BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to long-term public assistance recipients; amending RCW 74.12.420; creating new sections; providing an effective date; providing a contingent expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 74.12.420 and 1994 c 299 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature recognizes that long-term recipients of aid to families with dependent children may require a period of several years to attain economic self-sufficiency. To provide incentives for long-term recipients to leave public assistance and accept paid employment, the legislature finds that less punitive and onerous sanctions than those required by the federal government are appropriate. The legislature finds that a ((~~ten~~)) twenty percent reduction in grants for long-term recipients that may be replaced through earned income is a more positive approach than sanctions required by the federal government for long-term recipients who fail to comply with requirements of the job opportunities and basic skills program. A long-term recipient shall not be subject to two simultaneous sanctions for failure to comply with the participation requirements of the job opportunities and basic skills program and for exceeding the length of stay provisions of this section.

(1) After ((~~forty-eight~~)) thirty-six monthly benefit payments in a sixty-month period, and after each additional ((~~twelve~~)) six monthly benefit payments, the aid to families with dependent children monthly benefit payment shall be reduced by ((~~ten~~)) twenty percent of the payment standard, except that after ((~~forty-eight~~)) thirty-six monthly payments in a sixty-month period, full monthly benefit payments may be made if:

(a) The person is incapacitated or is needed in the home to care for a member of the household who is incapacitated;

(b) The person is needed in the home to care for a child who is under three years of age; or

(d) The person is cooperating in the development and implementation of an employability plan while receiving aid to families with dependent children and no present full-time, part-time, or unpaid work experience job is offered; or

~~(e) During a month in which a grant reduction would be imposed under this section, the person is participating in an unpaid work experience program~~)).

(2) For purposes of determining the amount of the food stamp benefit for recipients subject to benefit reductions provided for in subsection (1) of this section, countable income from the aid to families with dependent children program shall be set at the payment standard.

(3) For purposes of determining monthly benefit payments for two-parent aid to families with dependent children households, the length of stay criterion will be applied to the parent with the longer history of public assistance receipt.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The governor and the department of social and health services shall seek all necessary exemptions and waivers from and amendments to federal statutes, rules, and regulations and shall report to the appropriate committees in the house of representatives and senate quarterly on the efforts to secure the federal changes to permit full implementation of section 1 of this act at the earliest possible date.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. In the event that the department of social and health services is not able to obtain the necessary exemptions, waivers, or amendments referred to in section 2 of this act before January 1, 1998, this act shall expire on that date and shall have no further force or effect.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995.