PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 12-05-087.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-310-0200 WorkFirst -- Activities.
Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Lookout Room, 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 May 22, 2012, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not sooner than May 23, 2012.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, delivery 1115 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on May 22, 2012.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by May 8, 2012, 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 amending WAC 388-310-0200 to restore WorkFirst (WF) participation requirements beginning July 1, 2012, for adults suspended from participation by ESSB 5921. Adults currently taking the WF suspension will be reengaged in WF participation in a priority order, beginning with those recipients closest to reaching the TANF time limit.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed amendment is necessary to comply with ESSB 5921, section 2, chapter 42, Laws of 2011 1st sp. sess.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.120.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120, and 74.08A.260.
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: Leslie Kozak, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, (360) 725-4589.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rules do not have an economic impact on small businesses.
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."
April 12, 2012
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
4355.1(a) You are required to participate in the WorkFirst activities in your individual responsibility plan, and become what is called a "mandatory participant," if you:
(i) Are receiving TANF or SFA cash assistance because you are pregnant or the parent or adult in the home; and
(ii) 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).
(c) If you are a mandatory participant who was suspended from WorkFirst participation under RCW 74.08A.260 (8)(a), the department will restore your participation requirements between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013 in a priority order, beginning with participants who are closest to reaching their TANF time limit.
(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 in the activities in your individual responsibility plan, and may 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 adds 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 may be required to 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.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW. 10-22-062, § 388-310-0200, filed 10/29/10, effective 12/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.340. 09-15-084, § 388-310-0200, filed 7/14/09, effective 8/14/09. 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.]