PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 09-07-095.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is amending WAC 388-310-0200 WorkFirst -- Activities.
Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Auditorium, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html
or by calling (360) 664-6094), on June 9, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than June 10, 2009.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on June 9, 2009.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by May 26, 2009, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at johnsjl4@dshs.wa.gov.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The department is proposing to eliminate WorkFirst participation requirements for dependent minors.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: These changes are being proposed to align WorkFirst policy with mandatory federal participation requirements.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.340.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.340.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Allen D. Shanafelt, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, (360) 725-4631.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses. The proposed rule aligns WorkFirst policy with mandatory federal participation requirements.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These amendments are exempt as allowed under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in-part, "[t]his section does not apply to....rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents." The proposed rule aligns WorkFirst policy with mandatory federal participation requirements.
April 29, 2009
Stephanie E. Schiller
Rules Coordinator
4093.1(a) You are required to participate in WorkFirst activities, and become what is called a "mandatory participant," if you:
(i) ((Receive)) Are receiving TANF or SFA cash assistance
because you are pregnant or the parent or adult in the home;
and
(ii) ((Are a custodial parent or age sixteen or older;
and
(iii))) Are not exempt. For exemptions see WAC 388-310-0300 and 388-310-0350.
(b) Participation is voluntary for all other WorkFirst participants (those who no longer receive or have never received TANF or SFA cash assistance).
(2) What activities do I participate in when I enter the WorkFirst program?
When you enter the WorkFirst program, you will participate in one or more of the following activities (which are described in more detail in other sections of this chapter):
(a) Paid employment (see WAC 388-310-0400 (2)(a) and 388-310-1500);
(b) Self employment (see WAC 388-310-1700);
(c) Job search (see WAC 388-310-0600);
(d) Community jobs (see WAC 388-310-1300)
(e) Work experience (see WAC 388-310-1100);
(f) On-the-job training (see WAC 388-310-1200);
(g) Vocational educational training (see WAC 388-310-1000);
(h) Basic education activities (see WAC 388-310-0900);
(i) Job skills training (see WAC 388-310-1050);
(j) Community service (see WAC 388-310-1400);
(k) Activities provided by tribal governments for tribal members and other American Indians (see WAC 388-310-1400(1) and 388-310-1900);
(l) Other activities identified by your case manager on your individual responsibility plan that will help you with situations such as drug and/or alcohol abuse, homelessness, or mental health issues; and/or
(m) Activities identified by your case manager on your individual responsibility plan to help you cope with family violence as defined in WAC 388-61-001; and/or
(n) Up to ten hours of financial literacy activities to help you become self-sufficient and financially stable.
(3) If I am a mandatory participant, how much time must I spend doing WorkFirst activities?
If you are a mandatory participant, you will be required to participate full time, working, looking for work or preparing for work. You might be required to participate in more than one part-time activity at the same time that add up to full time participation. You will have an individual responsibility plan (described in WAC 388-310-0500) that includes the specific activities and requirements of your participation.
(4) What activities do I participate in after I get a job?
You will participate in other activities, such as job search or training once you are working twenty hours or more a week in a paid unsubsidized job, to bring your participation up to full time.
You may also engage in activities if you are working full time and want to get a better job.
Post employment services (described in WAC 388-310-1800) include:
(a) Activities that help you keep a job (called an "employment retention" service); and/or
(b) Activities that help you get a better job or better wages (called a "wage and skill progression" service).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.08.090, 74.08A.340, and 2006 c 107. 06-24-023, § 388-310-0200, filed 11/29/06, effective 12/30/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08A.010(4), 74.08A.340, 74.08.090, 74.04.050. 02-15-067, § 388-310-0200, filed 7/11/02, effective 8/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08A.340(2), 45 C.F.R. 260.31, RCW 74.08.090, and chapter 74.04 RCW. 00-16-055, § 388-310-0200, filed 7/26/00, effective 8/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050. 00-06-062, § 388-310-0200, filed 3/1/00, effective 3/1/00; 99-08-051, § 388-310-0200, filed 4/1/99, effective 5/2/99; 97-20-129, § 388-310-0200, filed 10/1/97, effective 11/1/97.]