WSR 00-22-085

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

(WorkFirst Division)

[ Filed October 31, 2000, 3:30 p.m. , effective December 1, 2000 ]

Date of Adoption: October 31, 2000.

Purpose: To adopt new WAC 388-466-0150 and to repeal WAC 388-466-0015, 388-446-0020, 388-446-0025, 388-15-360, 388-55-024, 388-55-027, and 388-55-050 to comply with federal law in order to continue to meet federal refugee funding requirements.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 388-466-0015, 388-466-0020, 388-466-0025, 388-15-360, 388-55-024, 388-55-027, and 388-55-050.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-19-073 on September 19, 2000.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 7; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 7. Effective Date of Rule: December 1, 2000.

October 31, 2000

Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

2857.3
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-466-0150
Refugee employment and training services.

(1) What are refugee employment and training services?

     Refugee employment and training services provided to eligible refugees may include information and referral, employment oriented case management, job development, job placement, job retention, wage progression, skills training, on-the-job training, counseling and orientation, English as a second language, and vocational English training.

     (2) Am I required to participate in refugee employment and training services?

     If you are receiving refugee cash assistance (RCA) you are required to participate in refugee employment and training services, unless you are exempt.

     (3) How do I know if I am exempt from mandatory employment and training requirements?

     (a) You may be exempt from participation in employment and training requirements if:

     (i) You are needed in the home to personally provide care for your child under three months of age (see WAC 388-310-0300);

     (ii) You are sixty years of age or older.

     (b) You can not be exempt from work and training requirements solely because of an inability to communicate in English.

     (4) If I am required to participate, what do I have to do?

     You are required to:

     (a) Register with your employment service provider;

     (b) Accept and participate in all employment opportunities, training or referrals, determined appropriate by the department.

     (5) What happens if I do not follow these requirements?

     If you refuse without good reason to cooperate with the requirements, you are subject to the following penalties:

     (a) If you are applying for refugee cash and medical assistance, you will be ineligible for thirty days from the date of your refusal to accept work or training opportunity; or

     (b) If you are already receiving refugee cash and medical assistance, your cash benefits will be subject to financial penalties.

     (c) The department will notify your voluntary agency (VOLAG) if financial penalties take place.

     (6) What are the penalties to my grant?

     The penalties to your grant are:

     (a) If the assistance unit includes other individuals as well as yourself, the cash grant is reduced by the sanctioned refugee's amount for three months after the first occurrence. For the second occurrence the financial penalty continues for the remainder of the sanctioned refugee's eight-month eligibility period.

     (b) If you are the only person in the assistance unit your cash grant is terminated for three months after the first occurrence. For the second occurrence, your grant is terminated for the remainder of your eight-month eligibility period.

     (7) How can I avoid the penalties?

     You can avoid the penalties, if you accept employment or training before the last day of the month in which your cash grant is closed.

     (8) What is considered a good reason for not being able to follow the requirements?

     You have a good reason for not following the requirements if it was not possible for you to stay on the job or to follow through on a required activity due to an event outside of your control. See WAC 388-310-1600(3) for examples.

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REPEALER

     The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:
WAC 388-15-360 Refugee assistance.
WAC 388-55-024 Noncompliance with work and training requirements.
WAC 388-55-027 Good cause determination.
WAC 388-55-050 Refugee social service eligibility.
WAC 388-466-0015 Work and training requirements for refugee cash assistance.
WAC 388-466-0020 Exemptions to work and training requirements.
WAC 388-466-0025 Penalties for not complying with work and training requirements.

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