HB 1144-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Revises good cause reasons for failure to participate in the WorkFirst program.

     Provides that at the time a child reaches the age of three months, the recipient is required to participate in one of the following for up to twenty hours per week:  (1) Instruction or training which has the purpose of improving parenting skills or child well-being;

     (2) Preemployment or job readiness training;

     (3) Course study leading to a high school diploma or GED; or

     (4) Volunteering in a child care facility licensed under chapter 74.15 RCW so long as the child care facility agrees to accept the recipient as a volunteer and the child without compensation while the parent is volunteering at the facility.

     Declares that nothing in this act shall prevent a recipient from participating fully in the WorkFirst program on a voluntary basis.  A recipient who chooses to participate fully in the WorkFirst program shall be considered to be fulfilling the requirements of this act.

     Provides that, for any recipient who claims a good cause reason for failure to participate in the WorkFirst program based on the fact that the recipient has a child under the age of one year, the department shall, within existing resources, conduct an assessment of the recipient within ninety days and before a job search component is initiated in order to determine if the recipient has any specific service needs or employment barriers.  The assessment may include identifying the need for substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, or domestic violence services, and shall be used in developing the recipient's individual responsibility plan.