HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1313

BYRepresentatives Leonard, Barnes, Nutley, Jacobsen, Wineberry, Padden, Anderson, Nelson, Wang and Unsoeld

Authorizing initial cash public assistance payments in emergencies.

House Committe on Housing

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (6)

      Signed by Representatives Nutley, Chair; Leonard, Vice Chair; Barnes, Sanders, Todd and J. Williams.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Armstrong.

House Staff:Kenny Pittman (786-7392)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING FEBRUARY 2, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is authorized as the sole state agency to administer public assistance programs. The administration of public assistance programs must be in conformance with federal laws as well as consistent with state public assistance laws.

Presently, the process involved to qualify and receive public assistance, from the initial application to notification of eligibility for benefits and arrival of the initial benefit check, can take up to thirty days.  The time period between notification of eligibility and receipt of the initial benefit check ranges from three to seven days.

Some recipients, while waiting for the initial benefit check, have been required to use limited emergency shelter facilities.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is directed to implement a program to reduce the time that eligible recipients of public assistance have to wait between notification of eligibility and receipt of initial benefit check. DSHS is required to make the initial benefit payment available, to the recipient, within twenty-four hours of approval of notice of eligibility.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 4, 1988.

Effective Date:The act contains an effective date of July 1, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Sylvie McGee, Washington State Coalition for the Homeless; and Arnie Whedbee, Evergreen Legal Services.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Laurie Evans, Department of Social and Legal Services.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The period between initial application for public assistance and receipt of the initial benefit check is usually a crisis time for most recipients.  Some recipients are faced with possible eviction from their residence and may be forced to use the limited emergency shelter facilities.  By reducing the time between notification of eligibility to receipt of the initial benefit check, the state is responding to a need to get assistance to those eligible recipients during an emergency period in their life.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The department is opposed to this legislation. The department is currently looking into the development of an electronic benefit program that would ensure immediate payment to those eligible recipients on public assistance.