HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 SSB 5522

Title:  An act relating to work activity provisions for recipients of temporary assistance for needy families;  and amending RCW 74.08A.260.

Brief Description:  Changing work activity provisions for recipients of temporary assistance for needy families.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Labor & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators Fairley and Kohl-Welles).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES

Meeting Date:  March 29, 1999.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Dave Knutson  (786-7146).

Background:  Washington State's welfare-to-work program, WorkFirst, provides for an assessment of recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) when the recipients complete a job search component of the program.  The assessment focuses on employability.

WorkFirst also requires that the recipient have an "Individual Responsibility Plan," based upon the assessment.  The plan lists the obligations and employment plan of the recipient, and describes the services made available by the state to enable the recipient to obtain and keep a job.

Summary of Bill:  The requirement to perform employability screening of WorkFirst recipients is placed at the beginning of the recipient's participation in the WorkFirst program.  The initial assessment includes screening for barriers to self-sufficiency, including homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence victimization, limited English proficiency, and illiteracy.

The Individual Responsibility Plan recommends that adult recipients assure that their school-age children attend school and that recipients immunize their children.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.