6508-S AMH ELHS H4440.1

SSB 6508  - H COMM AMD
     By Committee on Early Learning & Human Services

ADOPTED AS AMENDED 02/29/2012

     Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"Sec. 1   RCW 43.20B.030 and 2005 c 292 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as otherwise provided by law, including subsection (2) of this section, there will be no collection of overpayments and other debts due the department after the expiration of six years from the date of notice of such overpayment or other debt unless the department has commenced recovery action in a court of law or unless an administrative remedy authorized by statute is in place. However, any amount due in a case thus extended shall cease to be a debt due the department at the expiration of ten years from the date of the notice of the overpayment or other debt unless a court-ordered remedy would be in effect for a longer period.
     (2) There will be no collection of debts due the department after the expiration of twenty years from the date a lien is recorded pursuant to RCW 43.20B.080.
     (3) The department, at any time, may accept offers of compromise of disputed claims or may grant partial or total write-off of any debt due the department if it is no longer cost-effective to pursue. The department shall adopt rules establishing the considerations to be made in the granting or denial of a partial or total write-off of debts.
     (4) Notwithstanding the requirements of RCW 43.20B.630, 43.20B.635, 43.20B.640, and 43.20B.645, the department may waive all efforts to collect overpayments from a client when the department, the health care authority, or any state agency administering public assistance benefits determines the overpayment occurred through no fault of the client, the client was unaware that he or she was not eligible for the overpaid benefits, the client cannot repay the overpayment without drawing on funds needed for basic support, and the client relied on those benefits for basic support. These are the applicable elements that are to be considered in any administrative hearing or judicial review proceeding concerning the overpayment of public assistance benefits.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   No later than October 1, 2013, the office of fraud and accountability within the department of social and health services, along with the state auditor's office and the department of early learning, shall collaborate in an effort to identify, review, and provide the legislature with recommendations for integrated monitoring and detection systems to prevent overpayments of public assistance from occurring."

     Correct the title.

EFFECT:  (1) Removes the provision that allowed the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to waive efforts to collect from clients who, through no fault of their own, received an overpayment and the overpayment was less than $2000.
     (2) Includes the Health Care Authority (HCA) or any state agency administering public assistance benefits in addition to the DSHS that may waive efforts to collect overpayments to clients.
     (3) Sets out criteria to be considered in any administrative hearing or judicial review proceeding regarding overpayment which are: (a) That the DSHS, HCA, or other agency that administers benefits determines that the overpayment occurred through no fault of the client; (b) the client was unaware that he or she was not eligible for the overpaid benefits; (c) the client cannot repay the overpayment without drawing on funds needed for basic support; and (d) the client relied on the benefits received for basic support.
     (4) Extends to October 1, 2013, the date by which the Office of Fraud and Accountability, the Department of Early Learning, and the State Auditor's Office must report to the legislature regarding recommendations for integrated monitoring and detection systems to prevent overpayments of public assistance.

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