News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 17, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke signs historic welfare reform bill; urges new partnerships with businesses and non-profits

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke tonight signed the key components of a landmark WorkFirst welfare reform bill. The plan mandates a five-year lifetime limit on welfare benefits and requires people who are capable of working to do so as a condition of receiving assistance.

"We have achieved a foundation for a welfare system that reflects the common-sense, mainstream values of hard work, hope and opportunity for all," said Gov. Locke. "This law creates an innovative work-based program that promises to reduce poverty, and to help people get jobs. At the same time, it reflects the desire of the people of the state to protect children and other vulnerable residents from destitution."

The Governor thanked Sen. Alex Deccio (R - Yakima) and Rep. Suzette Cooke (R - Kent) for the long hours and collaboration they've dedicated to welfare reform.

Locke also vetoed sections of the bill which would have:

- been inconsistent with a measure just approved which provides assistance to legal immigrants (SB 6098) or contradicted other sections of the bill;

- further disadvantage displaced timber workers;
prohibit renewing collective bargaining agreements with DSHS employees;

- end the state's Consolidated Emergency Assistance Program that serves needy families on a one-time basis for food or shelter in order to keep them off welfare;

- make victims of domestic violence and rape victims supply paternity information in order to receive assistance.

Locke vetoed certain provisions that would have made child care less affordable. He directed the Department of Social and Health Services to provide a program that would make child care affordable for those transitioning from welfare to work.

"States that have successfully trimmed welfare rolls have invested in child care," said Locke. "We all want welfare reform to succeed and an affordable child care program is a key component of the new WorkFirst program."

The governor also committed to a study and resolution of a provision that would have averaged the annual income of seasonal workers when calculating eligibility for welfare benefits. Because there is no definition of seasonal workers in state law, the state would be required to average income for applicants from a broad range of industries including construction, aircraft part manufacturing, tourism industries, retail, small businesses and others.

The governor is committed to working with legislators to craft a bill that will protect the state's taxpayers from being in the position of supporting seasonal workers who have simply failed to plan and budget responsibly. But he wants to do so carefully, in a way that minimizes unintended consequences that could hurt families who, for reasons beyond their control, find themselves in a state of economic emergency.

The governor also directed state agencies to make communications with welfare recipients easier to read and comprehend but vetoed the section calling for all communication to be written at the eighth grade level. Locke said that provision could draw lawsuits.

State agencies will immediately begin working together to create the new system and focus on job placement and other WorkFirst activities.

"From the beginning, we have agreed on the overwhelming majority of provisions in this 216-page bill," said Locke. "It is a dramatic step forward and created a system in which we can all be proud."



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