Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Children & Family Services Committee

HB 1784

Brief Description:  Providing an exemption from time limits for temporary assistance for needy families.

Sponsors:  Representatives Tokuda, Kagi, Kenney, Edmonds, Santos, Darneille, McIntire and Edwards.

Brief Summary of Bill

$The bill creates the safety net services program for a minor child in a family with an adult who has received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for 60 months.

Hearing Date:  2/15/01

Staff:  Deborah Frazier (786‑7152).

Background: 

Washington=s welfare reform created a 60 month lifetime limit for any family receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).   The state also opted to permit the extension of TANF past the time limit for up to 20 percent of the TANF caseload for reasons of hardship or family violence.

The first application of time limits will occur in August, 2002.  According to recent studies by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee (JLARC) and the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP), if current caseload trends continue, approximately 7,000 to 8,000 cases will reach the time limit between August 2002 and July 2003.   This group of cases represents approximately 13 percent of the anticipated caseload.

Summary of Bill: 

The bill creates the safety net services program for a minor child in a family with an adult who has received TANF for 60 months.  TANF benefits would continue for the child only, and would be funded with state maintenance of effort dollars.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 6, 2001.

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