Researcher: MF Page 1 4/26/22
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 197
AN ACT CONCERNING TEMPORARY FAMILY ASSISTANCE.
SUMMARY
This bill extends the maximum lifetime duration of cash assistance
under the Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) program to 60 months,
which is generally the maximum allowed under federal law. Under
current law, the program has a 21-month time limit, with up to two six-
month extensions.
The bill correspondingly eliminates provisions that allow the
Department of Social Services (DSS) commissioner to grant up to two
six-month extensions for families who have made a good faith effort to
comply with TFA requirements but continue to have low incomes or
encounter circumstances preventing employment (e.g., domestic
violence). It also eliminates other provisions on (1) eligibility for six-
month extensions and a family’s right to petition for them and (2)
penalties for noncompliance with program requirements during a six-
month extension. It makes other conforming changes.
The bill allows, rather than requires, the DSS commissioner to exempt
families from the program’s time limit under certain circumstances. It
additionally allows DSS to exempt families that have encountered
circumstances preventing employment.
The bill requires the DSS commissioner to post her notice of intent to
adopt regulations on the eRegulations system and the department’s
website, rather than in the Connecticut Law Journal. By law, she must
do so within 20 days of implementing policies and procedures related
to TFA.
By law, the Labor Department administers employment services for
TFA recipients who are subject to work requirements (CGS § 17b-688i). 2022SB-00197-R000644-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MF Page 2 4/26/22
These TFA recipients are also eligible for subsidized child care under
the Care 4 Kids program (CGS § 17b-749).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2022
EXEMPTIONS FROM TIME LIMIT
Current law requires DSS to exempt families from the program’s time
limits under certain circumstances. The bill instead allows DSS to
exempt a family under the same circumstances. This applies to families
with:
1. a needy caretaker relative who is incapacitated or of an advanced
age, as defined by the DSS commissioner, if there is no other
nonexempt caretaker relative in the household;
2. a needy caretaker relative who is needed in the home because of
another household member’s incapacitation, if there is no other
nonexempt caretaker relative in the household;
3. a caretaker relative who is not legally responsible for the
dependent children in the household, if his or her needs are not
considered when DSS calculates the TFA benefit and there is no
other nonexempt caretaker relative in the household;
4. a caretaker relative caring for a child under the age of one, if there
is no other nonexempt caretaker relative in the household;
5. a pregnant or postpartum caretaker relative, if a physician has
indicated that she cannot work and there is no other nonexempt
caretaker relative in the household;
6. a caretaker relative determined by the DSS commissioner to be
unemployable and there is no other nonexempt caretaker relative
in the household; and
7. minor parents attending and satisfactorily completing high
school or high school equivalency programs.
The bill additionally allows the DSS commissioner to exempt from 2022SB-00197-R000644-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MF Page 3 4/26/22
the time limits families that have encountered circumstances preventing
employment, including domestic violence, physical harm to the family’s
children, or other circumstances beyond the family’s control. Under
current law, the commissioner may grant up to two six-month
extensions for families encountering these circumstances.
BACKGROUND
Federal Requirements for TANF-Funded Cash Assistance
TFA is Connecticut’s cash assistance program for families. TFA is
funded through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) block grant. For TANF-funded cash assistance programs, the
state must describe the program in a state plan that is subject to approval
by the Administration of Children and Families within the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. TANF-funded cash
assistance programs must meet certain federal requirements, including
work participation rates and a 60-month lifetime limit on program
benefits. In certain cases, the state may provide more than 60 months of
benefits under this program (e.g., to a limited number of families
experiencing hardships or by providing benefits with state funds rather
than federal funds).
Related Bills
SB 192 (File 215), favorably reported by the Human Services
Committee, changes the way DSS calculates penalties for a TFA
participant’s failure to comply with work requirements, in some cases
requiring DSS to reduce benefits rather than temporarily terminating
them.
SB 285 (File 220, as amended by Senate Amendment “A”) excludes
from the time limit months of benefits received during any state public
health emergency, rather than only excluding months during a public
health emergency declared by Governor Ned Lamont.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Human Services Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference - APP 2022SB-00197-R000644-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MF Page 4 4/26/22
Yea 13 Nay 7 (03/08/2022)
Appropriations Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 36 Nay 12 (04/07/2022)