Batt Signs Welfare Reform Bill

Gov. Phil Batt has signed the second piece of legislation implementing the 44-point welfare reform package a special task force put together last year.

The bill signed by the governor late Friday authorizes the Department of Health and Welfare to issue the regulations that will make significant changes in the welfare system.

Among the package’s key components are a two-year lifetime limit on financial assistance and a three-year limit on child and health care.

Batt says he hopes the reforms will reduce the amount of cash the state spends on welfare but more importantly he believes the changes will transform welfare from a way of life to a safety net that helps people become productive.