HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2610

BYRepresentatives Sayan, Moyer, Scott, Winsley, Leonard, Wineberry, Anderson, Cooper, Raiter, Brekke and Belcher.

Revising provisions for public assistance.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Sayan, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Moyer, Ranking Republican Member; Tate, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Brekke, Hargrove, Leonard, Raiter, Padden and Winsley.

House Staff:Dave Knutson (786-7146)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Human Services be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (26)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Padden, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      John Woolley (786-7154)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FEBRUARY 3, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Many high school students do not graduate until after their 19th birthday.  If they are receiving aid to families with dependent children payments, the payments end at age 18. This may force some students to quit school and go to work.  A homeless family receiving aid to families with dependent children payments has their payment reduced because they are not paying for housing.  Children who live with court appointed guardians are not currently eligible to receive aid to families with dependent children payments.  Recipients of aid to families with dependent children receive grant payments based on the income they earned two months earlier.  If a recipient's income decreases they currently do not receive a full grant payment for two months.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Income Assistance payments to high school students are continued up to age 20.  A recipient of aid to families with dependent children who is homeless or receives supplied shelter is provided a full grant payment.  Children who live with court appointed guardians who are eligible for aid to families with dependent children will receive a grant payment.  A recipient of aid to families with dependent children who experiences a loss of income will have his or her grant payment adjusted without waiting two months.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Amendments were added clarifying that grant payments received by high school students between their 18th and 20th birthdays will be the same amount they received prior to age 18. Eligibility for grants to homeless persons was clarified.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS:  None.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Human Services)  Tony Lee, Washington Association of Churches.

(Appropriations)  Barbara Baker, Legal Services.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Human Services)  Bob Lolcama, Department of Social and Health Services.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Human Services)  There are several relatively small holes in the income assistance safety net which will be filled by this legislation. Poor people should not be penalized because of gaps in federal income programs.

(Appropriations)  Bill was supported in its present form.  It will meet immediate needs and meets needs identified by the department.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Human Services)  These proposals, though well intended, were not funded in the Governor's supplemental budget.

(Appropriations)  None.