HB 3156 - DIGEST
(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Directs the department of community, trade, and economic development to establish a process to offer consulting services to community action agencies, established under RCW 43.63A.115, who are interested in developing pilot programs to assist low-income families accumulate assets. In implementing a pilot program, the community action agency applicant is encouraged to facilitate bringing together community partners to determine the asset building programs to initiate within the community.

Requires the department to select the pilot sites through an application process developed by the department and beginning by July 31, 2006. The department must offer consulting services to no less than four sites with at least one of the pilot sites located in eastern Washington.

Requires the department to report to the legislature by December 1, 2007, on the progress of the implementation of the pilot programs including the application process, the status of the programs, and any implementation issues that arose in initiating the pilot programs.

Provides that, to the extent funding is appropriated, the department of community, trade, and economic development must establish a program to create an outreach campaign to increase the number of eligible families who claim the federal earned income tax credit. The department may work collaboratively with other state agencies, private and nonprofit agencies, local communities, and others with expertise that might assist the department in implementing the program.