Recent Trends in Public Welfare Legislation

Abstract

AMID all the confusing detail of the great mass of federal and state bills introduced on welfare subjects in 19391 and the much smaller output of statutes enacted, a few trends are clearly discernible. Certain aspects of the social security program and state administration appear more stabilized, whereas other aspects of the general relief and work relief programs seem as far removed from permanent planning as ever. The interrelationship between the welfare programs of the federal and state governments is clearer, with federal policies and federal statutes or the lack thereof reflected in state legislation. Consistent state planning for general relief has been complicated and made almost impossible by changing federal policies. As a result, general relief these last few years contrasts sadly with the more orderly development of public assistance programs. With forty-four state legislatures and the Congress of the United States meeting in regular session, 1939 is known as a legislative year in contrast to the even-numbered years when comparatively few legislatures are in regular session. The election campaigns of last fall and the constitutional amendments voted on in November clearly indicated that welfare problems would claim much of the attention of the legislatures when they convened. By July 1, 1939, with the majority of the legislatures adjourned, over six hundred state welfare statutes had been enacted, covering a wide range of subjects, such as public assistance, child welfare, state and county public welfare organization, and unemployment compensation. 2 The federal social security program has affected state legislation to a large extent during the last four years. In 1935 the state legislatures then in session attempted to anticipate the requirements of