HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1691

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                 Children & Family Services

Title:  An act relating to job retention and wage progression for WorkFirst participants.

Brief Description:  Considering job progression and wage retention for former and current recipients of temporary assistance for needy families.

Sponsors:  Representatives Tokuda, Boldt, Kagi and Santos.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Children & Family Services:  2/10/99, 2/25/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$The Department of Social and Health Services will include provisions related to job retention services and wage progression services to current and former recipients of TANF in it's regional plans.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives D. Sommers, Republican Co-Chair; Tokuda, Democratic Co-Chair; Boldt, Republican Vice Chair; Kagi, Democratic Vice Chair; Campbell; Dickerson; Eickmeyer; Kastama and Pflug.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Carrell.

Staff:  David Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

The temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) program moves recipients quickly into paid employment.  Some recipients are placed in jobs that may be minimum wage or low wage.  If the former recipient has difficulty retaining a job or progressing to higher paid employment, they may lose their job and reapply for TANF.  The Department of Social and Health Services is required to prepare regional service plans for the operation of the TANF program.

Summary of Bill:

The department's regional plans will include provisions related to job retention services and wage progression services to current and former recipients of TANF.  The department will develop measurable wage goals for TANF recipients who go to work. The department will also establish outcome measures related to wage progression history of former TANF recipients.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The WorkFirst program should focus on job retention and wage progression of former recipients of temporary assistance for needy families.  It will be difficult to include measurable performance goals and mechanisms for tracking former recipients in regional WorkFirst plans.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  (In support)  Jerri Jacobs, Autism Society of Washington; and Danielle Welliever, Lutheran Public Policy Office.

(In support with concerns)  Russ Lidman, Employment Securities Department.