SENATE BILL REPORT

                           2SHB 2359

                    AS OF FEBRUARY 18, 1994

Brief Description:  Creating a job placement program for public assistance recipients.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Cooke, Patterson, Mielke, Basich, Ballard, Linville, L. Thomas, Long, Horn, Sommers, Sehlin, Dorn, Brumsickle, Foreman, Wineberry, Brough, Talcott, Van Luven, Sheahan, Fuhrman, Edmondson, B. Thomas, Caver, Wood, Forner, Schoesler, Silver, Padden, Dyer, Dunshee, Backlund, Chandler, Quall, Jones, Shin, Eide, Tate and McMorris)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Staff:  Joanne Conrad (786‑7472)

Hearing Dates:  February 21, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Some approaches to welfare reform are based on the belief that helping recipients find jobs in the private sector can lead to long-term self-sufficiency, and reduce welfare caseloads. 

SUMMARY:

A voluntary wage supplementation program is established in the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to supplement wages paid by private employers to AFDC recipients.  Local Employment Partnership Councils pilot this program, through job development and matching job seekers with employers. DSHS contracts with local public or private nonprofit organizations.

Recipients are paid a minimum of $5 per hour and receive benefits equal to other employees.  Training wages can be paid, if allowable under federal wage and hour law.  Unspecified incentives are created to encourage employers to retain the workers for more than six months.  Limitations on the types of positions for which the AFDC recipients would be allowed to qualify are already in current statute.

The program is aimed at the "hardest to employ" and those "at-risk of long-term dependence on welfare."

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available