2005 House Bill 5442 / Public Act 324

Allow welfare recipients to earn more

Introduced in the House

Nov. 22, 2005

Introduced by Rep. Richard Ball (R-85)

To increase the the earned income “disregard” for welfare recipients who are employed at least 20 hours per week. The “disregard” allows the individual to earn $200 plus 20 percent of its remaining earned income without having welfare benefits reduced. The bill would increase the latter amount to 50 percent.

Referred to the Committee on Families and Childrens Services

Nov. 30, 2005

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Dec. 1, 2005

Substitute offered

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

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 101 to 6 (details)

Received in the Senate

Dec. 6, 2005

Referred to the Committee on Families and Human Services

Dec. 8, 2005

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not increase the earning "disregard" to 50 percent, but instead requires a study of how much this would cost.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 35 to 0 (details)

To require a study of how much it would cost to increase the the earned income “disregard” for welfare recipients who are employed at least 20 hours per week. The “disregard” allows the individual to earn $200 plus 20 percent of its remaining earned income without having welfare benefits reduced, and the study would investigate increasing this to 50 percent.

Received in the House

Dec. 8, 2005

Dec. 13, 2005

Substitute offered by Rep. Jerry Kooiman (R-75)

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

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 100 to 8 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, which does not increase the earning "disregard" to 50 percent, but instead requires a study of how much it would cost to do this. The House made minor changes to this.

Received in the Senate

Dec. 13, 2005

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

Passed in the Senate 37 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Dec. 22, 2005