Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that reduces sanctions related to TANF work requirements for abuse survivors.

Highlights:

• Requires the state department of health and human services to adopt the following situational criteria exemptions for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) work-related time limit extensions, including exempting (Sec. 1):

• Families that include children or youth who are without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and described in the federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act; and

• Families that include individuals who meet the family violence options of the federal social security act.

• Requires the department to annually by December 31, of each year report to the governor and appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature disaggregated data identifying the race of individuals whose TANF benefits were reduced or terminated during the preceding year (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that if the aforementioned report shows a disproportionate representation of any racial group that has experienced historic disparities or discrimination then the department must describe steps it is taking to address or remedy the racial disproportionality (Sec. 2).

• Establishes that this act shall take effect July 1st, 2021 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that reduces sanctions related to TANF work requirements for abuse survivors.

Highlights:

• Requires the state department of health and human services to adopt the following situational criteria exemptions for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) work-related time limit extensions, including exempting (Sec. 1):

• Families that include children or youth who are without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and described in the federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act; and

• Families that include individuals who meet the family violence options of the federal social security act.

• Requires the department to annually by December 31, of each year report to the governor and appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature disaggregated data identifying the race of individuals whose TANF benefits were reduced or terminated during the preceding year (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that if the aforementioned report shows a disproportionate representation of any racial group that has experienced historic disparities or discrimination then the department must describe steps it is taking to address or remedy the racial disproportionality (Sec. 2).

• Establishes that this act shall take effect July 1st, 2021 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text