1197-S AMH APP H2149.1

SHB 1197 - H COMM AMD ADOPTED 03-17-93

By Committee on Appropriations

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that:

    (1) Many states are currently evaluating and developing new program directions for the aid to families with dependent children program;

    (2) The state expects new initiatives from the federal government aimed at reforming the public assistance system;

    (3) Washington's family independence program will complete its five-year demonstration period in June 1993;

    (4) Current welfare-to-work evaluations and studies emphasize a strong connection between recent work experience and employability.  Further, studies have found that targeting services to specific welfare population segments is a cost-effective strategy in successful welfare-to-work programs;

    (5) Public assistance programs are more likely to succeed when expectations are clearly established and the state, service providers, and recipients work together to develop an employability plan; and

    (6) The current public assistance system requires a reduction in grant payments when income is earned.  The legislature intends to create a stronger economic incentive for working while on welfare by allowing families to retain a greater percentage of earned income before it results in the reduction or termination of grant benefits.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The department shall amend the state plan to eliminate the one hundred hour work rule for recipients of aid to families with dependent children-employable.  The department shall seek federal approval for the amendment to the state plan and report on federal action to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature by December 1, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The department of social and health services shall design a program for implementation involving recipients of aid to families with dependent children.  A goal of this program is to develop a system that segments the aid to families with dependent children recipient population and identifies subgroups, matches services to the needs of the subgroup, and prioritizes available services.  The department shall specify the services to be offered in each population segment, and not all services shall be available to each segment.  The general focus of the services offered shall be on job training, work force preparedness, and job retention.

    The program shall be designed for state-wide implementation on July 1, 1994.  Any proposal for implementation may include phasing certain components over time or geographic area.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  The secretary of social and health services shall appoint an advisory committee to give recommendations and advice on the design and implementation of the program.  The advisory committee shall consist of no more than fifteen individuals and shall be composed of representatives from business, the private industry council, labor, state job placement services, private nonprofit job placement services, and recipient advocate groups.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  The department of social and health services shall consider the following in developing the program:

    (1) An employment incentive program that strengthens the ability of recipients to reach a level of self-sufficiency as determined by the department.  Aid to families with dependent children grants may be used to supplement a program participant's wages;

    (2) Development of a community work program that includes nonpaid work experience for those persons who are long-term recipients of aid to families with dependent children;

    (3) Services that are limited in duration.  This limitation shall be clearly conveyed to program participants;

    (4) Segmentation of the recipient population based on factors such as work experience, education level, age of recipient, wage history, child support history, and length of time the person has been an aid to families with dependent children recipient;

    (5)  Matching appropriate services to each segment of the recipient population. The criteria may include an array of services that targets high cost, intensive services to the least employable groups and low cost, less intensive services to the most employable groups;

    (6) Use of contracts between recipients and the department that set forth employability/self-sufficiency plans and sanctions for noncompliance;

    (7) Training and education services for absent parents that increase their ability to support their children;

    (8) The elimination of work disincentives for recipients of aid to families with dependent children;

    (9) Providing food cash assistance or electronic benefit transfer in lieu of food stamps; and

    (10) Appropriate education and training services designed to promote economic self-sufficiency.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.  The department of social and health services in consultation with the governor shall determine what statutory or regulatory waivers are necessary to eliminate barriers to full implementation of the program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.  The department of social and health services shall present the proposed program including an implementation strategy to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 15, 1993."

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