HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2225

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to eligibility standards for children under temporary assistance for needy families.

Brief Description:  Changing eligibility for children under the temporary assistance for needy children program.

Sponsors:  Representatives Tokuda, Rockefeller, Kessler, Ogden and Ruderman.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  3/1/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Students between the ages of 18 and 21 will be able to continue receiving a temporary assistance for needy families grant if they are enrolled in school and progressing towards graduation.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives D. Sommers, Republican Co-Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co-Chair; Boldt, Republican Vice Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Campbell; Carrell; Dickerson; Eickmeyer; Kastama and Pflug.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

Children are eligible to receive an assistance grant if they are over age 18 and are attending high school or a vocational equivalent full-time, and are expected to graduate before their nineteenth birthday.

Summary of Bill:

Children are eligible to continue receiving assistance between the ages of 18 and 21 if they are full-time students and are either receiving special education services, or the Department of Social and Health Services determines they will be able to complete their education and increase their potential to achieve self-sufficiency.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  See fiscal note for House Bill 1812, which is available.

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

Testimony For:  Students between the ages of 18 and 21 should be able to continue receiving assistance as long as they are in school and progressing toward graduation.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support)  Eric Paige, Washington State Catholic Conference;  Liz Dunbar, Department of Social and Health Services;  and Danielle Welliever, Lutheran Public Policy Office.