BILL REQ. #:  H-5276.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/05/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to providing discretion to the department of health with respect to federal funding for the prevention of teen pregnancy under Title V of the federal social security act; and amending RCW 74.12.410.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 74.12.410 and 1997 c 58 s 601 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) At the time of application or reassessment under this chapter, the department shall offer or contract for family planning information and assistance, including alternatives to abortion, and any other available locally based teen pregnancy prevention programs, to prospective and current recipients of ((aid to families with dependent children)) temporary assistance for needy families.
     (2) The department shall work in cooperation with the superintendent of public instruction to reduce the teen pregnancy rate ((of illegitimate births and abortions)), which should result in a reduction in abortion rates in Washington state.
     (3) The department of health ((shall)) may maximize federal funding by timely application for federal funds available under P.L. 104-193 and Title V of the federal social security act, 42 U.S.C. 701 et seq., as amended, for the establishment of qualifying abstinence education and motivation programs. To the extent such funds are received, the department of health shall contract, by competitive bid, with entities qualified to provide abstinence education and motivation programs in the state.
     (4) To the extent federal funding is received under subsection (3) of this section, the department of health shall seek and accept local matching funds to the maximum extent allowable from qualified abstinence education and motivation programs.
     (5)(a) For purposes of this section, "qualifying abstinence education and motivation programs" are those bidders with experience in the conduct of the types of abstinence education and motivation programs set forth in Title V of the federal social security act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 701 et seq., as amended.
     (b) The application for federal funds, contracting for abstinence education and motivation programs, and performance of contracts under this section are subject to review and oversight by a joint committee of the legislature, composed of four legislative members, appointed by each of the two caucuses in each house.