HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5227

BYSenators Wojahn, Kiskaddon, Sellar, Anderson and Stratton; by request of Department of Social and Health Services

Consolidating statutes regarding revenue recovery for social and health services.

House Committe on Human Services

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Brekke, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Leonard, Moyer, Padden, H. Sommers, Sutherland, Wang and Winsley.

House Staff:John B. Welsh, Jr.  (786-7133)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 7, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Currently, the revenue collection statutes of programs administered by the Department of Social and Health Services, through its Office of Financial Recovery, are scattered among the various program titles of the code.  There is no single chapter in the code of revenue recovery authority.

SUMMARY:

A new chapter is created of revenue collection authority for the recovery of revenue by the Department of Social and Health Services, to be codified under Chapter 43.20B RCW.  All current revenue collection laws are consolidated into the new chapter with the exception of nursing home settlements and the child support enforcement programs.  Existing sections are conformed or transferred intact into the new chapter, or are purged of revenue collection provisions which are reestablished as new sections of the chapter.  New definitions are specified in the new chapter.  Internal references are changed and obsolete statutes are repealed in order to conform with this purpose.  Liability existing under current law is not effected, modified or terminated by the recodification.

Fiscal Note:      No Impact.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Pat Quesnel, Department of Social and Health Services.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Current statutory authority for revenue recovery is scattered throughout many titles of the code. This creates administrative burdens and confusion within the department, as well as for persons who must deal with the agency.  A central point of reference for the Department of Social and Health Services financial recovery law would be very helpful.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.