GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1257

Short Title:  Welfare Reform Changes.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Earle and Alexander.

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Referred to:  Welfare Reform.

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April 15, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES LAW PERTAINING TO THE MEDICAID STANDARD OF NEED, PAY-AFTER-PERFORMANCE FOR TWO-PARENT FAMILIES, TIME LIMITATIONS ON ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER AREAS OF WELFARE REFORM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 108A-27.2 is amended by adding the following new subdivisions to read:
"The Department shall have the following general duties with respect to the Work First Program:
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(1b)	Ensure that eligibility criteria across the State include the Medicaid Standard of Need for the Categorically Needy;
(1c)	Ensure that qualified two-parent families receive assistance for three months after qualifying for assistance, in order to encourage families to stay together and to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency and gainful employment."
Section 2. G.S. 108A-27.9(c) is amended by adding the following new subdivisions to read:
"(c)	The State Plan shall include the following generally applicable provisions:
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(1b)	Provisions to ensure that eligibility criteria across the State include the Medicaid Eligibility Standard of Need for the categorically needy;
(1c)	Provisions to ensure that qualified two-parent families receive assistance for three months after qualifying for assistance, in order to encourage families to stay together and to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency and gainful employment."
Section 3. G.S. 108A-27.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 108A-27.1.  Time limitations on assistance.
(a)	Under the Standard Work First Program, unless an extension or an exemption is provided pursuant to the provisions of the Part or the State Plan, any cash assistance provided to a person or family in the employment program shall only be provided for a cumulative total of 24 months. After having received cash assistance for 24 months, the person or the family may reapply for cash assistance, but not until after 18 months from the last month the person or the family received cash assistance. This subsection shall not apply to child-only cases.
(b)	Electing Counties may set any time limitations on assistance it finds appropriate, so long as the time limitations do not conflict with or exceed any federal time limitations."
Section 4. G.S. 108A-27.3(a) is amended by adding the following new subdivision to read:
"(a)	The duties of the county boards of commissioners in Electing Counties under the Work First Program are as follows:
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(10a)	Ensure that all Work First cases are reviewed no later than three months prior to expiration of time limitations for receiving cash assistance to:
a.	Ensure that time limitations on assistance have been computed correctly;
b.	Ensure that the family is informed in writing about public assistance benefits for which the family is eligible even while cash assistance is no longer available;
c.	Provide for an extension of cash assistance benefits if the family qualifies for an extension; and
d.	Review family status and assist the family in identifying resources and support the family needs to maintain employment and family stability."
Section 5. G.S. 108A-27.4(e) is amended by adding the following new subdivision to read:
"(e)	Each county shall include in its County Plan the following:
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(7)	The process by which the county will review all Work First caseloads no later than three months prior to expiration of time limitations for  receiving cash assistance to:
a.	Ensure that time limitations on assistance have been computed correctly;
b.	Ensure that the family is informed in writing about public assistance benefits for which the family is eligible even while cash assistance is no longer available;
c.	Provide for an extension of cash assistance benefits if the family qualifies for an extension; and
d.	Review family status and assist the family in identifying resources and support the family needs to maintain employment and family stability."
Section 6. G.S. 108A-27.6(a) is amended by adding the following new subdivision to read:
"(a)	Except as otherwise provided in this Article, the Standard Work First Program shall be administered by the county departments of social services. The county departments of social services in Standard Program Counties shall:
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(10)	Ensure that all Work First cases are reviewed no later than three months prior to expiration of time limitations for receiving cash assistance to:
a.	Ensure that time limitations on assistance have been computed correctly;
b.	Ensure that the family is informed about public assistance benefits for which the family is eligible even while cash assistance is no longer available;
c.	Provide for an extension of cash assistance benefits if the family qualifies for an extension; and
d.	Review family status and assist the family in identifying resources and support the family needs to maintain employment and family stability."
Section 7. G.S. 108A-27.2 is amended by adding the following new subdivision to read:
"The Department shall have the following general duties with respect to the Work First Program:
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(14)	Review the county Work First Program of each electing county and recommend whether the county should continue to be designated an electing county or whether it should be redesignated as a standard county.  In conducting its review and making its recommendation, the Department shall:
a.	Examine and consider the results of the Department's monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the electing county's Work First Program as required under subdivision (9) of this section;
b.	Determine whether the electing county's Work First Program's unique design requires implementation by an electing county or whether the Work First Program could be implemented by a county designated as a standard county;
c.	Determine whether the electing county's Work First Program and policies are unique and innovative in meeting the purpose of the Work First Program as stated under G.S. 108A-27, and State and federal laws, rules, and regulations, as compared to other standard and electing county Work First programs.
	The Department shall make its recommendation and the reasons therefor to the Joint Legislative Public Assistance Commission at the time the Department submits the State Plan to the Commission for review as required under G.S. 108A-27.9(a)."
Section 8. The Department of Health and Human Services shall amend the North Carolina Temporary Assistance for Needy Families State Plan to include and reflect changes to State law made by this act and any other act of the 1999 General Assembly.
Section 9. This act is effective when it becomes law.