(1) Any person who by
means of a willfully false statement, or representation, or
impersonation, or a willful failure to reveal any material fact,
condition, or circumstance affecting eligibility or need for
assistance, including medical care, surplus commodities, and food
stamps or food stamp benefits transferred electronically, as
required by law, or a willful failure to promptly notify the
county office in writing as required by law or any change in
status in respect to resources, or income, or need, or family
composition, money contribution and other support, from whatever
source derived, including unemployment insurance, or any other
change in circumstances affecting the person's eligibility or
need for assistance, or other fraudulent device, obtains, or
attempts to obtain, or aids or abets any person to obtain any
public assistance to which the person is not entitled or greater
public assistance than that to which he or she is justly entitled
is guilty of theft in the first degree under RCW 9A.56.030 and
upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in a
state correctional facility for not more than fifteen years.
(2) Any person who by means of a willfully false statement
or representation or by impersonation or other fraudulent device
aids or abets in buying, selling, or in any other way disposing
of the real property of a recipient of public assistance without
the consent of the secretary is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and
upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment for not
more than one year in the county jail or a fine of not to exceed
one thousand dollars or by both.
[2003 c 53 § 368; 1998 c 79 § 16; 1997 c 58 § 303; 1992 c 7 § 59; 1979 c 141 § 329; 1965 ex.s. c 34 § 1.]
NOTES:
Intent -- Effective date -- 2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Short title -- Part headings, captions, table of contents not law -- Exemptions and waivers from federal law -- Conflict with federal requirements -- Severability -- 1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through 74.08A.904.