Harris (HB 525) Act No. 285
Existing law provides for services of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) block grant program (successor to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children
program) to be coordinated at the state level by DCFS. New law retains existing law
providing for all of the following:
(1)TANF-funded cash assistance known as the Family Independence Temporary
Assistance Program (FITAP).
(2)Employment and job training services for FITAP recipients known as the Strategies
to Empower People (STEP) program.
(3)A contract between a FITAP recipient and DCFS known as a Family Success
Agreement that sets forth responsibilities, expectations, activities, and goals designed
to transition the recipient from welfare to self-sufficiency.
Prior law designated the La. Workforce Investment Council as the state partner of DCFS for
TANF employment and job training services. New law designates the La. Workforce
Commission as the state partner of DCFS for such services.
Existing law defines "dependent child", for purposes of existing law, in part as a needy child
who is living with his father, mother, or other relative, within fifth degree, in a place of
residence maintained by one or more of such relatives as his or their own home. New law
adds a stepfather and a stepmother as relatives within this definition in conformance with
federal law providing for the TANF program. Further, new law adds marriage as a condition
under which a person may acquire a relationship to a child and be deemed as a "relative" for
the purposes of new law, whereas prior law provided only adoption and birth as such
conditions.
New law deletes all of the following from prior law:
(1)Provisions for ongoing intensive case management by DCFS including a requirement
that the department review the Family Success Agreement every six months.
(2)Provisions requiring DCFS to implement a "Transition Assessment Plan" for
recipients who are within six months of an expected cessation of FITAP cash
assistance, for reasons other than noncompliance with program requirements, to
assist in their transition from FITAP recipience.
(3)Provisions relative to evaluation, screening, and comprehensive employability
assessments for FITAP applicants.
(4)Provisions authorizing DCFS to establish procedures which allow FITAP participants
to bring grievances and appeal decisions of the department concerning the program.
(5)Provisions relative to the program known as "FIND Work" which was succeeded by
the STEP program.
(6)Provisions authorizing DCFS to promulgate rules requiring each housing authority
of the state created by or pursuant to existing law to establish councils or committees
to implement programs for tenants to participate in work experience activities
designed to provide maintenance and upkeep of housing units managed by the
housing authority, contingent upon appropriation of funds for such purpose.
(7)Provisions requiring DCFS, to the extent that appropriations are available, to
coordinate supportive services for FITAP recipients and to inform those recipients
of other available assistance including but not limited to the following:
(a)Medicaid.
(b)Food stamps (now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program). (c)Child care programs.
(d)Transportation services.
(e)La. Children's Health Insurance Program.
(f)Earned Income Tax Credit.
(g)TANF-funded initiatives to support self-sufficiency.
New law revises prior law relative to employment and job training services for FITAP
recipients in the following manner:
(1)Adds requirement that the La. Workforce Commission and DCFS shall report to the
legislative committees on health and welfare on the progress of the plan within one
year of the implementation of the plan.
(2)Adds provision stipulating that employment and job training services be delivered
pursuant to performance-based contracts between DCFS and the La. Workforce
Commission, other government agencies, or any community partner.
(3)Adds temporary and permanent job placements, subsidized employment services, and
on-the-job training as employment services which may be offered by the STEP
program.
(4)Deletes requirement that the DCFS state partner for TANF employment and job
training services coordinate service delivery, to the extent possible and when
applicable, with the following entities:
(a)One-stop services centers of the La. Workforce Commission.
(b)La. Community and Technical College System.
(c)Adult literacy programs of DOE.
(d)Community-based organizations.
(5)Adds provision authorizing the use of e-mail communication, when possible, as an
acceptable method for providing required written notification of Family Success
Agreement contractual obligations to FITAP recipients.
(6)Deletes numerous detailed provisions relating to FITAP work requirements, client
employability assessment, intermediate client monitoring, exceptions, and sanctions;
adds in lieu thereof a simplified provision stipulating that the FITAP recipient must
comply with his Family Success Agreement and the work requirements of new law
in order to continue receiving cash assistance.
New law revises prior law providing for a TANF-funded individual development account
matched-savings program to stipulate that administration of such program is contingent upon
availability of funding.
New law deletes certain expired date-specific provisions of prior law relative to federal
waiver applications and promulgation of rules by the DCFS secretary.
Effective upon signature of governor (June 14, 2013).
(Amends R.S. 46:230.1(C), 231(4)(intro. para.) and (b) and (14), 231.2(A)(2), and 231.6(C);
Adds R.S. 46:231.12 and 460.6(F); Repeals R.S. 46:231(13), 231.3, 231.6(D) and (E), 231.7-
231.11, and 460.8(C))