Z-1352               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4659

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Talmadge, McDonald, Wojahn and Moore; by request of Department of Social and Health Services

Read first time 1/20/86 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to eligibility determinations for medical care programs; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; 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 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

          The department shall apply community property law under chapter 26.16 RCW for purposes of determining eligibility for medical assistance or the limited casualty program for the medically needy except that the department shall not recognize an agreement between spouses, whether in writing or orally, that provides that the income or earnings in the name of either or both spouses is the separate property of either spouse.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.