S-256                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5411

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senator Smith

Read first time 1/24/89 and referred to Committee on   Children & Family Services.

AN ACT Relating to aid for minor parents; adding new sections to chapter 74.21 RCW; and adding new sections to chapter 74.12 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature supports the policy of encouraging the care of dependent children in their own homes or in the homes of relatives to help maintain and strengthen family life and to help parents or relatives to attain maximum self-support and personal independence consistent with the maintenance of continuing parental care and protection.  In furtherance of this policy the legislature finds that minor parents, with few exceptions, must live in specified protective situations to be eligible for aid to families with dependent children.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     Effective January 1, 1990, the department shall exercise the option regarding required living arrangements set forth in Section 403, Title IV of the family support act of 1988, P.L. 100-485.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any individual under the age of eighteen who has never married, has a dependent child in his or her care or is pregnant, and is otherwise eligible for aid to families with dependent children:

          (a) May receive aid to families with dependent children only if the individual and child, or pregnant woman, reside in the home maintained by a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative of the individual, or reside in a foster home, maternity home, or other adult-supervised supportive living arrangement;

          (b) The aid, where possible, shall be provided to the parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative on behalf of the individual and child.

          (2)Subsection (1) of this section does not apply where:

          (a) The individual has no parent or legal guardian or other adult relative who is living or whose whereabouts are known;

          (b) No living parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative of the individual allows the individual to live in the parent or guardian's home;

          (c) The department determines that the physical or emotional health or safety of the individual or the dependent child would be jeopardized if the individual and the dependent child lived with the individual's parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative;

          (d) The individual has lived apart from his or her parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative for at least one year before either the birth of the dependent child or before applying for aid to families with dependent children; or

          (e) The department otherwise determines under rules adopted by the department that there is good cause for waiving subsection (1) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The legislature supports the policy of encouraging the care of dependent children in their own homes or in the homes of relatives to help maintain and strengthen family life and to help parents or relatives to attain maximum self-support and personal independence consistent with the maintenance of continuing parental care and protection.  In furtherance of this policy the legislature finds that minor parents, with few exceptions, must live in specified protective situations to be eligible for aid to families with dependent children.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Effective January 1, 1990, the department shall exercise the option regarding required living arrangements set forth in Section 403, Title IV of the family support act of 1988, P.L. 100-485.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any individual under the age of eighteen who has never married, has a dependent child in his or her care or is pregnant, and is otherwise eligible for aid to families with dependent children:

          (a) May receive aid to families with dependent children only if the individual and child, or pregnant woman, reside in the home maintained by a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative of the individual, or reside in a foster home, maternity home, or other adult-supervised supportive living arrangement;

          (b) The aid, where possible, shall be provided to the parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative on behalf of the individual and child.

          (2)Subsection (1) of this section does not apply where:

          (a) The individual has no parent or legal guardian or other adult relative who is living or whose whereabouts are known;

          (b) No living parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative of the individual allows the individual to live in the parent or guardian's home;

          (c) The department determines that the physical or emotional health or safety of the individual or the dependent child would be jeopardized if the individual and the dependent child lived with the individual's parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative;

          (d) The individual has lived apart from his or her parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative for at least one year before either the birth of the dependent child or before applying for aid to families with dependent children; or

          (e) The department otherwise determines under rules adopted by the department that there is good cause for waiving subsection (1) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     (1) Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 74.21 RCW;

          (2) Sections 4 through 6 of this act are each added to chapter 74.12 RCW.