HB 1481-S3 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 4TH SUB)

     Declares that it is the public policy of the state of Washington, through its aid to families with dependent children program, to require every able-bodied citizen on aid to families with dependent children to engage in paid or unpaid employment or engage in short-term training directed towards employment, to require accountability of all parents, and to discourage teen pregnancy by unwed parents as an action that is destructive to society.

     Provides for the assessment and referral of caretakers who are applicants for assistance to a job-ready target group, a job preparation group, or a young parent target group.

     Revises provisions of the job opportunities and basic skills training program.

     Provides for caretaker participation in a community service program.

     Requires the department to operate an employment child care program for low-income working families.

     Requires recipients of aid to families with dependent children to enter into a contract with the state specifying the rights and responsibilities of each party.

     Requires the caretakers to enter into contracts for personal responsibility if not needed in the home.

     Prohibits an increase in the grant amount for additional children conceived or born three hundred days subsequent to the initial application.

     Limits the aid to a maximum of twenty-four monthly benefit payments in a sixty-month period.

     Provides some exceptions to the limitation.

     Creates a joint legislative oversight committee.

     Revises provisions relating to minor parents.

     Provides that the parents of an unmarried minor who has a child are responsible for the support of the minor and the child until the minor reaches eighteen years of age.

     Provides for welfare evaluation and effectiveness studies to be conducted on the provisions of the act.

     Allows aid recipients to exempt savings accounts with combined balances of up to an additional three thousand dollars.

     Increases the value of a motor vehicle which may be owned to five thousand dollars.

     Repeals RCW 74.08.120, 74.08.125, 74.12.420, section 7, chapter 312, Laws of 1993, section 1, chapter 165, Laws of 1992, and section 1, chapter 136, Laws of 1992.