HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 3029

Title: An act relating to contracting for family development services.

Brief Description: Contracting for family development services.

Sponsors:Representatives Mastin, Barlean, Regala, Grant, Santos, Crouse, McMorris, Boldt, Kessler, Anderson, Cox, Lambert, D. Sommers, Van Luven and Mitchell.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Meeting Date:February 3, 2000.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Deborah Frazier  (786-7152).

Background:  Community Action Agencies (CAA) have contracts with the Private Industry Councils (PIC), funded by federal Welfare to Work monies, to help temporary assistance to needy families (TANF) recipients achieve job readiness.

The CAAs employ a Family Development model that provides intensive, one-on-one service to TANF recipients who have multiple challenges to their ability to go to work.

The federal Welfare to Work funding has been reduced, and will be phased out.  Consequently, the contracts with the CAAs working with this population will also be phased out.

Summary of Bill:  House Bill 3029 creates a Family Development Program within the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED).    The department is instructed to contract, with community based organizations that have certified family development specialists, for family development services.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is instructed to transfer TANF block grant funding to DCTED for this purpose.  The transfer amount is specified as the annual amount allocated in 1998-1999 for the PIC contracts with community based organizations.

Appropriation:None.

Fiscal Note:None.

Effective Date:Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.