The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), gave every state the option to have procedures in place to address issues of family violence for recipients receiving temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) or state family assistance (SFA).

(1) For TANF/SFA, it is family violence when a recipient, or family member or household member has been subjected by another family member or household member as defined in RCW 26.50.010(2) to one of the following:

(a) Physical acts that resulted in, or threatened to result in, physical injury;

(b) Sexual abuse;

(c) Sexual activity involving a dependent child;

(d) Being forced as the caretaker relative or a dependent child to engage in nonconsensual sexual acts or activities;

(e) Threats of or attempts at, physical sexual abuse;

(f) Mental abuse;

(g) Neglect or deprivation of medical care; or

(h) Stalking.

(2) Under the family violence option DSHS must:

(a) Screen and identify TANF/SFA recipients for a history of family violence;

(b) Notify TANF/SFA recipients about the family violence option both verbally and in writing;

(c) Maintain confidentiality as stated in RCW 74.04.060;

(d) Offer referral to social services or other resources for recipients who meet the criteria in subsection (1) of this section;

(e) Waive WorkFirst requirements in cases where the requirements would make it more difficult to escape family violence, unfairly penalize victims of family violence or place victims at further risk. Requirements to be waived may include:

(i) Time limits for TANF/SFA recipients, for as long as necessary (after fifty-two months of receiving TANF/SFA);

(ii) Cooperation with the division of child support.

(f) Develop specialized work activities for instances where participation in regular work activities would place the recipient at further risk of family violence.