BILL REQ. #: H-1255.2
State of Washington | 62nd Legislature | 2011 Regular Session |
Read first time 02/02/11. Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Human Services.
AN ACT Relating to constraints of expenditures for WorkFirst and child care programs; and amending RCW 74.08A.340.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1 RCW 74.08A.340 and 2009 c 564 s 953 are each amended to
read as follows:
((The department of social and health services shall operate the
Washington WorkFirst program authorized under RCW 74.08A.200 through
74.08A.330, 43.330.145, 43.215.545, and 74.25.040, and chapter 74.12
RCW within the following constraints:))
(1) The full amount of the temporary assistance for needy families
block grant, plus qualifying state expenditures ((as appropriated in
the biennial operating budget,)) shall be appropriated to the
department of social and health services each year in the ((biennial))
appropriations act to carry out the provisions of the program
authorized in RCW ((74.08A.200)) 74.08A.210 through 74.08A.330,
43.330.145, 43.215.545, and 74.25.040, ((and)) chapter 74.12 RCW, and
policies established by the legislature.
(2)(((a))) The full amount of the child care development fund, plus
qualifying state expenditures, shall be appropriated to the department
of early learning each year in the appropriations act to carry out the
provisions of the working connections child care program, child care
quality programs, and child care licensing functions. The department
of early learning shall transfer to the department of social and health
services funds sufficient to carry out working connections child care
eligibility determinations, service authorizations, and child care
provider payments in a manner consistent with policy established by the
legislature and the department of early learning.
(3) Within funds appropriated and policy established by the
legislature, the department ((may)) of social and health services shall
implement strategies and expend funds ((defined in subsection (1) of
this section in any manner that will effectively accomplish)) in a
manner that accomplishes the outcome measures defined in RCW 74.08A.410
((with the following exception: Beginning with the 2007-2009 biennium,
funds that constitute the working connections child care program, child
care quality programs, and child care licensing functions.)).
(b) Beginning in the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium, the legislature
shall appropriate and the departments of early learning and social and
health services shall expend funds defined in subsection (1) of this
section that constitute the working connections child care program,
child care quality programs, and child care licensing functions in a
manner that is consistent with the outcome measures defined in RCW
74.08A.410
(((c))) (4) No more than fifteen percent of the appropriated
amounts ((provided in subsection (1) of this section)) may be spent for
administrative purposes. For the purpose of this subsection,
"administrative purposes" does not include expenditures for information
technology and computerization needed for tracking and monitoring
required by P.L. 104-193. ((The department shall not increase grant
levels to recipients of the program authorized in RCW 74.08A.200
through 74.08A.330 and 43.330.145 and chapter 74.12 RCW, except as
authorized in the omnibus appropriations act for the 2009-2011
biennium.)) (5) The department of social and health services and the
department of early learning shall operate the programs under
subsections (1) and (2) of this section within appropriated levels.
The departments each shall monitor expenditures against the
appropriation levels provided ((
(3) The department shall implement strategies that accomplish the
outcome measures identified in RCW 74.08A.410 that are within the
funding constraints in this section. Specifically, the department
shall implement strategies that will cause the number of cases in the
program authorized in RCW 74.08A.200 through 74.08A.330 and 43.330.145
and chapter 74.12 RCW to decrease by at least fifteen percent during
the 1997-99 biennium and by at least five percent in the subsequent
biennium. The department may transfer appropriation authority between
funding categories within the economic services program in order to
carry out the requirements of this subsection.
(4)for in subsection (1) of this section))
in the appropriations act. The departments shall each quarterly make
a determination as to whether expenditure levels will exceed available
funding and communicate ((its)) their findings to the legislature. If
the determination indicates that expenditures will exceed funding at
the end of the fiscal year, the departments shall take all necessary
actions consistent with the appropriations act and chapters 43.215 and
74.08A RCW to ensure that all services provided under ((this chapter))
subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall be made available only to
the extent of the availability and level of appropriation made by the
legislature.