SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2226

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Labor & Workforce Development, March 30, 1999

Title:  An act relating to eliminating eligibility standards retained from the aid to families with dependent children program under the temporary assistance for needy families program.

Brief Description:  Eliminating eligibility standards retained from the aid to dependent children program under the temporary assistance for needy families program.

Sponsors:  Representative Tokuda.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor & Workforce Development:  3/23/99, 3/30/99 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Fairley, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Hochstatter, Kline, Oke and Wojahn.

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786-7472)

Background:  Under former federal welfare law (AFDC), children were eligible for assistance if they were deprived of parental support through death, incapacity, continued absence, or unemployment of the parent.  A family was ineligible if its income exceeded 185 percent of the state's standard of need.  Families could generally not receive welfare if the parent was on strike.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The AFDC requirement of deprivation and standard of need are repealed.  A family that is otherwise qualified for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will not be denied benefits due to a parent being on strike.

Children between 18 and 21 years of age who have disabilities and are full-time students may receive TANF assistance.  The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is also authorized to grant eligibility exceptions to children between 18 and 21, on a discretionary basis, if DSHS determines that the exception will enable the child to complete his or her high school education, GED or vocational education.

Legal immigrant eligibility for state food assistance is clarified.  Reference to federal law is removed.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Legal immigrant eligibility for food assistance is clarified, and DSHS is authorized to grant eligibility for TANF to certain 18-21 year olds.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  DSHS needs to repeal obsolete sections in order to streamline, and would like to assist 18-21 year old disabled students.  Families are helped if children stay in school.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Tokuda, prime sponsor; Liz Dunbar, DSHS; Lonnie Johns-Brown, NOW.