Here is a summary of what happened to select legislation and budget appropriations affecting children in the area of economic well-being considered in the 2008 legislative session from the 2008 Legislative Wrap-Up:

Affordable Housing: $12.5 million in bonds was issued for the second year of funding from the $50 million bond passed by voters in November 2006 for the production of affordable housing.

Neighborhood Opportunities Program: The budget includes a restoration of $2.5 million in FY 2008 and FY 2009 for the Neighborhood Opportunities Program to address the housing and revitalization needs of deteriorating neighborhoods. The program was cut from an annual appropriation of $7.5 million in FY 2006 and FY 2007.

Support Services Program: The Support Services Program, Housing First, was incorporated into the Rhode Island Housing Resources Act of 1998 authorizing the Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission to administer the program. Housing First helps to prevent and end homelessness. The legislation was originally written and introduced as a means of increasing funding for Housing First, but it was amended to remove the requested increase in funding. Housing First was level funded at $300,000 for FY 2009.

Child Support: Legislation was enacted that allows a child support order to remain in effect after the youngest child is emancipated. In such cases, the child support wage withholding will be used to pay arrearages. The child support order will automatically terminate when the arrearages are paid. Legislation was also enacted that allows child support obligations owed (both arrears and future) to be collected against a parent’s estate upon his/her death.

Family Independence Program (FIP): The General Assembly replaced FIP in the FY 2009 budget with the "Rhode Island Works Program." This new program includes shorter time limits, stricter sanctions and new work requirements. Under the Rhode Island Works Program, families will be eligible for no more than 24 months of cash assistance within any 60 month period. The total lifetime limit was reduced from 60 months to 48 months. Parents who are employed when their case closes may be eligible to receive incentive payments for up to 12 months.

If a parent is unemployed or underemployed, an initial assessment of their physical capacity, skills, education, work experience, health, safety, etc. will be conducted. Most parents will be required to conduct a job search as a first employment activity. Participants who have limited literacy and work experience may be referred to a six-month intensive work readiness program. A parent with disabilities will be referred to the Office of Rehabilitative Services. The time period in which parents can be out of compliance with their work plan before the family’s benefit is terminated (i.e. sanctioned) was reduced from six months to three months. The new rules will affect new applicants enrolled as of July 1, 2008. Current cash assistance recipients have a 12-month grace period before the new rules apply to them.

Entitlement to Cash Assistance for Eligible Children: Children's entitlement to cash assistance was eliminated, (except for a child whose parent is receiving SSI or who is living with a grandparent or other relative caregiver). A lifetime limit on benefits for children was implemented. Children will lose cash assistance when a member of their household has reached the new lifetime limit of 48 months. Children will also be affected by the new "periodic" limit of 24 months out of any five year period. In addition, children living with parents who are "unqualified" immigrants will be ineligible for cash assistance once one child in the family has received 24 months of cash assistance within a 60 consecutive month period, with a lifetime limit of 48 months.

Legal Permanent Residents (LPR): Legal Permanent Residents with less than five years of legal resident status will no longer be eligible for cash assistance under the Rhode Island Works Program. After five years of legal resident status, LPR families may be eligible for assistance if they meet income and resource eligibility requirements.

Food Stamp Program: The General Assembly passed legislation that directs the RI Department of Human Services to seek additional federal dollars through the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program. The additional funds are to provide employment and training services to Food Stamp recipients. Legislation was passed by the General Assembly but vetoed by the Governor that would have limited the number of visits a food stamp applicant must make in order to receive benefits from two visits per year to one visit per year.

Bills Tracked in the 2008 Session of the Rhode Island General Assembly:

CHILD SUPPORT

House Bill No.7322
Introduced by Representatives: Naughton, Palumbo, Church, Coderre E
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
(allow the Family Court to order child support if the child has a severe physical or mental impairment, beyond the child’s emancipation event)

Action:
01/31/2008 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/18/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/18/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

House Bill No.7983
BY Jackson, Lewiss, Scott
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROBATE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE -- CLAIMS
(establish past and future child support obligations as a debt of the estate of a decedent due preferentially after the payment of taxes)

Action:
02/26/2008 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
03/18/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/18/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
04/24/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/24/2008 Committee recommends passage
05/06/2008 Placed on House Calendar
05/13/2008 House read and passed
05/13/2008 Referred to Senate Judiciary
06/05/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/05/2008 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
06/12/2008 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
06/17/2008 Senate passed in concurrence
06/27/2008 Transmitted to Governor

Senate Bill No.2026
Introduced by Senators: Bates, Blais, Breene, Cote, Walaska
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
Summary: allow the Family Court to order child support if the child has a severe physical or mental impairment, beyond the child’s emancipation event)

Action:
01/02/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
02/05/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
02/05/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
03/11/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/11/2008 Committee recommends passage
03/25/2008 Placed on Senate Calendar
03/27/2008 Senate read and passed
04/01/2008 Referred to House Judiciary

Senate Bill No.2373
(Human Services)
Introduced by: Senator Gibbs
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
(keep a child support order in full force and effect by wage withholding after the youngest child is emancipated to pay arrearage and automatically terminate said order when the arrearage is paid)

Action:
02/12/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/11/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/11/2008 Committee recommends for passage
05/01/2008 Placed on Senate Calendar
05/07/2008 Senate read and passed
05/08/2008 Referred to House Judiciary
05/27/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
05/27/2008 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
05/27/2008 Placed on House Calendar
05/29/2008 House passed in concurrence
06/18/2008 Transmitted to Governor
06/18/2008 Signed by Governor

Senate Bill No.2529
Introduced by Senators: Walaska, Bates
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CHILD ADVOCATE OFFICE
(eliminate the Child Advocate Office)

Action:
02/13/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/07/2008 Withdrawn at the request of Sponsor

FAMILY INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM

House Bill No.7021
Introduced by Representatives: Carter, Gallison, Gemma, Moffitt, Trillo
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ACT
(limit public assistance to twenty-four months in a continuous sixty month period)

Action:
01/02/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
04/30/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/30/2008 Committee postponed at request of sponsor

House Bill No.7303
Introduced by Representatives: Palumbo, Corvese
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ACT
(limit public assistance to twenty-four (24) months in a continuous sixty (60) month period)

Action:
01/30/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance

House Bill No.7791
Introduced by Representatives: Moffitt, Mumford, Story, Singleton, Loughlin
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
(require the department of human services to establish a community service requirement as a condition for receipt of public assistance benefits)

Action:
02/26/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
04/23/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/23/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

House Bill No.7846
Introduced by Representatives: Dennigan, Ferri, Handy, Silva
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ACT
(amend the poverty threshold for eligibility for child care assistance under the family independence act)

Action:
02/26/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
04/23/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/23/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

House Bill No.8113
Introduced by Representative Dennigan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ACT
(make substantial revisions to the employment standards and the assessment of a parent's educational and vocational abilities, in order to qualify for public assistance)

Action:
04/03/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance

Senate Bill No.2271
Introduced by Senators: Levesque C, Perry
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY INDEPENDENCE ACT
(allow a parent to receive childcare assistance if the parent works at paid employment or attends an education or training program provided that the parent is employed for at least twenty-five (25) hours per week)

Action:
02/07/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

FOOD STAMPS

House Resolution No.7454
Introduced by Representative: Segal
ENTITLED, JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $150,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Action:
02/13/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
05/13/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
05/13/2008 Committee recommeded measure to be held for further study

House Bill No. 7817 SUB A as amended
Introduced by Representatives: Handy, Fox, Silva, McCauley
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT
(limit the number of visits a food stamp applicant must make in order to receive benefits to one)

Action:
02/26/08 Introduced, referred to House H.E.W.
03/05/08 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/05/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
04/09/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/09/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
04/23/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/23/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
04/23/2008 Placed on House Calendar
05/14/2008 House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
05/27/2008 Referred to Senate Health and Human Services
06/04/2008 Scheduled for hearing
06/04/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
06/17/2008 Scheduled for consideration
06/17/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence
06/17/2008 Placed on Senate Calendar
06/19/2008 Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence
06/27/2008 Transmitted to Governor
07/02/2008 Vetoed by Governor

House Bill No.7556
Introduced by Representatives: Church, Fox, Handy, Silva, Slater
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FOOD STAMP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM
(direct the department of human services to seek additional federal funds through the food stamp employment and training program to provide employment and training services to food stamp recipients)

Action:
02/26/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
04/30/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/30/2008 Committee Heard
06/17/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/17/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
06/17/2008 Placed on House Calendar
06/19/2008 House passed Sub A
06/20/2008 Placed on Senate Calendar
06/20/2008 Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
06/27/2008 Transmitted to Governor

Senate Bill No.2923 
Introduced by Senators: Gallo, Paiva-Weed, Sosnowski, Pichardo, Gibbs
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FOOD STAMP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM
(would direct the department of human services to seek additional federal funds through the food stamp employment and training program to provide employment and training services to food stamp recipients)

Action:
04/03/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
05/20/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
05/20/2008 Committee recommends passage
05/27/2008 Placed on Senate Calendar
05/29/2008 Senate read and passed
06/03/2008 Referred to House Finance
06/17/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/17/2008 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
06/17/2008 Placed on House Calendar
06/19/2008 House passed in concurrence
06/30/2008 Transmitted to Governor

HOUSING

House Bill No.7918
Introduced by Representatives: Fox, Slater, Pacheco, Naughton, Kennedy
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HOUSING RESOURCES - NEIGHBORHOOD OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
(establish and fund the neighborhood opportunities program to address the housing and revitalization needs of the state's deteriorating neighborhoods)

Action:
02/26/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance

House Bill No.7687 SUB A
Introduced by Representatives: Slater, Diaz, Almeida, Williams, Dennigan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998
(give the RI Housing Resources Commission the power to administer the supportive services program which aids in the prevention of homelessness, and would appropriate $500,000 in 2009 to carry out this provision of this act)

Action:
02/26/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
05/01/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
05/01/2008 Committee recommeded measure be held for further study
06/20/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
06/20/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/21/2008 Placed on House Calendar
06/21/2008 House passed Sub A
06/21/2008 Placed on Senate Calendar
06/21/2008 Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
06/27/2008 Transmitted to Governor

House Bill No.7877
Introduced by Represenative Handy
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LOW INCOME ENERGY COST ASSISTANCE
(create an energy assistance program within the governor's energy assistance office with incentives for regular payments and conservation)

Action:
02/26/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
06/17/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/17/2008 Committee heard

Senate Bill No. 2219 SUB A as amended
Introduced by Senators: Perry, Miller, Pichardo, Moura, Sosnowski
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998
(This act would give the Rhode Island Housing Resources Commission the power to administer the supportive services program which aids in the prevention of homelessness)

Action:
02/06/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
05/27/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/03/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/03/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
06/12/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/12/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended
06/12/2008 Placed on Senate Calendar
06/17/2008 Senate passed Sub A as amended
06/18/2008 Referred to House Finance
06/20/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/20/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence
06/20/2008 Placed on House Calendar
06/21/2008 House passed Sub A as amended in concurrence
06/30/2008 Transmitted to Governor

Senate Bill No.2886
Introduce by Senators Pichardo, Tassoni, Perry, Raptakis
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HOUSING RESOURCES - NEIGHBORHOOD OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM

Action:
03/25/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

Senate Resolution No.2938
Introduced by Senator Goodwin
ENTITLED, JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $150,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
(would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $150,000 to the Department of Human Services [for outreach for the Food Stamp program])

Action:
04/09/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

MINIMUM WAGE

Senate Bill No. 2059 SUB A as amended
Introduced by Senators: Raptakis, DaPonte, Ciccone, Tassoni, Maselli
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES
(would adjust the minimum wage annually using the consumer price index)

Action:
01/10/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Labor
04/02/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/02/2008 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
05/28/2008 Scheduled for consideration
05/28/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
05/29/2008 Placed on Senate Calendar
06/10/2008 Senate passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
06/11/2008 Referred to House Labor

EITC

Senate Bill No.2182
Introduced by Senators: Metts, Pichardo, Perry, Issa, Moura
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX -- EARNED INCOME CREDIT
(would increase the refundable state earned income credit from fifteen percent 15% to 100%)

Action:
01/31/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

House Bill No.7686
Introduced by Representatives: Slater, Diaz, DeSimone, Almeida, Williams
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX
(reinstates refundable earned income tax credit)

Action:
02/26/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
04/24/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/24/2008 Committee Heard

SCHOOL BREAKFAST

House Bill No.7403
Introduced by Representatives: Dennigan, Ajello, Handy, Diaz
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
(establish a Universal Breakfast Program for all Rhode Island "severe need" public schools, as defined by the Federal School Lunch Program)

Action:
02/12/2008 Introduced, referred to House Finance
05/09/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
05/09/2008 Committee heard

Senate Bill No.2347
Introduced by Senators: Levesque C, Perry, Gallo, Sosnowski, Alves
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSAL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
(establish a Universal Breakfast Program for all Rhode Island school students regardless of family income)

Action:
02/07/2008 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance