Title: An act relating to supporting the long-term success of families with children by removing barriers to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the WorkFirst programs.

Brief Description: Supporting the long-term success of families with children by removing barriers to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the WorkFirst programs.

Sponsors: Senators Brandland, Hargrove, Esser, Regala, McAuliffe, Thibaudeau, Stevens, Kohl-Welles and Shin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Human Services & Corrections: 1/24/05, 2/14/05 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means: 3/1/05, 3/7/05 [DP2S].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5213 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators Hargrove, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Stevens, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, McAuliffe and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Edith Rice (786-7444)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5213 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Fairley, Hewitt, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Thibaudeau.

Staff: Carole Holland (786-7441)

Background: Current state law permits eligible families to receive cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program if they are in need, otherwise eligible, and not an inmate at a public institution. They may be required to participate in a drug or alcohol treatment program in order to receive benefits if they have been assessed as drug or alcohol dependent and in need of treatment to become employable.

Washington State administers TANF benefits through its WorkFirst program. The WorkFirst program emphasizes the importance of gaining employment and staying employed. WorkFirst participants are assessed for employment barriers which may include mental health, medical or substance abuse issues which must be addressed before an applicant can become fully employable.

Current state law requires that in order to be eligible for this assistance, an applicant with a drug- related felony conviction after August, 1996 must have been assessed as chemically dependent and be participating in, or have completed, rehabilitation which includes chemical dependency and vocational components. It also requires that they not have been convicted of a drug-related felony in the three years prior to the most current conviction. States can choose to opt out of such restrictions.

Summary of Second Substitute Bill: Technical changes were made related to funding.

Second Substitute Bill Compared to Substitute Bill: The second substitute makes a technical correction that allows the use of federal TANF or state maintenance of effort funds.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute bill provides that TANF applicants who have a felony conviction involving drug use or possession after August 21, 1996 become ineligible if they are convicted of more than one subsequent drug use of possession related felony after the effective date of this act.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available on original bill and first substitute bill.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For (Human Services & Corrections): Offenders don't need another barrier to re-entry into society. They've done their time. Other states have removed this barrier to receiving services.

Testimony Against (Human Services & Corrections): None.

Who Testified (Human Services & Corrections): PRO: Senator Brandland, prime sponsor; Bob Cooper, ACLU; Duane French, Dept. of Social and Health Services, ESA/DEAP.

Testimony For (Ways & Means): The substitute bill has problems related to TANF grant eligibility and may not help the families it is intended to help. Please consider the original bill.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means): None.

Who Testified (Ways & Means): PRO: Bob Cooper, ACLU.