Report Title:

Appropriate Increased TANF Funding; Omnibus Funding Vehicle

Description:

Appropriates various amounts, including unspecified amounts, for various services to be funded from the increased federal fund ceiling for the temporary assistance for needy families program.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1855

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to temporary assistance for needy families.

 

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

Part I

SECTION 1. Noncustodial/absent parent program. The purpose of the memorandum of agreement between the department of human services and the department of labor and industrial relations is to provide employment services to the noncustodial parent of current temporary assistance for needy families program recipient cases. These services shall be designed to encourage noncustodial parents to take part in voluntary services that will assist them in becoming gainfully employed. A "work first" approach shall be employed with these parents, seeking to permit the labor market to determine the ultimate employability of the parent. To the extent that the labor market validates that the employability of the parent is premature, the department of labor and industrial relations may use resources under this memorandum of agreement to prepare the parent for employment. Further, the department of labor and industrial relations may design and implement other programs and services that meet any one or more of the four purposes of the temporary assistance for needy families program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the noncustodial/absent parent program pursuant to part I of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part I of this Act.

Part II

SECTION 3. Direct temporary assistance for needy families expenditure on child welfare services. The following child welfare services purchase of services contracts are funded directly by the temporary assistance for needy families program through a memorandum of agreement with the social services division of the department of department of human services:

Contract No. Title Funded Amount

1. DHS-05-POS-1961 Neighborhood places $296,667

2. DHS-05-POS-2186 Neighborhood places 593,333

3. DHS-05-POS-2172 Family Centers 132,000

4. DHS-05-POS-8531 Family Centers 68,000

5. DHS-05-POS-2138 Hawaii Advocate Program 2,686,771

6. DHS-05-POS-2166 Healthy Start – East HI 267,473

7. DHS-05-POS-2135 Healthy Start – West HI 386,525

8. Pending Healthy Start Statewide 2,636,102

Total $7,006,871

SECTION 4. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $7,006,871, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for direct temporary assistance for needy families expenditure on child welfare services pursuant to part II of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part II of this Act.

Part III

SECTION 5. Food stamp outreach. The purpose of this program is to implement, test, and evaluate strategies that make the entire process from certification to recertification for the receipt of food stamps easier and more efficient for applicants and participants. This program targets the general statewide population with particular emphasis on working and unemployed families, former temporary assistance for needy families recipients, seniors, persons with disabilities, and immigrants.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the food stamp outreach program pursuant to part III of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part III of this Act.

Part IV

SECTION 7. Caregiver training and apprenticeship program for temporary assistance for needy families recipients participating in work programs. The purpose of this memorandum of agreement between the department of human services and the department of health is to implement a caregiver training and apprenticeship program, an integral part of the governor's long-term living initiative, to address workforce development. One critical component of the training program is providing apprenticeship at hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies to provide nurses' aides with opportunities to develop and enhance their skill levels and to create a workforce that will be able to provide culturally sensitive quality care and services.

SECTION 8. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the caregiver training and apprenticeship program for temporary assistance for needy families recipients participating in work programs pursuant to part IV of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part IV of this Act.

Part V

SECTION 9. Temporary assistance for needy families services through the counties. The department of human services shall fund the counties to procure services and programs through a competitive procurement process and implement these services and programs that meet any one or more of the purposes of the temporary assistance for needy families program.

SECTION 10. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for department of human services for temporary assistance for needy families services through the counties pursuant to part V of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part V of this Act.

Part VI

SECTION 11. UPLINK expansion. The purpose of this part is to expand a program that provides a positive experience and opportunities for teens that is based on a mix of required activities to shape healthy beliefs and lifestyles that are aimed at reducing risky behaviors, including teen pregnancy prevention.

SECTION 12. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for expansion of the UPLINK program pursuant to part VI of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part VI of this Act.

Part VII

SECTION 13. Community-based after school programs for youth. This program delivers a comprehensive set of service activities of community-based outreach, case management, and positive alternative activities related to teen pregnancy prevention and family strengthening that are conducted and available during after-school hours, weekends, and school intercessions and holidays.

SECTION 14. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the community-based after school programs for youth pursuant to part VII of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part VII of this Act.

Part VIII

SECTION 15. Section 346-53, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) This subsection does not apply to general assistance to households without minor dependents. The standard of need for families of given sizes shall equal the poverty level established by the federal government in [1993] 1999, prorated over a twelve-month period.

The assistance allowance provided shall be based on a percentage of the standard of need. For exempt households and households in which all caretaker relatives are minors, living independently with minor dependents and attending school, the assistance allowance shall be set at sixty-two and one-half per cent of the standard of need. For all other households, the assistance allowance shall be set no higher than sixty-two and one-half per cent of the standard of need and set no lower than fifty per cent of the standard of need. The standard of need shall be determined by dividing the [1993] 1999 federal poverty level by twelve and rounding down the quotient. The remaining quotient shall be multiplied by the per cent as set by the director by rules pursuant to chapter 91 and the final product shall be rounded down to determine the assistance allowance; provided that:

(1) The department may increase or reduce the assistance allowance as determined in this subsection for non-exempt households for the purpose of providing work incentives or services under part XI of this chapter;

(2) No reduction shall be allowed that jeopardizes eligibility for or receipt of federal funds;

(3) Reductions in the assistance allowance shall be limited to no more than one per year; and

(4) No non-exempt household, which includes an adult who has received sixty cumulative months of temporary assistance to needy families with minor dependents, shall be eligible for an assistance allowance, unless authorized by federal regulations."

SECTION 16. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to fund the increase in the assistance allowance as a result of the increase in the standard of need occasioned by the change of the federal poverty level from 1993 to 1999 pursuant to part VIII of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part VIII of this Act.

Part IX

SECTION 17. Rental assistance for current and former participants in the temporary assistance for needy families and temporary assistance to other needy families programs. The department of human services shall assist current and former participants in the temporary assistance for needy families and temporary assistance to other needy families programs with the first month's rent and an identical amount for a rental security deposit.

SECTION 18. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for rental assistance for current and former participants in the temporary assistance for needy families and temporary assistance to other needy families programs pursuant to part IX of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part IX of this Act.

Part X

SECTION 19. Nonschool hours program. The legislature finds that many children are on their own in the morning and afternoon before and after the school bell rings. Nationally, nearly two-thirds of school-age children are in homes with both parents working, yet very few communities have a comprehensive system of before and after-school care for children. While Hawaii is fortunate to have the A+ program for students in grades K-6, older children also need adult supervision. When older children are unsupervised in the morning, afternoon, evening, weekend, and holiday hours, statistics clearly show that rates of juvenile crime, drug use, and experimentation with tobacco, alcohol, and sex increase.

The legislature further finds that there is widespread agreement about the importance of establishing safe, structured learning environments for children and youth during nonschool-hours. The purpose of part X of this Act is to appropriate funds for nonschool-hour programs for children and youth for sixth through eighth grades.

SECTION 20. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for nonschool-hour programs for children and youth for sixth through eighth grades pursuant to part X of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part X of this Act.

Part XI

SECTION 21. About face program. The purpose of this section is to fund the about face program.

SECTION 22. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families fund the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the about face program pursuant to part XI of this Act; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of part XI of this Act.

Part XII

SECTION 23. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 24. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.

INTRODUCED BY:

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