2011 House Bill 4409 / Public Act 131

Close welfare benefit time limit loopholes

Introduced in the House

March 10, 2011

Introduced by Rep. Ken Horn (R-94)

To eliminate some of the loopholes from a supposed <A href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/2006-HB-6580">48 month lifetime cap</A> on the length of time a person can collect cash welfare benefits, and eliminate a 2011 sunset on imposing that cap. Among other things, this and House Bill 4410 would increase sanctions for violating certain welfare work or study requirements, no longer define 19 year old high school students as “children” eligible for welfare, require legal resident status be checked using the federal “e-verify” system in certain cases, require more frequent eligibility reviews, and more. The <A href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billanalysis/House/htm/2011-HLA-4409-1.htm">House</A> and <A href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billanalysis/Senate/htm/2011-SFA-4409-F.htm">Senate</A> Fiscal Agencies estimate the two-bill package would save the state around $60 million annually.

Referred to the Committee on Families, Children and Seniors

May 3, 2011

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

May 10, 2011

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-12)

To require the Department of Human Services to adopt a policy for providing exceptions to a 48 month welfare cap.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Thomas Stallworth (D-8)

To require Department of Human Services caseworkers to visit welfare recipients' homes before cash welfare benefits are granted.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Harvey Santana (D-10)

To exempt welfare recipients in counties with above-25 percent unemployment rates from the 48 month welfare cap.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Ken Horn (R-94)

To clarify references in the bill to other programs.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Rep. Dian Slavens (D-21)

To adopt a version of the bill that does not repeal a provision that "sunsets" the four-year welfare cap. In other words, the cap would no longer apply.

The substitute failed 48 to 62 (details)

May 12, 2011

Passed in the House 72 to 36 (details)

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To give the bill immediate effect.

The motion failed 62 to 46 (details)

Received in the Senate

May 17, 2011

Referred to the Committee on Families, Seniors, and Human Services

July 13, 2011

Amendment offered by Sen. Vincent Gregory (D-14)

To not count time toward a person's welfare cap if he or she lives in a county where the unemployment rate exceeds the state average by 25 percent or more.

The amendment failed 13 to 23 (details)

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that expands the exceptions to the 48-month lifetime welfare cap and other requirements. In particular, these would not apply to a person caring for a disabled child or spouse.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 24 to 12 (details)

To eliminate some of the loopholes from a supposed <A href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/2006-HB-6580">48 month lifetime cap</A> on the length of time a person can collect cash welfare benefits, and eliminate a 2011 sunset on imposing that cap. Among other things, this and House Bill 4410 would increase sanctions for violating certain welfare work or study requirements, no longer define 19 year old high school students as “children” eligible for welfare, require legal resident status be checked using the federal “e-verify” system in certain cases, require more frequent eligibility reviews, and more. The <A href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billanalysis/House/htm/2011-HLA-4409-1.htm">House</A> and <A href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billanalysis/Senate/htm/2011-SFA-4409-F.htm">Senate</A> Fiscal Agencies estimate the two-bill package would save the state around $60 million annually.

Motion by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R-30)

To allow the bill to go into effect on Oct. 1, 2011, rather than in the spring of 2012. A two-thirds majority is required for this "immediate effect" motion, and two Republicans were absent from this party-line vote.

The motion failed by voice vote

Aug. 24, 2011

Motion

To give the bill immediate effect.

The motion passed 26 to 12 (details)

Received in the House

Aug. 24, 2011

Passed in the House 73 to 34 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

Sept. 6, 2011