FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2686

                         C 218 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Updating definitions of income and resources.

Sponsors:  Representatives Tokuda and D. Sommers; by request of Department of Social and Health Services.

House Committee on Children & Family Services

Senate Committee on Labor & Workforce Development

Background:

Federal regulation of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program permits states to set income and resource definitions for cash assistance.  Under state law, and the federally approved Medicaid state plan, income and resource definitions for cash assistance are also applicable for medical assistance.  The federal Food Stamps Program specifies certain definitions for income and resources.  Washington income and resource definitions for TANF, medical assistance, and food stamps are inconsistent.

People leaving the TANF program are usually eligible to continue to receive medical assistance.  However, for approximately 350 cases per year, assets exceed the current resource limit permissible under state law.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) may define resources to be considered in determining eligibility for cash, medical, and food assistance.  The income definition is changed to exclude in-kind income as countable income for cash and medical assistance, consistent with federal food assistance regulations.  In determining continuing eligibility for medical assistance for persons no longer receiving cash assistance, the person's resources may no longer be considered.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate460(Senate amended)

House980(House concurred)

Effective:June 8, 2000