BILL REQ. #:  H-4977.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/03/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to redesigning the delivery of temporary assistance for needy families; amending RCW 74.08A.285; adding new sections to chapter 74.08A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.215 RCW; and repealing RCW 74.08A.200.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 74.08A RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that promoting meaningful change in the lives of needy families requires a thoughtful and creative approach to matching available resources with families' needs and developing a comprehensive plan to assist the family in attaining lasting self-sufficiency.
     (2) The legislature further finds that policies to encourage the completion of appropriate educational and training programs result in more parents attaining living wage jobs, and more families becoming economically self-sufficient so that they may leave public financial assistance programs permanently.
     (3) The legislature also finds that ample research demonstrates that the completion of at least forty-five college credits, resulting in a credential or certificate, is often critical to achieving self-sufficiency.
     (4) Research also demonstrates that without adequate levels of education or training, job search activities alone have no measurable impact on a family's ability to become and remain economically self-sufficient.
     (5) The legislature also finds that while many families have been successful in permanently leaving the program of temporary assistance for needy families, statistics indicate that families continue to return to the program in the absence of adequate education and training.
     (6) The legislature also finds that a primary purpose of the temporary assistance for needy families program is to enable parents to work, and therefore, the legislature intends to assure that subsidized employment in the community jobs program will be available to parents who are unable to find employment after earnest efforts at job search or education and training activities.
     (7) The legislature recognizes that federal law exempts certain parents from training or work requirements due to a disability, including caring for a disabled child. The legislature intends that these parents and children also must be supported with appropriate services.
     (8) In order to provide work opportunities for parents with significant barriers to employment, the legislature also intends to build upon the successes of the community jobs program.
     (9) The legislature recognizes the vital importance of early childhood development and the significant developmental risks presented for children living in low-income households, particularly during critical developmental stages. Therefore, the legislature intends to reform components of Washington's subsidized childcare program by redesigning the eligibility determination process to promote: (a) Stability for children and (b) predictability for parents who are either working or preparing and searching for work and the childcare providers who are serving low-income families.
     (10) The legislature intends, through the implementation of this act, to: (a) Infuse new energy into efforts to improve the well-being of low-income families through education and training opportunities that will lead to sustainable economic self-sufficiency for families and (b) help alleviate the effects of poverty on Washington's children, particularly those experiencing significant poverty during critical stages of their development.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.215 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall establish and implement policies in the working connections child care program to promote stability and quality of care for children from low-income households. Policies for the expenditure of funds constituting the working connections child care program must be consistent with the outcome measures defined in RCW 74.08A.410 and the standards established in this section intended to promote continuity of care for children.
     (2) Eligibility determinations and authorizations for working connections subsidies must be effective for twelve months unless a parent or child care provider reports a change in circumstances necessitating reauthorization prior to the end of the twelve-month period. This requirement must be introduced gradually, as follows:
     (a) Beginning in fiscal year 2011, a twelve-month authorization takes effect for parents with children enrolled in an early childhood education and assistance program, a head start program, or an early head start program; and
     (b) Beginning in fiscal year 2013, a twelve-month authorization takes effect for all other parents receiving a working connections subsidy.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 74.08A RCW to read as follows:
     The Washington WorkFirst subcabinet, in consultation with the governor, shall:
     (1) Reevaluate the structure of the WorkFirst program in the context of legislative intent expressed in section 1 of this act, and in consideration of the relevant research relating to family economic self-sufficiency and adequate training and education programs;
     (2) Develop a proposal for redesigning the state's use of temporary assistance for needy families funds in a manner that makes optimum use of all funds available in the state to promote more families moving out of poverty to sustainable self-sufficiency; and
     (3) Report the proposal to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2010.

Sec. 4   RCW 74.08A.285 and 2003 c 383 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The WorkFirst program operated by the department to meet the federal work requirements specified in P.L. 104-193 shall contain a job search component. The component shall consist of instruction on how to secure a job and assisted job search activities to locate and retain employment. Nonexempt recipients of temporary assistance for needy families shall participate in an initial job search for no more than twelve consecutive weeks, when appropriate, given the recipient's marketable job skills, attachment to the labor force, and level of education or training. Each recipient shall receive a work skills assessment upon referral to the job search program. The work skills assessment shall include but not be limited to education, employment history, employment strengths, and job skills. The recipient's ability to obtain employment will be reviewed periodically thereafter and, if it is clear at any time that further participation in a job search will not be productive, the department shall assess the recipient pursuant to RCW 74.08A.260. The department shall refer recipients unable to find employment through the initial job search period to ((work)) activities that will develop their skills or knowledge to make them more employable, including additional job search and job readiness assistance.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   RCW 74.08A.200 (Intent -- Washington WorkFirst) and 1997 c 58 s 301 are each repealed.