H-3748.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2848

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives L. Johnson and Cothern

Read first time 01/26/94.  Referred to Committee on Human Services.

Encouraging adoption of hard to place children by recipients of aid to families with dependent children.

    AN ACT Relating to recipients of public assistance; amending RCW 74.08.560; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the state should encourage, within the limit of available funds, the adoption of hard to place children to make it possible for children living in, or likely to be placed in, foster homes or institutions to benefit from the stability and security of permanent homes in which the children can receive continuous parental care, guidance, protection, and love and to reduce the number of children who must be placed or remain in foster homes or institutions until they become adults.  The legislature further finds that many recipients of aid to families with dependent children may have an interest in adopting these children and providing them with a loving home.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The department of social and health services shall screen recipients of aid to families with dependent children to determine if any current recipient is interested in adopting a child with a developmental disability or a child who is hard to place and is currently living in foster care, group care, or in an institution.  The department of social and health services shall facilitate such adoptions if it is in the best interests of the child and the prospective adoptive parent.

    Sec. 3.  RCW 74.08.560 and 1983 c 3 s 190 are each amended to read as follows:

    In developing the program set forth in RCW 74.08.550, the department shall, to the extent possible, and consistent with federal law, enlist the services of persons receiving grants under the provisions of chapter 74.08 RCW and chapter 74.12 RCW to carry out the services enumerated under RCW 74.08.541.  To this end, the department shall establish appropriate rules and regulations designed to determine eligibility for employment under this section, as well as regulations designed to notify persons receiving such grants of eligibility for such employment.  The department shall further establish a system of compensation to persons employed under the provisions of this section which provides that any grants they receive under chapter 74.08 RCW or chapter 74.12 RCW shall be diminished by such percentage of the compensation received under this section as the department shall establish by rules and regulations.  The department shall develop incentives for persons receiving grants under chapter 74.08 or 74.12 RCW to encourage their participation.  The department shall also negotiate target levels of participation by recipients of grants under chapter 74.08 or 74.12 RCW with chore service providers when the providers' contract is renegotiated by the department.

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