SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5593

BYSenators Wojahn, Talmadge, Fleming and McDermott

Establishing a pilot supplemental security income referral program.

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 19, 1987; February 26, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5593 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Wojahn, Chairman; Anderson, Deccio, Johnson, Kiskaddon, Kreidler, Tanner.

Senate Staff:Jean Soliz (786-7755)

                  February 27, 1987

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 5, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5593 as recommended by the Committee on Human Services & Corrections be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDermott, Chairman; Gaspard, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Fleming, Kreidler, Owen, Rasmussen, Rinehart, Talmadge, Vognild, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Suzanne Petersen (786-7715)

                  March 6, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 5, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The state pays 100 percent of the funds for the General Assistance Unemployable public assistance program.  Many of the GAU recipients are eligible for benefits under the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.  The SSI application process is complicated and requires persistent efforts.  Many GAU recipients fail to transfer to the SSI program because of a lack of knowledge and assistance.

SUMMARY:

A pilot SSI referral program is created within the Department of Social and Health Services.  The Department is required to aid GAU recipients in qualifying for SSI benefits by assisting them in obtaining required medical information, in filing timely appeals and in obtaining appropriate legal assistance.

The Department is to contract with experts for program coordination.  The coordination duties include developing a practitioner's referral panel for SSI applicants, monitoring the community service office referral program, and training community service office caseworkers.  The program coordinator shall report to the Legislature regarding the effectiveness and potential for improvement of the pilot program by November 1, 1988.

$708,000 is appropriated for costs related to the SSI referral program.

Appropriation:    $708,000

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and would take effect July 1, 1987.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Changes are incorporated to require that one of the three pilot projects be conducted in a rural area.  The term "medical" professional is changed to "health" in order to incorporate additional practitioners.

Senate Committee - Testified: HUMAN SERVICES & CORRECTIONS:  Phil Kaplan, Poverty Law Advocates; Gerry Reilly, DSHS Income Assistance; Pat Thibbadeau, Mental Health Centers

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS: No one