H-1700              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1199

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Brekke, Valle, Tanner and Wineberry

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Social & Health Services.

AN ACT Relating to establishment of a pilot project for single mothers receiving public assistance; adding new sections to chapter 74.12 RCW; creating a new section; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that Washington's greatest resource is its people and that people who do not have opportunity and skills early in life often have difficulty in attaining personal and social independence.  Further, that the group at greatest risk of becoming dependent upon long-term state social and financial assistance is composed of single mothers under the age of twenty-one who are receiving aid to families with dependent children.  To reduce this risk, the legislature has created the pilot project established under section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The department of social and health services, in collaboration with the center for social welfare research of the University of Washington, shall implement a pilot project for single mothers with children under the age of six years old as follows:

          (1) Participation shall be voluntary; and

          (2) The specific goals of the project shall be to:

          (a) Increase maternal skills;

          (b) Reduce the reliance on social services that are designed to address troubled families;

          (c) Insure social educational development;

          (d) Reduce family conflict; and

          (e) Enhance career development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The department of social and health services and the center for social welfare research shall submit to the house of representatives' social and health services committee and the senate human services and corrections committee, no later than July 1, 1985, a research design for this pilot project, including sample sizes and specific methodologies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The sum of .......... dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the department of social and health services for the purposes of section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Sections 1 and 2 of this act are each added to chapter 74.12 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.