H-1519.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1922
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Representatives Roland, Winsley, Brekke, Leonard, Rasmussen and Anderson.
Read first time February 14, 1991. Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.
AN ACT Relating to employment services for homeless persons; adding new sections to chapter 50.12 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds and declares that:
(a) Unemployment and underemployment are major factors contributing to homelessness;
(b) Half the homeless people in state-supported shelters are members of families with young children; and
(c) The lack of a permanent address, child care, transportation, and appropriate clothing are difficult obstacles for homeless people who, in pursuit of a better life, wish to acquire or reacquire gainful employment.
(2) The legislature declares that it is the policy of the state:
(a) To provide employment and training programs for employable homeless persons; and
(b) To coordinate these programs with available federal, state, and local housing, child care, and transportation services.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 50.12 RCW to read as follows:
The employment security department shall establish a program of coordinated employment services to homeless individuals. The program shall coordinate the provision of job skills training, vocational programs, child care services, transportation, and other services that could help improve a homeless individual's employability. In developing the program under this section, the employment security department shall work cooperatively with the departments of community development, social and health services, and veterans affairs and the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 50.12 RCW to read as follows:
By July 1, 1992, the employment security department shall provide homeless outreach in at least five job service centers. The outreach efforts shall include, but not be limited to, the designation of a liaison from each job service center to local state-supported homeless shelters. The liaison shall coordinate federal, state, and local resources in meeting the purposes of section 2 of this act and this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The employment security department shall report on the progress of the homeless employment efforts required under this act to the senate commerce and labor committee and the house of representatives commerce and labor committee by January 1, 1993.