General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5432
January Session, 2011 LCO No. 4650
*04650HB05432HS_*
Referred to Committee on Human Services
Introduced by:
(HS)
General Assembly
Committee Bill No. 5432
January Session, 2011
LCO No. 4650
*04650HB05432HS_*
Referred to Committee on Human Services
Introduced by:
(HS)
AN ACT CONCERNING LIMITS ON SANCTIONS UNDER THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES PROGRAM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 17b-688c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011):
(b) In no event shall temporary family assistance be granted to an applicant for such assistance, who is not exempt from participation in the employment services program, prior to the applicant's attendance at an initial scheduled employment services assessment interview and participation in the development of an employment services plan. The Department of Social Services shall not delay temporary family assistance to an applicant in cases where the department schedules the initial employment services assessment interview more than ten business days after the date on which application for assistance is made, or in cases where the Labor Department does not complete an employment services plan for the benefit of the applicant within ten business days of the date on which the applicant attends an employment services assessment interview. The Commissioner of Social Services shall refer any applicant denied temporary family assistance, who may be in need of emergency benefits, to other services offered by the Department of Social Services or community services that may be available to such applicant. The Department of Social Services shall reduce the benefits awarded to a family under the temporary family assistance program when a member of the family who is required to participate in employment services fails to comply with an employment services requirement without good cause. The first instance of noncompliance with an employment services requirement shall result in a twenty-five per cent reduction of such benefits [for three consecutive months] until the family member complies with the employment services requirements. The second instance of noncompliance with such requirement shall result in a thirty-five per cent reduction of such benefits [for three consecutive months] until the family member complies with the employment services requirements. A third or subsequent instance of noncompliance with such requirement shall result in [the termination of such benefits for three consecutive months] a fifty per cent reduction of such benefits until the family member complies with the employment services requirements. [If only one member of a family is eligible for temporary family assistance and such member fails to comply with an employment services requirement, the department shall terminate all benefits of such family for three consecutive months.] Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the department shall [terminate the] reduce by fifty per cent benefits awarded to a family under the temporary family assistance program if a member of the family who is not exempt from the twenty-one-month time limit specified in subsection (a) of section 17b-112 fails, without good cause, to: (1) Attend any scheduled assessment appointment or interview relating to the establishment of an employment services plan, except that such individual's full benefits shall be reinstated if the individual attends a subsequently scheduled appointment or interview within thirty days of the date on which the department has issued notification to the individual that benefits have been terminated, or (2) comply with an employment services requirement during a six-month extension of benefits. [Any individual who fails to comply with the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection may submit a new application for such benefits at any time after termination of benefits.]
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2011 17b-688c(b)
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
July 1, 2011
17b-688c(b)
Statement of Purpose:
To eliminate termination of family benefits under the temporary assistance for needy families program.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]
Co-Sponsors: REP. WALKER, 93rd Dist.; SEN. HARP, 10th Dist. REP. HOLDER-WINFIELD, 94th Dist.
Co-Sponsors:
REP. WALKER, 93rd Dist.; SEN. HARP, 10th Dist.
REP. HOLDER-WINFIELD, 94th Dist.
H.B. 5432