SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5132

BYSenators Warnke, Lee, Vognild, Newhouse, Wojahn, McDonald, Stratton, Nelson and Deccio; by request of Joint Select Committee on Unemployment Compensation and Insurance

Requiring a long-term study of public assistance recipients.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 2, 1987; February 13, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5132 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Warnke, Chairman; Smitherman, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Cantu, Lee, Sellar, Tanner, Vognild, West, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Mark McDermott (786-7429)

                  February 16, 1987

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 26, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5132 as recommended by Committee on Commerce & Labor be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDermott, Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Kreidler, Lee, McDonald, Moore, Owen, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Suzanne Petersen (786-7715)

                  February 26, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 26, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Between 1979 and 1986, the state's single parent family public assistance caseload (AFDC-R) and the two parent family caseload (AFDC-E) grew 48 percent and 70 percent respectively.  Over 60 percent of the caseload growth took place outside of King, Spokane, Snohomish and Pierce Counties.  Presently the state's smaller counties have a higher percentage of the state's public assistance cases than their share of the state's total population.

During the economic boom of 1976-79, the AFDC-R caseload increased 1 percent.  The economic recovery of 1983-86 saw the AFDC-R caseload grow 21 percent despite a lower rate of population growth.

The Department of Social and Health Services and the Employment Security Department do not have adequate work, training, educational and public assistance histories on public assistance clients to adequately assess the causes of the rising caseloads.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Social and Health Services shall conduct a study of public assistance recipients who enter and exit the AFDC programs between July 1, 1987 and June 30, 1988.  A report shall be presented to the Legislature and the Governor prior to the start of the 1989 session.

The Department of Social and Health Services shall conduct a long-term study of recipients of AFDC who enter the program between July 1, 1987 and June 30, 1988.  Both studies shall include:  (1) demographic characteristics of recipients; (2) employment, education and training histories; (3) number and lengths of stays on assistance; and (4) reasons for dependency on public assistance.

Biennial report to the Legislature and Governor shall be made prior to the start of the session in odd numbered years.

The Employment Security Department shall provide employment and wage information on the public assistance recipients for both studies.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Department of Social and Health Services shall conduct a study of public assistance recipients of AFDC who are on assistance as of July 1, 1987 and who enter or exit the programs between July 1, 1987 and June 30, 1988.  The study shall assess (1) demographic characteristics; (2) employment, training and educational histories; (3) number and length of prior stays; (4) reasons for entrance into or exit from the programs; and (5) effects of legislative and administrative changes.

The Department of Social and Health Services shall contract with the Washington State Institute for Public Policy for a long term study of public assistance recipients and of individuals at risk of enrolling on public assistance.  The study shall include:  (1) demographic characteristics; (2) employment, education and training histories; (3) number and length of stays on assistance; (4) characteristics of the local economy; and (5) characteristics of the assistance programs.

DSHS shall provide public assistance and other program participation data.  Annual reports on the long-term study shall be made to the Legislature and the Governor prior to the start of each legislative session.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy shall assemble and select the chair of review panels to monitor the research studies.  The panels shall submit a written analysis on the final report of each study to the Legislature and Governor.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: COMMERCE & LABOR:  Graeme Sakrisen, Employment Security Department; Bernice Morehead, DSHS; Pat Richards, DSHS; Margaret Casey, Washington State Catholic Conference

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  No one