H-3827.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2476
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Representatives Boldt, Mulliken, Stevens, Beeksma, Cooke and Goldsmith
Read first time 01/11/96. Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.
AN ACT Relating to requiring a determination of paternity for receiving certain benefits; amending RCW 74.12.035; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 74.12.035 and 1985 c 335 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) A family or assistance unit is not eligible for aid for any month if for that month the total income of the family or assistance unit, without application of income disregards, exceeds one hundred eighty-five percent of the state standard of need for a family of the same composition: PROVIDED, That for the purposes of determining the total income of the family or assistance unit, the earned income of a dependent child who is a full-time student for whom aid to families with dependent children is being provided shall be disregarded for six months per calendar year.
(2) Participation in a strike does not constitute good cause to leave or to refuse to seek or accept employment. Assistance is not payable to a family for any month in which any caretaker relative with whom the child is living is, on the last day of the month, participating in a strike. An individual's need shall not be included in determining the amount of aid payable for any month to a family or assistance unit if, on the last day of the month, the individual is participating in a strike.
(3) Children over eighteen years of age and under nineteen years of age who are full-time students reasonably expected to complete a program of secondary school, or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training, before reaching nineteen years of age are eligible to receive aid to families with dependent children: PROVIDED HOWEVER, That if such students do not successfully complete such program before reaching nineteen years of age, the assistance rendered under this subsection during such period shall not be a debt due the state.
(4) An applicant for aid to families with dependent children shall assist the office of support enforcement in determining the paternity of all children in the assistance unit. This will include providing the office with relevant information reasonably known to, possessed by, or obtainable by the applicant about the absent parent. If an applicant is unsure of the paternity of the child or children, she shall provide the names of males who are most likely the father of the child or children. Failure to cooperate with the office of support enforcement shall cause assistance to be denied.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, morals, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
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