GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1408

Short Title:  Emergency Assistance.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Adams; Blue, Hunter, McAllister, and Womble.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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April 29, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE EMERGENCY CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Article * of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:
"§ 108A-*. Emergency Cash Assistance Program.
(a)	There is established the Emergency Cash Assistance Program in the Department of Health and Human Services.  The Department shall use funds appropriated for this purpose to provide emergency cash assistance for families whose income does not exceed one hundred ten percent (110%) of the federal poverty level.  Emergency cash assistance shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00) per year per family, payable over a 30-day period.  After this 30-day period, emergency assistance benefits are not available to that family until 12 months have elapsed from the initial authorization date.  A family receiving emergency cash assistance may have not more than three hundred dollars ($300.00) in liquid assets in order to qualify for emergency cash assistance.
(b)	It is the intent of the General Assembly that emergency cash assistance funds shall only be used to provide assistance to families to alleviate an emergency.  In evaluating whether an emergency exists, county departments of social services shall apply prudent judgment to evaluate each emergency on its own merits.  Prudent judgment permits departments of social services to consider whether the client created the emergency and whether the assistance will resolve the emergency."
Section 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 1999.