AN ACT Relating to studies of public assistance recipients; adding a new chapter to Title 74 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares that:

(1) The single-parent aid to families with dependent children (AFDC-R) caseload has risen by forty-eight percent between 1979 and 1986, while the state's population grew only ten percent;

(2) The two-parent aid to families with dependent children (AFDC-E) caseload has risen by seventy percent between 1979 and 1986;

(3) The public assistance caseloads have continued to rise despite a substantial drop in the state's unemployment rate;

(4) The rise in public assistance caseloads is placing an ever-growing burden on the state's general fund; and

(5) Information on the work, training, and educational histories, the length of and number of stays on public assistance and the reasons for dependency on public assistance is inadequate for analyzing the rise in public assistance caseloads.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. It is the intent of this chapter to direct the department of social and health services and the employment security department to develop information systems and research projects to analyze on a continuing basis the factors contributing to the increases in public assistance caseloads. Special attention should be given to the work, training, and educational backgrounds of past and present recipients as well as their reasons for dependency on public assistance.

The legislature believes that a better understanding of the dynamics of the caseload growth will be of great value in developing new approaches to assisting recipients in their efforts to find meaningful employment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The department of social and health services shall conduct a study of public assistance recipients who are enrolled on the regular AFDC programs during the period July 1, 1987, and June 30, 1988.

The sample groups to be studied are those recipients who are on assistance as of July 1, 1987, as well as those recipients who enter and exit the programs during the period July 1, 1987, and June 30, 1988.

The employment security department shall provide employment and wage information on the recipients selected for this study. This study of AFDC recipients is directed toward learning about the dynamics of the caseloads and shall include but not be limited to assessments of the following on the receipt of public assistance:

(1) Demographic characteristics;

(2) Employment, training, and educational histories;

(3) Number and length of prior stays;

(4) Reasons for entry in or exit from the programs; and

(5) Effects of legislative and administrative changes.

The results of this study shall be reported to the legislature and the governor by January 1, 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The department of social and health services shall contract with the Washington state institute for public policy for a study over time of individual public assistance recipients and of individuals at risk of becoming eligible for or enrolling on public assistance. The sample size shall be selected in such a manner and be of sufficient size to permit an accurate assessment of the impact of the changes in the economy or of public programs on dependency, work, or other relevant behaviors of the sample population.

The department of social and health services shall provide public assistance and other department of social and health services program participation data on the samples throughout the life of the study. The employment security department shall provide employment and wage data on the sample population throughout the life of the study.

Interviews of the sample population shall begin no later than July 1, 1988. This study shall include but not be limited to assessments of the impact of the following on receipt of public assistance:

(1) Demographic characteristics;

(2) Employment, education, and training histories;

(3) Number and length of prior assistance spells;

(4) Characteristics of the local economy; and

(5) Characteristics of the assistance program.

Annual reports on the results of this study shall be made to the legislature and the governor prior to the start of each legislative session.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The department of social and health services shall subject the research projects described in this chapter to on-going and periodic review in order to ensure soundness of methodological design and procedures, completeness in implementation, and accuracy of results. The Washington state institute for public policy shall assemble panels to review the research projects described in sections 3 and 4 of this act. The panels shall include, but not be limited to, members from the state's institutions of higher education and legislative staff. The institute shall select the chairs for the panels. Members of the panels shall receive reimbursement for their travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

The review panels shall submit a written analysis for each of the final reports on the studies to the legislature and the governor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 2 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 74 RCW.