Batt Signs First Welfare Reform Bill

Gov. Phil Batt on Thursday signed the first of eight welfare reform bills into law.

The measure allows the state to pay for worker’s compensation insurance for welfare recipients receiving work experience or on-thejob training. It’s key to efforts to bring welfare recipients into the working world.

“This bill has a price tag, but I strongly believe that we will save in the long run by getting Idahoans trained, back into the work force and out of the costly welfare system,” Batt said.

The other seven bills are moving through the Legislature with little opposition. One, which would boot public officials out of office if they refuse to pay child support or comply with visitation orders, passed the Senate Thursday.

The welfare reform package is designed to convert Idaho’s welfare system into a temporary program that pushes recipients to become self-sufficient. It makes grandparents responsible for their minor children’s babies; requires all welfare recipients to work or learn basic job skills; provides child care and medical benefits for recipients while they work; and steps up child support enforcement.

The package also calls for a 24-month lifetime limit on cash payments, including payments received in other states.

, DataTimes