FINAL BILL REPORT
ESHB 1197
PARTIAL VETO
C 312 L 93
Brief Description: Allowing families to retain a greater percentage of income before public benefits are reduced or terminated.
By House Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representatives Leonard, Cooke, Riley, Flemming, Valle, Brown, G. Cole, Mielke, Veloria, Wineberry, Dorn, Anderson, J. Kohl, Karahalios, H. Myers, Vance, Ogden, King, Jones, Eide, Johanson, R. Meyers, Cothern, Roland, Holm, Wolfe, Franklin, Thibaudeau, Springer, Basich, Kremen, Foreman, Kessler, Campbell, Dunshee, Lemmon, Linville and Pruitt).
House Committee on Human Services
House Committee on Appropriations
Senate Committee on Health & Human Services
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
Background: A large group of legislators, public assistance recipients, state agency staff, human service advocates, and academics conducted an extensive review of our state's public assistance program. The motivation for this review is the scheduled termination of the Family Independence Program (FIP) on June 30, 1993 and the desire to incorporate the positive aspects of the FIP demonstration project into the statewide Job Opportunities and Basic Skill Program (JOBS). Seven community forums were held around the state in June 1992 to receive input directly from recipients of public assistance and to develop a series of recommendations for a post-FIP welfare employment and training program. Forums were held in Yakima, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Vancouver, and Port Angeles. One hundred ten citizens testified on problems with the current welfare system.
Testimony at the forums held around the state indicated that the majority of public assistance recipients who testified would rather be working. The problem experienced by many recipients is that it is difficult for parents on Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) to get and keep a job if the barriers to employment are not addressed. The FIP and JOBS programs offer recipients the education, training, and support services to gain independence, but implementation problems and resource restrictions pose problems for recipients in utilizing everything these programs are capable of providing.
Summary: Recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children will be allowed to retain more earned income before their welfare grant is reduced. The Department of Social and Health Services will design a statewide program for recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children which provides varying intensities of education, work, and work experience for recipients. The department will prepare a pilot project of electronic benefit transfer for food stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, and the Women, Infants, Children programs. The department will seek necessary federal approval to eliminate the 100-hour rule for recipients of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Employable Program. The department will determine the most appropriate living situation for teenage recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children. The department is authorized to provide grants to community action agencies and other nonprofit organizations to assist recipients of Aid to Families with Dependent Children. The department will exclude child support and income in determining food stamp eligibility. Aid to Families with Dependent Children benefits for certain 18 to 20 year old students are allowed. Some target group compliance with the JOBS program is made voluntary.
Votes on Final Passage:
House 98 0
Senate 38 9 (Senate amended)
House 94 0 (House concurred)
Effective: July 25, 1993
July 1, 1993 (Sections 3 - 5)
July 1, 1994 (Section 2)
Partial Veto Summary: The governor's partial veto removes the requirement that the Department of Social and Health Services provide benefits to students between the ages of 18 and 20 through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program. (See VETO MESSAGE)