SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6558

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Higher Education, February 4, 2000

Title:  An act relating to public assistance recipients participating in higher education programs.

Brief Description:  Including higher education programs in the work activity definition.

Sponsors:  Senator Kohl‑Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  1/24/2000, 2/4/2000 [DPS-WM].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6558 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Bauer, Finkbeiner, Horn, Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Sheahan and B. Sheldon.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

Background:  Under the WorkFirst program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients are required to engage in work-related activities.

State work-study is a need-based financial aid program that subsidizes the wages of students employed through the program.  Internships and practicums are supervised practical training.  Nearly all vocational certificate and degree programs require some kind of an internship or practicum, as do a majority of programs in the medical fields.  Students in other types of programs may experience an internship or practicum as an elective.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The definition of Awork activity@ that fulfills TANF requirements is expanded to include employment through work-study programs for up to 24 months.  TANF recipients may also fulfill @work activity@ requirements through participation in some internships or practicums.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  All work study programs are included, not just state work study.  AInternship@ is moved closer to the top of the list of allowable work experiences.  APracticums@ is moved closer to the top of the list with on-the-job training.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 19, 2000.

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

Testimony For:  Students support the addition of participation in internships, practicums, and work study for students striving for self-sufficiency.  Focus should be on high demand programs that will lead to employment.

The rules continue to change, causing significant problems for students.  I need the grant while doing my student teaching so this bill is very necessary.

Children are the forgotten people in these discussions.  Day care is not always covered for student parents.

Confusion exists around work study requirements and WorkFirst.  Education is an equalizer.

Please support people with goals who aspire to more than a vocational education.

Low wage jobs are not beneficial.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Jeremy Kelley, CWU; Mike Mastin, DSHS; Allison Morrell, Monica Peabody, WROC; Stephanie Johnson, Erica Quimby, Evergreen Parents Resource Network; Sarah Flemming Merten; Laurie Lippold.