H-1126.1  _______________________________________________

 

                          HOUSE BILL 1571

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Tokuda, Boldt, Kagi, Gombosky, Conway, Murray, Ogden, Rockefeller, Kenney, Dickerson, Veloria, O'Brien, Santos, Haigh, Kessler, Stensen, Wood and Poulsen

 

Read first time 01/29/1999.  Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

Providing child care payments to persons complying with P.L. 104-193 and the Washington WorkFirst program.


    AN ACT Relating to child care access; adding a new section to chapter 74.08A RCW; and creating a new section.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that low-income parents who are attempting to enhance their work skills through education, while at the same time complying with the work activity requirements of chapter 74.08A RCW, should be encouraged to pursue their academic goals.  The legislature further finds that persons who are going to school at the same time as they are engaging in work activities need assistance in overcoming barriers to further education, one of which is access to affordable child care.

    It is the intent of the legislature to support these low-income working parents by providing them with child care benefits while they are enrolled in a state technical or community college.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 74.08A RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Persons who are meeting the work activity requirements stipulated in P.L. 104-193 and this chapter are eligible to receive child care benefits while they are enrolled in a state community or technical college and meeting the requirements towards completing their program or degree.

    (2) The department may, to the extent funds are available, provide payments under subsection (1) of this section beginning not later than July 1, 1999.

    (3) The department may adopt rules to determine eligibility for child care benefits under subsection (1) of this section.

 


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