HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1293

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to limiting public assistance payments.

Brief Description:  Limiting public assistance payments for persons who have not resided in Washington for the preceding twelve continuous months.

Sponsors:  Representatives Boldt, Thompson, Dunn, Mielke and L. Thomas.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  1/31/97, 2/7/97 [DP];

Appropriations:  2/19/97, 2/27/97 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Cooke, Chairman; Boldt, Vice Chairman; Bush, Vice Chairman; Kastama, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Ballasiotes; Carrell and McDonald.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Tokuda, Ranking Minority Member; Dickerson; Gombosky and Wolfe.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:  Federal law allows states to provide a lower grant under the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program to individuals who move into Washington if the state they move from has a lower grant than Washington=s.

Summary of Bill:  Recipients of TANF who have lived in Washington for less than 12 continuous months prior to receiving assistance will receive a monthly grant at the level of the recipients= state of prior residence.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 27, 1997.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 22 members:  Representatives Huff, Chairman; Alexander, Vice Chairman; Clements, Vice Chairman; Wensman, Vice Chairman; H. Sommers, Ranking Minority Member; Doumit, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Benson; Carlson; Cooke; Crouse; Dyer; Grant; Kessler; Lambert; Linville; Mastin; McMorris; Parlette; D. Schmidt; Sehlin; Sheahan and Talcott.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Gombosky, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; Cody; Keiser; Kenney; Poulsen; Regala and Tokuda.

Staff:  Beth Redfield (786-7130).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Children & Family Services:  The residency duration requirement is changed.  The reduced benefit level applies only if the person has lived in Washington for fewer than 12 of the 18 months preceding application for benefits, and the benefit will be reduced only for the first 12 months after a person moves to Washington.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Especially in border areas of the state, Washington=s higher benefit level attracts residents from neighboring states.

Testimony Against:  Washington is not a magnet state.  Migration is due to the economy, not the welfare benefit level.  It is unfair to make a family pay Tacoma rent on the Idaho grant level.  There are constitutional problems with the bill.

Testified:  Representative Marc Boldt, prime sponsor; George LeClair, Children=s Alliance; and Elizabeth Schott, Columbia Legal Services.