| VETO MESSAGE ON SSB 6508 |
| March 30, 2012 |
| To the Honorable President and Members, |
| The Senate of the State of Washington |
| Ladies and Gentlemen: |
| I am returning herewith, without my approval as to Section 3, Substitute Senate Bill 6508 entitled: |
"AN ACT Relating to department of social and health services waivers of overpayment recoveries." |
| Section 3 requires the Office of Fraud and Accountability within the Department of Social and Health Services to collaborate with the Auditor's Office and the Department of Early Learning to identify, review, and provide the Legislature with recommendations for integrated monitoring and detection systems to prevent overpayments of public assistance. The Office of Fraud and Accountability was created for the specific purpose of focusing on the prevention and investigation of abuse and fraud in the use of public assistance benefits. To avoid diluting this focus, the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services should determine what resources of the Department are best used in advancing measures to prevent non-fraudulent overpayments of public assistance. |
| For this reason, I have vetoed Section 3 of Substitute Senate Bill 6508. |
| With the exception of Section 3, Substitute Senate Bill 6508 is approved. |
| Respectfully submitted, |
| Christine Gregoire |
| Governor |