Senate committee substitute, reported in on 6/7/11, makes the following changes to the 1st edition.
Deletes proposed GS 108A-31.1 regarding eligibility for assistance under the Work First program. Instead directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to make the following changes to the Work First Program, applicable to Standard and Electing counties, except where prohibited by federal law: (1) include a requirement in all Mutual Responsibility Agreements (MRAs) that all Work Eligible Individuals must engage in four hours per month of Community Service activity or the maximum amount of Community Service hours allowable under the Fair Labor Standards Act, whichever is less and (2) require any individual participating in Job Search/ Job Readiness for four consecutive weeks to participate in the Community Service work activity for more than the mandatory four hours included in that individual’s MRA but not in excess of the maximum allowable hours under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Provides that this additional Community Service requirement ceases when Job Search/ Job readiness activities terminate. Sets a 12-weeks-in-a-year limit on Job Search/ Job readiness activities as state countable activities, with no more than eight weeks being consecutive.
Additionally provides that any benefits recipient meeting the definition of disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must be provided reasonable accommodations, which may include exemption from the Community Service requirement. Effective October 1, 2011. Applies to MRAs entered into on or after that date. Provides that all changes which necessitate a change in the Work First Program State Plan will be effected by temporary rule until the next State Plan is approved by the General Assembly.
Current law requires DHHS to consider resources that can readily be converted to cash in assessing a recipient’s eligibility for all public assistance programs. Directs DHHS to exempt only one vehicle owned or leased per household when considering those resources that can be readily converted to cash except where prohibited by federal law. Provides that this exemption cannot exceed $15,000 and that if any vehicle has a greater fair market value than $15,000, the amount in excess of $15,000 is considered a resource that can readily be converted to cash. Effective October 1, 2011.
Rewrites the title as: AN ACT DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE WORK FIRST PROGRAM FOR STANDARD AND ELECTING COUNTIES AND TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO EXEMPT ONLY ONE VEHICLE PER HOUSEHOLD WHEN CONSIDERING RESOURCES FOR THE PURPOSES OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.