BILL REQ. #:  H-4384.1 

READ FIRST TIME 01/24/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to financial literacy; amending RCW 74.08A.250 and 74.08A.260; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that for a variety of reasons, many citizens may lack the basic financial knowledge necessary to spend their money wisely, save for the future, and manage money challenges, such as a job loss, financing a college education, or a catastrophic injury. The legislature also finds that financial literacy is an essential element in achieving financial stability and self-sufficiency. The legislature intends to encourage participation in financial literacy training by WorkFirst participants, in order to promote their ability to make financial decisions that will contribute to their long-term financial well-being.

Sec. 2   RCW 74.08A.250 and 2000 c 10 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this chapter, "work activity" means:
     (1) Unsubsidized paid employment in the private or public sector;
     (2) Subsidized paid employment in the private or public sector, including employment through the state or federal work-study program for a period not to exceed twenty-four months;
     (3) Work experience, including:
     (a) An internship or practicum, that is paid or unpaid and is required to complete a course of vocational training or to obtain a license or certificate in a high demand field, as determined by the employment security department. No internship or practicum shall exceed twelve months; or
     (b) Work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing, if sufficient paid employment is not available;
     (4) On-the-job training;
     (5) Job search and job readiness assistance;
     (6) Community service programs;
     (7) Vocational educational training, not to exceed twelve months with respect to any individual;
     (8) Job skills training directly related to employment;
     (9) Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a GED;
     (10) Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a GED, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate;
     (11) The provision of child care services to an individual who is participating in a community service program;
     (12) Internships, that shall be paid or unpaid work experience performed by an intern in a business, industry, or government or nongovernmental agency setting;
     (13) Practicums, which include any educational program in which a student is working under the close supervision of a professional in an agency, clinic, or other professional practice setting for purposes of advancing their skills and knowledge; ((and))
     (14) Services required by the recipient under RCW 74.08.025(3) and 74.08A.010(3) to become employable; and
     (15) Financial literacy activities designed to be effective in assisting a recipient in becoming self-sufficient and financially stable.

Sec. 3   RCW 74.08A.260 and 2003 c 383 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each recipient shall be assessed after determination of program eligibility and before referral to job search. Assessments shall be based upon factors that are critical to obtaining employment, including but not limited to education, availability of child care, history of family violence, history of substance abuse, and other factors that affect the ability to obtain employment. Assessments may be performed by the department or by a contracted entity. The assessment shall be based on a uniform, consistent, transferable format that will be accepted by all agencies and organizations serving the recipient. Based on the assessment, an individual responsibility plan shall be prepared that: (a) Sets forth an employment goal and a plan for moving the recipient immediately into employment; (b) contains the obligation of the recipient to become and remain employed; (c) moves the recipient into whatever employment the recipient is capable of handling as quickly as possible; and (d) describes the services available to the recipient to enable the recipient to obtain and keep employment.
     (2) Recipients who are not engaged in work and work activities, and do not qualify for a good cause exemption under RCW 74.08A.270, shall engage in self-directed service as provided in RCW 74.08A.330.
     (3) If a recipient refuses to engage in work and work activities required by the department, the family's grant shall be reduced by the recipient's share, and may, if the department determines it appropriate, be terminated.
     (4) The department may waive the penalties required under subsection (3) of this section, subject to a finding that the recipient refused to engage in work for good cause provided in RCW 74.08A.270.
     (5) In implementing this section, the department shall assign the highest priority to the most employable clients, including adults in two-parent families and parents in single-parent families that include older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in work activities.
     (6) In consultation with the recipient, the department or contractor shall place the recipient into a work activity that is available in the local area where the recipient resides.
     (7) Assessments conducted under this section shall include a consideration of the potential benefit to the recipient of engaging in financial literacy activities. The department shall consider the options for financial literacy activities available in the community, including information and resources available through the financial literacy public-private partnership created under RCW 28A.300.450. The department may authorize up to ten hours of financial literacy activities as a core activity or an optional activity under WorkFirst.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act takes effect January 1, 2007.