BILL REQ. #:  H-3943.2 

Read first time 01/15/2004.   Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a food bank outreach pilot program; adding a new section to chapter 74.04 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that there is an unacceptably high level of hunger in Washington. Washington has repeatedly ranked in the top five states with the highest levels of hunger. Though many people in Washington have been assisted by the food stamp program, there are significant numbers of eligible families who do not receive food stamps. One of the barriers to receiving food stamps is the burdensome application process. The legislature finds that it is important to take steps to increase access and participation in the food stamp program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 74.04 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The food bank outreach pilot program is created. The purpose of the food bank outreach program is to improve access to department of social and health services food assistance programs by coordinating with existing food bank sites. The pilot program is designed to locate a department of social and health services intake worker at each pilot site a minimum of one time per week in order to improve access to department programs and services.
     (2) The department shall implement the food bank outreach pilot program no later than January 1, 2005.
     (3) The department shall select six pilot sites with three sites to be located in eastern Washington and three sites to be located in western Washington. To be eligible as a pilot site, the site must consist of an organization that provides food to hungry and low-income individuals.
     (4) The department shall schedule an intake worker to regularly be available at the pilot site to assist clients. The intake worker shall be scheduled no less than one time per week at each site.
     (5) The department shall adopt rules as necessary under chapter 34.05 RCW to implement the pilot program established under this section.
     (6) The food bank outreach pilot program expires December 31, 2005.
     (7) The department shall submit a report to the legislature that summarizes the effectiveness of the program by December 31, 2005.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act expires December 31, 2005.