT Relating to a pilot program to investigate welfare fraud in Pend Oreille county; amending RCW 41.06.380; adding a new section to chapter 74.04 RCW; making an appropriation; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.04 RCW to read as follows:
Regardless of any rights, express or implied, created by the state civil service law, chapter 41.06 RCW, and upon the request of the Pend Oreille county commissioners, the department shall enter into a contract with Pend Oreille county to investigate suspected recipient and applicant fraud related to the provision of public assistance by the department. The contract shall be for one year and reimbursement to Pend Oreille county under the contract shall not exceed the funds appropriated by section 3 of this act. The secretary may include provisions within the contract as the secretary deems necessary to assure cooperation and the sharing of information between the agency and the county in the performance of the contract, to assure performance of effective and proper investigations by the county, and to assure the otherwise proper expenditure of funds.
The secretary shall evaluate the effectiveness of the contract entered into under this section in reducing public assistance fraud. The evaluation shall indicate if the contract was a cost-effective means for investigating such fraud.
Sec. 2. RCW 41.06.380 and 1979 ex.s. c 46 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit any department, as defined in RCW 41.06.020, from purchasing services by contract with individuals or business entities if such services were regularly purchased by valid contract by such department prior to April 23, 1979 or if services were purchased by contract entered into under section 1 of this act: PROVIDED, That no such contract may be executed or renewed if it would have the effect of terminating classified employees or classified employee positions existing at the time of the execution or renewal of the contract.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The sum of sixty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, from the general fund to the department of social and health services for the purposes of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this act expire July 1, 1998.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.
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