28B.04.020 - Legislative findings -- Purpose.

Legislative findings — Purpose.

The legislature finds that homemakers are an unrecognized part of the workforce who make an invaluable contribution to the strength, durability, and purpose of our state.

     The legislature further finds that there is an increasing number of persons in this state who, having fulfilled a role as homemaker, find themselves "displaced" in their middle years through divorce, death of spouse, disability of spouse, or other loss of family income of a spouse. As a consequence, displaced homemakers are very often left with little or no income; they are ineligible for categorical welfare assistance; they are subject to the highest rate of unemployment of any sector of the workforce; they face continuing discrimination in employment because of their age and lack of recent paid work experience; they are ineligible for unemployment insurance because they have been engaged in unpaid labor in the home; they are ineligible for social security benefits because they are too young, and many never qualify because they have been divorced from the family wage earner; they may have lost beneficiaries' rights under employer's pension and health plans through divorce or death of spouse; and they are often unacceptable to private health insurance plans because of their age.

     It is the purpose of this chapter to establish guidelines under which the state board for community and technical colleges shall contract to establish multipurpose service centers and programs to provide necessary training opportunities, counseling, and services for displaced homemakers so that they may enjoy the independence and economic security vital to a productive life.

[2004 c 275 § 29; 1985 c 370 § 36; 1982 1st ex.s. c 15 § 1; 1979 c 73 § 2.]

Notes: Effective date -- 2004 c 275 §§ 28-32: "Sections 28 through 32 of this act take effect July 1, 2005." [2004 c 275 § 33.]

Part headings not law -- 2004 c 275: See note following RCW 28B.76.030.