The bill amends RCW 74.08A.010 to expand the time limit exemptions applicable to cash assistance programs, specifically the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It establishes new criteria under which families may be exempt from the 60-month assistance limit, including circumstances of hardship related to homelessness, high unemployment rates, and family violence. Notably, the bill introduces additional exemptions for parents or legal guardians of children under the age of two who qualify for specific exemptions from WorkFirst activities.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that recipients must have received 52 months of assistance before being eligible for these exemptions. It also mandates the provision of transitional food assistance for five months to households that stop receiving TANF benefits, ensuring continued support during the transition. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2024, and includes a provision that renders it null and void if specific funding is not allocated by June 30, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 74.08A.010
Substitute Bill: 74.08A.010
Bill as Passed Legislature: 74.08A.010
Session Law: 74.08A.010