H-1295.1                  _______________________________________________

                                                      HOUSE BILL 1777

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Karahalios, Cooke, Leonard, Edmondson, Eide, Wolfe, Jones, Jacobsen, Brough, Quall, Mastin, Roland and Lemmon

Read first time 02/08/93.  Referred to Committee on Human Services.

Attempting to ensure that teen parents receiving public benefits complete high school and gain economic independence.

          AN ACT Relating to teenage public assistance recipients; adding a new section to chapter 74.12 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The legislature finds that the personal and societal costs of teenage childbearing are substantial.  Teen parents are less likely to finish high school and more likely to depend upon public assistance than women who delay childbearing until adulthood.

          (2) The legislature intends that an effort be made to ensure that each teenage parent who is a public assistance recipient live in a setting that increases the likelihood that the teen parent will complete high school and achieve economic independence.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 74.12 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) As part of the orientation and assessment conducted pursuant to RCW 74.25.020, the department shall determine the most appropriate living situation for each recipient of aid to families with dependent children who is receiving those benefits as a head of household and is under age eighteen.  Appropriate living situations may include, but are not limited to:

          (a) The parent's home;

          (b) The home of a relative;

          (c) A group living situation with adult supervision and guidance;

          (d) Living independently; and

          (e) Payment of the recipient's grant to another as provided in RCW 74.12.250.

          (2) In conducting the assessment, the department shall consider all relevant factors, including but not limited to:

          (a) Whether the recipient is enrolled in and attending school;

          (b) Whether the recipient is employed;

          (c) The situation in the home of the recipient's parents, including but not limited to, whether there is substance abuse or domestic violence in the home and the adequacy of the dwelling; and

          (d) Whether there is a history of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse of the recipient by a person living in or frequenting the recipient's parents' home.

          (3) If, as a result of the assessment, the department becomes aware of a recipient's need for other services that will help the recipient complete high school or achieve economic independence, the department shall make every effort to link the recipient with the services.

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