CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5838
Chapter 100, Laws of 2022
67TH LEGISLATURE
2022 REGULAR SESSION
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES—MONTHLY DIAPER SUBSIDY
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 1, 2023
Passed by the Senate February 10, 2022
  Yeas 48  Nays 1
DENNY HECK

President of the Senate
Passed by the House March 3, 2022
  Yeas 63  Nays 35
LAURIE JINKINS

Speaker of the House of Representatives
CERTIFICATE
I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5838 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth.
SARAH BANNISTER

Secretary
Secretary
Approved March 17, 2022 1:02 PM
FILED
March 17, 2022
JAY INSLEE

Governor of the State of Washington
Secretary of State
State of Washington

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5838

Passed Legislature - 2022 Regular Session
State of Washington
67th Legislature
2022 Regular Session
BySenate Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation (originally sponsored by Senators Nobles, Rivers, Das, Frockt, Hasegawa, Hunt, Kuderer, Lovelett, Nguyen, Robinson, Saldaña, Stanford, Trudeau, and C. Wilson)
READ FIRST TIME 01/28/22.
AN ACT Relating to providing a monthly diaper subsidy for parents or other caregivers receiving temporary assistance for needy families; adding a new section to chapter 74.12 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that diapers are a necessity for every infant. Additionally, the majority of early child care programs require an adequate supply of diapers for child attendance, but, with the exception of early head start, do not provide diapers to families in need.
(2) The legislature further finds that families unable to afford an adequate supply of diapers may provide less frequent diaper changes to their child to maximize their supply of diapers. The failure to provide adequate diaper changes is associated with an increased rate of diaper dermatitis and urinary tract infection. Further, there are links between diaper need and increased parenting stress. Children whose parents manifest high levels of stress or depression are at greater risk of social, emotional, and behavioral problems.
(3) Therefore, the legislature intends to reduce parenting stress and increase parenting sense of competency by directing the department of social and health services to provide a monthly diaper subsidy to families with children under three who are otherwise eligible for temporary assistance for needy families, thereby improving parenting quality and overall child outcomes.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.12 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Subject to funds appropriated for this specific purpose, to assist with child-related necessities such as diapers, the department may make additional monthly payments to recipients with children under the age of three who are otherwise eligible for and receiving temporary assistance for needy families.
(2) The department shall set the benefit amounts in rule in accordance with available funds appropriated for this purpose.
(3) The department shall make reasonable efforts to ensure timely communication to families of the new subsidy at implementation and as the diaper subsidy eligibility changes.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2022, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4. This act takes effect November 1, 2023.
Passed by the Senate February 10, 2022.
Passed by the House March 3, 2022.
Approved by the Governor March 17, 2022.
Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 17, 2022.
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