Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB694 Compare Versions

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3		-	SB694 HFLR Page 1
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	3	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 1 1
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28		-
29		-	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
30		-
31		-	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
32		-
33		-	1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
34	27
35	28		ENGROSSED SENATE
36	29		BILL NO. 694 By: Treat of the Senate
37	30
38	31		and
39	32
40	33		McCall of the House
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45	38		An Act relating to the Temporary Assistance fo r Needy
46	39		Families (TANF) program ; amending 56 O.S. 2021,
47	40		Section 230.52, which relates to minimum mandatory
48	41		requirements; providing for eligibility of certain
49	42		pregnant applicant or recipient; deleting obsolete
50	43		reference; updating statutory language; providing an
51	44		effective date; and declaring an emergency.
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57	50		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAH OMA:
58	51		SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 56 O.S. 2021, Section 23 0.52, is
59	52		amended to read as follows:
60	53		Section 230.52. A. Except for specific exceptions, conditions
61	54		or restrictions authorized by the Statewide Te mporary Assistance
62	55		Responsibility System (STARS) and rules promulgated by the
63	56		Commission for Director of the Departm ent of Human Services pursuant
64	57		thereto, the following are the minimum m andatory requirements for
65	58		the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program:
	59	+	1. A recipient shall be eligible to receive assistance pursuant
	60	+	to the TANF program only for a lif etime total of five (5) years,
	61	+	subject to the exemptions allowed by fed eral law. Child-only cases
	62	+	are not subject to the five -year limitation;
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67		-	SB694 HFLR Page 2
68		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	64	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 2 1
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93		-	1. A recipient shall be eligible to receive assistance pursuant
94		-	to the TANF program only for a lif etime total of five (5) years,
95		-	subject to the exemptions allowed by fed eral law. Child-only cases
96		-	are not subject to the five -year limitation;
97	89		2. Single parents receiving temporary assistance pursuant to
98	90		the TANF program shall participate in work activit ies for a minimum
99	91		of twenty (20) hours per week during the month. Two -parent families
100	92		receiving temporary assistance pursuant to the TANF p rogram shall
101	93		participate in work activities for a minimum of thirty-five (35)
102	94		hours per week during the month;
103	95		3. A recipient must be engaged in one or more of the work
104	96		activities set out in paragraph 4 of this subsection as soon as
105	97		required by the Depart ment of Human Services pursuant to the TANF
106	98		program, but not later than twenty -four (24) months after
107	99		certification of the application for assistance, unless the person
108	100		is exempt from work requirements under rules promulgated by the
109	101		Commission Director pursuant to the STARS;
110	102		4. The Department shall develop and describe categories of
111	103		approved work activities for the TAN F program recipients in
112	104		accordance with this paragraph. Work activitie s that qualify in
113	105		meeting the requirements include, but are not limit ed to:
114	106		a. (1) unsubsidized employment which is full-time
115	107		employment or part-time employment that is not
116	108		directly supplemented by federal or state funds,
	109	+	(2) subsidized private sector empl oyment which is
	110	+	employment in a private for-profit enterprise or
	111	+	a private not-for-profit enterprise that is
	112	+	directly supplemented by federal or state funds.
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118		-	SB694 HFLR Page 3
119		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	114	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 3 1
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144		-	(2) subsidized private sector empl oyment which is
145		-	employment in a private for-profit enterprise or
146		-	a private not-for-profit enterprise that is
147		-	directly supplemented by federal or state funds.
148	139		Prior to receiving any sub sidy or incentive, the
149	140		employer shall enter into a written contract wit h
150	141		the Department, and
151	142		(3) subsidized public sector employment which i s
152	143		employment by an agency of a f ederal, state, or
153	144		local governmental entity which is directly
154	145		supplemented by federa l or state funds. Prior to
155	146		receiving any subsidy or incentive, the emp loyer
156	147		shall enter into a written contract with the
157	148		Department.
158	149		Subsidized hourly employment or unsubs idized hourly
159	150		employment pursuant to this subparagraph shall only be
160	151		approved by the Department as work activity if such
161	152		employment is subject to:
162	153		(a) the federal minimum wage requirements
163	154		pursuant to the Fair Labor Standard s Act of
164	155		1938, as amended,
165	156		(b) the federal Social Security tax and Medicare
166	157		tax, and
	158	+	(c) regulations promulgated pur suant to the
	159	+	federal Occupational Safety and Health Act
	160	+	of 1970 and rules promulgated by the State
	161	+	Department of Labor pursuant thereto,
	162	+	b. a program of work experience,
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168		-	SB694 HFLR Page 4
169		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	164	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 4 1
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194		-	(c) regulations promulgated pur suant to the
195		-	federal Occupational Safety and Health Act
196		-	of 1970 and rules promulgated by the State
197		-	Department of Labor pursuant thereto,
198		-	b. a program of work experience,
199	189		c. on-the-job training,
200	190		d. assisted job search which may include supervised or
201	191		unsupervised job-seeking activities,
202	192		e. job readiness assistance which may inc lude, but is not
203	193		limited to:
204	194		(1) orientation in the work environment and basic
205	195		job-seeking and job retention skills,
206	196		(2) instruction in completing an application for
207	197		employment and writing a resume, and
208	198		(3) instruction in conducting oneself during a job
209	199		interview, including appropriate dress,
210	200		f. job skills training which is directly related to
211	201		employment in a specific occupation for which there is
212	202		a written commitment by an employer to o ffer
213	203		employment to a recipient who successfully completes
214	204		the training. Job skills training includes, but is
215	205		not limited to, customized tra ining designed to meet
216	206		the needs of a specific employer or a specific
217	207		industry,
	208	+	g. community service programs which are job-training
	209	+	activities provided in areas where sufficient public
	210	+	or private sector employment is not available. Such
	211	+	activities are linked to both education or traini ng
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219		-	SB694 HFLR Page 5
220		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	213	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 5 1
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245		-	g. community service programs which are job-training
246		-	activities provided in areas where sufficient public
247		-	or private sector employment is not available. Such
248		-	activities are linked to both education or traini ng
249	238		and activities that substantially enhance a
250	239		recipient’s employability,
251	240		h. literacy and adult basic education programs,
252	241		i. vocational-educational programs, not to exceed twelve
253	242		(12) months for any individual, which are dir ected
254	243		toward vocational-educational training and education
255	244		directly related to employment,
256	245		j. education programs whi ch are directly related to
257	246		specific employment opportunities, if a reci pient has
258	247		not received a high school diploma or General
259	248		Equivalency Degree General Educational Develo pment
260	249		certificate, and
261	250		k. child care for other STARS recipients. The recipient
262	251		must meet training and licensing requirements fo r
263	252		child care providers as required by the Oklahoma Child
264	253		Care Facilities Licensing Act;
265	254		5. An applicant or recipient pregnant w ith an unborn child and
266	255		who does not have children living in the home qualifi es for TANF to
267	256		the same extent as a parent w ith minor children living in the home;
	257	+	6. Single, custodial parents with a child up to one (1) year of
	258	+	age may be exempt from work act ivities for a lifetime total
	259	+	exemption of twelve (12) months;
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269		-	SB694 HFLR Page 6
270		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	261	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 6 1
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295		-	6. Single, custodial parents with a child up to one (1) year of
296		-	age may be exempt from work act ivities for a lifetime total
297		-	exemption of twelve (12) months;
298	286		6. 7. In order to receive assistance, unmarried teen parents of
299	287		a minor child at least twelve (12) weeks of age must participate in
300	288		educational activities or wor k activities approved by the sta te;
301	289		7. 8. For single-parent families, except for teen parents,
302	290		educational activities, other than vocational -technical training, do
303	291		not count toward meeting the required twenty (20) hours of work
304	292		activity. For two-parent families, educational activities, except
305	293		vocational-technical training, do not count toward meeting the
306	294		required thirty-five (35) hours of work activity;
307	295		8. 9. A teen parent must live at home or in an approved, adult-
308	296		supervised setting as specified in Sect ion 230.55 of this title to
309	297		receive TANF assistance;
310	298		9. 10. A recipient must comply with immunization requirements
311	299		established pursuant to the TANF program ;
312	300		10. A recipient shall be subject to the incr ement in benefits
313	301		for additional children established by Section 230.58 of this title;
314	302		11. The following recipient resources are exempt from resource
315	303		determination criteria:
316	304		a. an automobile with an equity allowance of not more
317	305		than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) pursuant to
318	306		Section 230.53 of this title,
	307	+	b. individual development accounts established pursuant
	308	+	to the Family Savings Initiative Act, or individual
	309	+	development accounts established prior to November 1,
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320		-	SB694 HFLR Page 7
321		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	311	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 7 1
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346		-	b. individual development accounts established pursuant
347		-	to the Family Savings Initiative Act, or individual
348		-	development accounts established prior to November 1,
349	336		1998, pursuant to the provisions of Sect ion 230.54 of
350	337		this title in an amount not to exceed Two Thousand
351	338		Dollars ($2,000.00),
352	339		c. the equity value of funeral arrangements owned by a
353	340		recipient that does not excee d the limitation
354	341		specified by Section 165 of this title, and
355	342		d. earned income disregar ds not to exceed One Hundred
356	343		Twenty Dollars ($120.00) and one-half (1/2) of the
357	344		remainder of the earned income;
358	345		12. An applicant who applies and is otherwise eligible to
359	346		receive TANF benefits but who has resided in this state less than
360	347		twelve (12) months shall be subject to Section 230.57 of this title;
361	348		13. The recipient shall enter into a personal responsibility
362	349		agreement with the Department for receipt of assistance pu rsuant to
363	350		Section 230.65 of this title;
364	351		14. The Department shall, beginning November 1, 2012, screen
365	352		all adult applicants for TANF to determine if they are engaged in
366	353		the illegal use of a controlled substance or substances. If the
367	354		Department has made a d etermination that the applicant is engaged in
368	355		the illegal use of a controlled substanc e or substances, the
369	356		applicant’s request for TANF cash benefits shall be denied. The
	357	+	Commission for Human Services Director shall adopt rules to
	358	+	implement the requiremen ts of this paragraph consistent with the
	359	+	following:
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371		-	SB694 HFLR Page 8
372		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	361	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 8 1
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397		-	Commission for Human Services Director shall adopt rules to
398		-	implement the requiremen ts of this paragraph consistent with the
399		-	following:
400	386		a. the Department shall create a c ontrolled substance
401	387		screening process to be administered at the time of
402	388		application. The process shall, at a minimum, include
403	389		a Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventor y (SASSI)
404	390		or other similar screening methods. If necessary to
405	391		establish a reasonable expectation of certainty, the
406	392		Department is authorized to use further screening
407	393		methods, which may include, but are not limited to, a
408	394		clinical interview, consideration of the Department’s
409	395		history with the applicant, and an Addictions
410	396		Addiction Severity Index (ASI). If the Department has
411	397		reasonable cause to believe that the applicant is
412	398		engaged in the illegal use of a controlled substance
413	399		or substances, the Department is authorized, though
414	400		not required, to request administration of a chemical
415	401		drug test, such as urina lysis. The cost of all such
416	402		initial screenings shall not be borne by the
417	403		applicant,
418	404		b. if at any time during the controlled substance
419	405		screening process, the applicant re fuses to
	406	+	participate, that refusal shall lead to a denial of
	407	+	TANF benefits,
	408	+	c. if the Department, as the result of a controlled
	409	+	substance screening process, has determined that the
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421		-	SB694 HFLR Page 9
422		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	411	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 9 1
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447		-	participate, that refusal shall lead to a denial of
448		-	TANF benefits,
449		-	c. if the Department, as the result of a controlled
450		-	substance screening process, has determined that the
451	436		applicant is engaged in the illegal use of a
452	437		controlled substance or substa nces, the applicant’s
453	438		request for TANF cash benefits shall be denied,
454	439		subject to the following:
455	440		(1) if there has not already been a chemical drug
456	441		test administered as part of the controlled
457	442		substance screening process, the applicant may
458	443		submit proof of a negative chemical drug test
459	444		from a state certified laboratory to challenge
460	445		the Department’s finding that the applicant is
461	446		engaged in the illegal use of a con trolled
462	447		substance or substances. Proof of the chemical
463	448		drug test must be submitted to the Departmen t no
464	449		later than the tenth calendar day following
465	450		denial. If denial is communicated by mail, the
466	451		ten (10) day ten-day window begins on the day
467	452		after the date of mailing of the denial notice to
468	453		the applicant’s last-known address. The denial
469	454		notice is considered to be mailed on the date
	455	+	that appears on the notice, unless otherwise
	456	+	indicated by the facts,
	457	+	(2) if denied due to the provisions of this
	458	+	subparagraph, an applicant shall not be approved
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471		-	SB694 HFLR Page 10
472		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	460	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 10 1
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497		-	that appears on the notice, unless otherwi se
498		-	indicated by the facts,
499		-	(2) if denied due to the provisions of this
500		-	subparagraph, an applicant shall not be approved
501	485		until one (1) year has passed since the date of
502	486		denial,
503	487		(a) if the applicant is denied due to the
504	488		provisions of this paragraph, the Department
505	489		shall provide a list of substance abuse
506	490		treatment programs to the denied applican t,
507	491		and
508	492		(b) if an applicant has successfully complied
509	493		with a recommended substance abuse treatment
510	494		program after the date of denial, the
511	495		applicant may be approved for cash benefits
512	496		after six (6) months have passed since the
513	497		date of denial, rather than the r equired one
514	498		(1) year, and
515	499		(3) if an applicant has been denied TANF cash
516	500		benefits two times due to the provi sions of this
517	501		subparagraph, the applicant shall be ineligible
518	502		for TANF benefits for a period of three (3) years
519	503		from the date of the second denial,
	504	+	d. child-only cases and minor parents under eighteen (18)
	505	+	years of age are not subject to the provisions of this
	506	+	paragraph, and
	507	+	e. in cases where the application for TANF benefits is
	508	+	not for child-only benefits, but there is not a parent
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521		-	SB694 HFLR Page 11
522		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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547		-	d. child-only cases and minor parents under eighteen (18)
548		-	years of age are not subject to the provisions of this
549		-	paragraph, and
550		-	e. in cases where the application for TAN F benefits is
551		-	not for child-only benefits, but there is not a parent
552	535		who has been deemed eligible for cash benefits under
553	536		the provisions of this paragraph, any cash benefits
554	537		for which the depende nt children of the family are
555	538		still eligible shall not be affected and may be
556	539		received and administered by an appropriate third
557	540		party approved by the Department for the benefit of
558	541		the members of the household;
559	542		15. a. As a condition of participating in the STARS, all
560	543		recipients are deemed to have given authorization for
561	544		the release of any and all information necessary to
562	545		allow all state and federal age ncies to meet the
563	546		program needs of the recipient.
564	547		b. The recipient shall be provided a release form to sign
565	548		in order to obtain the required information. Failure
566	549		to sign the release for m may result in case closure;
567	550		and
568	551		16. The recipient shall comply with all other conditions and
569	552		requirements of the STARS, and rules of the Commission promulgated
570	553		pursuant thereto.
	554	+	B. 1. Agencies of this state involved in providing services to
	555	+	recipients pursuant to the STARS shall exchange information as
	556	+	necessary for each agency to accomplish objectives and fulfill
	557	+	obligations created or imposed by the STARS and rules promulga ted
	558	+	pursuant thereto.
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572		-	SB694 HFLR Page 12
573		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	560	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 12 1
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586	573		14
587	574		15
588	575		16
589	576		17
590	577		18
591	578		19
592	579		20
593	580		21
594	581		22
595	582		23
596	583		24
597	584
598		-	B. 1. Agencies of this state involved in providing servi ces to
599		-	recipients pursuant to the STARS shall exchange information as
600		-	necessary for each agency to accomplish objectives and fulfill
601		-	obligations created or imposed by the STARS and rules promulga ted
602		-	pursuant thereto.
603	585		2. Information received pursuant to the STARS shall be
604	586		maintained by the applicable agency and, except as otherwise
605	587		provided by this subsection, shall be disclosed only in accordance
606	588		with any confidentiality provisions applicable to the agency
607	589		originating the information.
608	590		3. The various agencies of the state shall execute operating
609	591		agreements to facilitate information exchanges pursuant to the
610	592		STARS.
611	593		C. In implementing the TANF program, the Department shall:
612	594		1. Provide assistance t o aliens pursuant to Section 230.73 of
613	595		this title;
614	596		2. Provide for the closure of the TANF case when the adult
615	597		recipient refuses to cooperate with ag reed upon work activities or
616	598		other case requirements pursuant to the TANF program;
617	599		3. Provide for the sanc tioning of parents who do not require
618	600		their minor children to attend school; a nd
619	601		4. Deny temporary assistance to fugitive felons.
620	602		D. In order to ensure that the needy citizens of this state are
621	603		receiving necessary benefits, the Department shall maintain a
	604	+	listing of all recipients receiving public assistance. The listing
	605	+	shall reflect each recipient’s income, social security number, and
	606	+	the programs in which the recipient is participating including, but
	607	+	not limited to, TANF, food stamps, child care, and medical
	608	+	assistance.
622	609
623		-	SB694 HFLR Page 13
624		-	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
	610	+	ENGR. S. B. NO. 694 Page 13 1
625	611		2
626	612		3
627	613		4
628	614		5
629	615		6
630	616		7
631	617		8
632	618		9
633	619		10
634	620		11
635	621		12
636	622		13
637	623		14
638	624		15
639	625		16
640	626		17
641	627		18
642	628		19
643	629		20
644	630		21
645	631		22
646	632		23
647	633		24
648	634
649		-	listing of all recipients receiving public assistance. The listing
650		-	shall reflect each recipient’s income, social security number, and
651		-	the programs in which the recipient is participating including, but
652		-	not limited to, TANF, food stamps, child care, and medical
653		-	assistance.
654	635		E. The Department is hereby authorized to establish a gra nt
655	636		diversion program and emergency assistance services.
656	637		SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
657	638		SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
658	639		of the public peace, health or safety, an emer gency is hereby
659	640		declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall tak e effect and
660	641		be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
	642	+	Passed the Senate the 22nd day of March, 2023.
661	643
662		-	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON RULES, dated 04/11/2023 - DO PASS.
	644	+
	645	+
	646	+	Presiding Officer of the Senate
	647	+
	648	+
	649	+	Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________,
	650	+	2023.
	651	+
	652	+
	653	+
	654	+	Presiding Officer of the House
	655	+	of Representatives
	656	+