SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6675
BYSenators Kiskaddon, Stratton, Bailey and Wojahn; by request of Governor
Modifying provisions relating to the family independence program.
Senate Committee on Children & Family Services
Senate Hearing Date(s):February 3, 1988
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Kiskaddon, Chairman; Bailey, Vice Chairman; Craswell, Fleming, Garrett, McDonald, Stratton.
Senate Staff:Jean Soliz (786-7755)
March 3, 1988
House Committe on Human Services
AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 10, 1988
BACKGROUND:
The Family Independence Program (FIP) is a welfare reform proposal which passed the Legislature in concept in 1987. Jointly administered by the Department of Social and Health Services and the Employment Security Department, the program combines incentive payments, child care services and employment and training components to assist AFDC recipients in achieving self-sufficiency.
Under terms of the 1987 legislation, the governor was authorized to seek congressional waivers of certain federal laws, which vary from the FIP administration plan. Those waivers were granted by Congress in 1987 and the governor and FIP executive committee members are now negotiating the federal-state contracts.
The Children & Family Services Committee has reviewed all of the agency reports required in the 1987 act, except the evaluation plan, which has been reviewed by the Legislative Budget Committee.
The statute requires final approval by the 1988 Legislature so that the governor is authorized to sign the federal-state contracts.
SUMMARY:
The FIP plan is approved and the governor is authorized to sign and complete all necessary agreements with the federal government provided that they are consistent with RCW 74.21, the 1987 act. The intent section of the family independence statute is modified to include the goal of reducing caseloads on a long-term basis. The section related to AFDC recipient and former recipient members of the FIP advisory committee, the executive committee and the family opportunity councils is expanded to allow reimbursement for child care to enable those persons to attend meetings.
The department is authorized to provide grants to each family opportunity council to support their activities and to assist in the recruitment of volunteer mentors.
The expiration date of the chapter is extended from 1989 to 1993.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Senate Committee - Testified: Jule Sugarman, Secretary, Department of Social and Health Services; Issiah Turner, Commissioner, Employment Security Department and Chris Webster, Employment Security Department; Pat Thibaudeau, Washington Women United; Margie Reeves, Washington Association for the Education of Young Children; Jan Secor, Pierce County Coalition for Welfare Reform; Cecilia Funkhouser, Washington Women's Employment & Education
HOUSE AMENDMENT:
Intent language is added to encourage the FIP executive committee to contract with community-based organizations. Evaluation plan requirements are modified to no longer require evaluation of the impact of FIP on general labor market opportunities.
The evaluation plan must be approved by the Legislative Budget Committee.
Support enforcement statutes are amended to require the Office of Support Enforcement to distribute collected child support to families within eight days of receipt unless the location of the custodial parent is unknown, the child support debt is in litigation, or the custodial parent cannot be identified.
When a family leaves public assistance, the Office of Support Enforcement is required to pay the support due to the family for the period the family has been off assistance before applying the collected funds against any arrearages owed the department.
Restrictions are removed to allow the Office of Support Enforcement to continue to collect support for families who have left assistance beyond the current three month statutory limitation.