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Some welfare reforms already being implemented

February 03, 1997
By: LYNDA GLEDHILL
State Capital Bureau
A sidebar to the main story on welfare reform implementation.

JEFFERSON CITY - As welfare reform bills begin to move through the legislative process, other aspects of the new federal law are already being discussed and implemented.

Some food stamp recipients will be the first to feel the effects. As soon as March 1, adults between the ages of 18-50 who do not have dependents may be removed from the food stamp program. Recipients are allowed to remain on the food stamp rolls only if they participate in a work-related activity for a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Missouri is seeking waivers from this provision for 23 counties and St. Louis and St. Joseph cities, said Tom Jones, deputy director of the Missouri Family Services Division. Boone County is not included under the waiver.

The waivers can be obtained for areas where either the unemployment rate is greater than 10 percent or where there is a labor surplus. If the waivers are approved, the affected areas will be exempt from the changes in the food stamp requirements.

There are other changes proposed in the food stamp program that will be examined over the next year. Jones said one of these is requiring cooperation with the Child Support Enforcement Division before allowing recipients to collect food stamps.

Enforcement of child support payment is another aspect of welfare reform being implemented.

A pending House bill would implement a federal mandate that requires states to withhold, suspend or restrict driver's, professional, occupational and recreational licenses for people who have more than $1,000 or three months of overdue support.

"We don't have to like this," said Rep. Pat Dougherty, D-St. Louis. "It is a federal mandate. It is not an issue of like or dislike."

The federal law also allows the Child Support Enforcement Division to require individuals to submit to genetic testing, requires Social Security numbers to be required on all applications for professional, occupational or recreational licenses, and requires recipients of public assistance to aid in establishing paternity or obtaining child support.