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H.R.3625
Next Step in Reforming Welfare Act (Introduced in House)
SEC. 404. COUNTING OF UP TO 2 YEARS OF VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AS WORK ACTIVITY.
Section 407(d)(8) (42 U.S.C. 607(d)(8)) is amended--
(1) by striking `vocational educational training' and inserting `vocational
and educational training
(including postsecondary education)'; and
(2) by striking `12' and inserting `24'.
SEC. 405. LIMITED COUNTING OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES LEADING TO EMPLOYMENT AS
WORK ACTIVITY.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 407(d) (42 U.S.C. 607(d)) is amended--
(1) by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (11);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (12) and inserting `;
and'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(13) Up to 6 months of participation (as determined by the State) in
services designed to improve future employment opportunities, including
substance abuse treatment services, services to address sexual or domestic
violence, and physical rehabilitation and mental health services.'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 407(c)(1) (42 U.S.C. 607(c)(1)) is
amended by striking `and (12)' each place it appears and inserting `(12), and
(13)'.
SEC. 406. CLARIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF STATES TO USE TANF FUNDS CARRIED OVER FROM PRIOR YEARS
TO PROVIDE TANF BENEFITS AND
SERVICES.
Section 404(e) (42 U.S.C. 604(e)) is amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking `ASSISTANCE' and inserting
`BENEFITS OR SERVICES'; and
(2) after the heading, by striking `assistance' and inserting `any
benefit or service that may be provided'.
TITLE V--PROMOTING FAMILY FORMATION AND RESPONSIBLE
PARENTING
SEC. 501. FAMILY FORMATION FUND.
Section 403(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
`(2) FAMILY FORMATION FUND-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall provide grants to States and
localities for research, technical assistance, and demonstration projects
to promote and fund best practices in the following areas:
`(i) Promoting the formation of 2-parent families.
`(ii) Reducing teenage pregnancies.
`(iii) Increasing the ability of noncustodial parents to financially
support and be involved with their children.
`(B) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS- In making grants under this paragraph, the
Secretary shall ensure that not less than 30 percent of the funds made
available pursuant to this paragraph for a fiscal year are used in each of
the areas described in subparagraph (A).
`(C) CONSIDERATION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IMPACT- In making grants under
this paragraph, the Secretary shall consider the potential impact of a
project on the incidence of domestic violence.
`(D) APPROPRIATION- Out of any money in the Treasury of the United
States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for each of
fiscal years 2003 through 2007 $100,000,000 for grants under this
paragraph.'.
SEC. 502. DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTED BY STATES ON BEHALF OF
CHILDREN RECEIVING CERTAIN WELFARE BENEFITS.
(a) MODIFICATION OF RULE REQUIRING ASSIGNMENT OF SUPPORT RIGHTS AS A
CONDITION OF RECEIVING TANF -
Section 408(a)(3) (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
`(3) NO ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES NOT ASSIGNING CERTAIN SUPPORT RIGHTS TO
THE STATE- A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall require,
as a condition of providing assistance to a family under the State program
funded under this part, that a member of the family assign to the State any
rights the family member
may have (on behalf of the family member or of any other person for whom the
family member has applied for or is receiving such assistance) to support from
any other person, not exceeding the total amount of assistance paid to the
family under the program, which accrues during the period that the family
receives assistance under the program.'.
(b) INCREASING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO FAMILIES AND SIMPLIFYING CHILD
SUPPORT DISTRIBUTION RULES-
(A) IN GENERAL- Section 457(a) (42 U.S.C. 657(a)) is amended to read
as follows:
`(a) IN GENERAL- Subject to subsections (d) and (e), the amounts collected
on behalf of a family as support by a State pursuant to a plan approved under
this part shall be distributed as follows:
`(1) FAMILIES RECEIVING ASSISTANCE- In the case of a family receiving
assistance from the State, the State shall--
`(A) pay to the Federal Government the Federal share of the amount
collected, subject to paragraph (3)(A);
`(B) retain, or pay to the family, the State share of the amount
collected, subject to paragraph (3)(B); and
`(C) pay to the family any remaining amount.
`(2) FAMILIES THAT FORMERLY RECEIVED ASSISTANCE- In the case of a family
that formerly received assistance from the State:
`(A) CURRENT SUPPORT- To the extent that the amount collected does not
exceed the current support amount, the State shall pay the amount to the
family.
`(B) ARREARAGES- To the extent that the amount collected exceeds the
current support amount, the State--
`(i) shall first pay to the family the excess amount, to the extent
necessary to satisfy support arrearages not assigned pursuant to section
408(a)(3);
`(ii) if the amount collected exceeds the amount required to be paid
to the family under clause (i), shall--
`(I) pay to the Federal Government, the Federal share of the
excess amount described in this clause, subject to paragraph (3)(A);
and
`(II) retain, or pay to the family, the State share of the excess
amount described in this clause, subject to paragraph (3)(B);
and
`(iii) shall pay to the family any remaining amount.
`(A) FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS- The total of the amounts paid by the
State to the Federal Government under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this
subsection with respect to a family shall not exceed the Federal share of
the amount assigned with respect to the family pursuant to section
408(a)(3).
`(B) STATE REIMBURSEMENTS- The total of the amounts retained by the
State under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection with respect to a
family shall not exceed the State share of the amount assigned with
respect to the family pursuant to section 408(a)(3).
`(4) FAMILIES THAT NEVER RECEIVED ASSISTANCE- In the case of any other
family, the State shall pay the amount collected to the family.
`(5) FAMILIES UNDER CERTAIN AGREEMENTS- Notwithstanding paragraphs (1)
through (4), in the case of an amount collected for a family in accordance
with a cooperative agreement under section 454(33), the State shall
distribute the amount collected pursuant to the terms of the
agreement.
`(6) STATE FINANCING OPTIONS- To the extent that the State share of the
amount payable to a family for a month pursuant to paragraph (2)(B) of this
subsection exceeds the amount that the State estimates (under procedures
approved by the Secretary) would have been payable to the family for the
month pursuant to former section 457(a)(2) (as in effect for the State
immediately before the date this subsection first applies to the State) if
such former section had remained in effect, the State may elect to use the
grant made to the State under section 403(a) to pay the amount, or to have
the payment considered a qualified State expenditure for purposes of section
409(a)(7), but not both.
`(7) STATE OPTION TO PASS THROUGH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WITH FEDERAL
FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), a State shall
not be required to pay to the Federal Government the Federal share of an
amount collected on behalf of a family that is not a recipient of
assistance under the State program funded under part A, to the extent that
the State pays the amount to the family.
`(B) RECIPIENTS OF TANF
FOR LESS THAN 5 YEARS- Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), a State
shall not be required to pay to the Federal Government the Federal share
of an amount collected on behalf of a family that is a recipient of
assistance under the State program funded under part A and that has
received the assistance for not more than 5 years after the date of the
enactment of this paragraph, to the extent that the State pays the amount
to the family.'.
(B) APPROVAL OF ESTIMATION PROCEDURES- Not later than October 1, 2002,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the
States (as defined for purposes of part D of title IV of the Social
Security Act), shall establish the procedures to be
used to make the estimate described in section 457(a)(6) of such Act.
(2) CURRENT SUPPORT AMOUNT DEFINED- Section 457(c) (42 U.S.C. 657(c)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
`(5) CURRENT SUPPORT AMOUNT- The term `current support amount' means,
with respect to amounts collected as support on behalf of a family, the
amount designated as the monthly support obligation of the noncustodial
parent in the order requiring the support.'.
(c) BAN ON RECOVERY OF MEDICAID COSTS FOR CERTAIN BIRTHS- Section 454 (42
U.S.C. 654) is amended--
(1) by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (32);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (33) and inserting `;
and'; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (33) the following:
`(34) provide that the State shall not use the State program operated
under this part to collect any amount owed to the State by reason of costs
incurred under the State plan approved under title XIX for the birth of a
child for whom support rights have been assigned pursuant to section
408(a)(3), 471(a)(17), or 1912.'.
(d) STATE OPTION TO DISCONTINUE CERTAIN SUPPORT ASSIGNMENTS- Section
457(b) (42 U.S.C. 657(b)) is amended by striking `shall' and inserting
`may'.
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-
(1) Section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)(I)(aa) (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B)(i)(I)(aa)) is
amended by striking `457(a)(1)(B)' and inserting `457(a)(1)'.
(2) Section 404(a) (42 U.S.C. 604(a)) is amended--
(A) by striking `or' at the end of paragraph (1);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting
`; or'; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
`(3) to fund payment of an amount pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of
section 457(a)(2)(B), but only to the extent that the State properly elects
under section 457(a)(6) to use the grant to fund the payment.'.
(3) Section 409(a)(7)(B)(i) (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B)(i)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
`(V) PORTIONS OF CERTAIN CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS COLLECTED ON
BEHALF OF AND DISTRIBUTED TO FAMILIES NO LONGER RECEIVING ASSISTANCE-
Any amount paid by a State pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of section
457(a)(2)(B), but only to the extent that the State properly elects
under section 457(a)(6) to have the payment considered a qualified
State expenditure.'.
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection
and section 901(b) of this Act, the amendments made by this section shall
take effect on October 1, 2006, and shall apply to payments under parts A
and D of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar quarters beginning
on or after such date, without regard to whether regulations to implement
the amendments are promulgated by such date.
(2) STATE OPTION TO ACCELERATE EFFECTIVE DATE- A State may elect to have
the amendments made by this section apply to the State and to amounts
collected by the State, on and after such date as the State may select that
is after the date of the enactment of this Act and before the effective date
provided in paragraph (1).
SEC. 503. ELIMINATION OF SEPARATE WORK PARTICIPATION RATE FOR 2-PARENT
FAMILIES.
Section 407 (42 U.S.C. 607) is amended--
(A) by striking `(a) PARTICIPATION RATE REQUIREMENTS- ' and all that
follows through `A State' in paragraph (1) and inserting the
following:
`(a) PARTICIPATION RATE REQUIREMENT- A State'; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and
(A) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking `paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B)' and
inserting `paragraph (1)(B)';
(C) in paragraph (5), by striking `rates' and inserting `rate';
and
(D) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (3),
respectively.
SEC. 504. BAN ON IMPOSITION OF STRICTER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR 2-PARENT
FAMILIES; STATE OPT-OUT.
(a) PROHIBITION- Section 408(a) (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is further amended by
adding at the end the following:
`(13) BAN ON IMPOSITION OF STRICTER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR 2-PARENT
FAMILIES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- In determining the eligibility of a 2-parent family
for assistance under a State program funded under this part, the State
shall not impose a requirement that does not apply in determining the
eligibility of a 1-parent family for such assistance.
`(B) STATE OPT-OUT- Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a State if the
State legislature, by law, has elected to make subparagraph (A)
inapplicable to the State.'.
(b) PENALTY- Section 409(a) (42 U.S.C. 609(a)) is further amended by
adding at the end the following:
`(16) PENALTY FOR IMPOSITION OF STRICTER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR
2-PARENT FAMILIES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- If the Secretary determines that a State to which a
grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year has violated section
408(a)(13) during the fiscal year, the
Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1)
for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by an amount equal to 5 percent of
the State family assistance grant.
`(B) PENALTY BASED ON SEVERITY OF FAILURE- The Secretary shall impose
reductions under subparagraph (A) with respect to a fiscal year based on
the degree of noncompliance.'.
TITLE VI--RESTORING FAIRNESS FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
SEC. 601. TREATMENT OF ALIENS UNDER THE TANF PROGRAM.
(a) EXCEPTION TO 5-YEAR BAN FOR QUALIFIED ALIENS- Section 403(c)(2) of the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8
U.S.C. 1613(c)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(L) Benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
program described in section 402(b)(3)(A).'.
(b) BENEFITS NOT SUBJECT TO REIMBURSEMENT- Section 423(d) of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1138a
note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(12) Benefits under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act
except for cash assistance provided to a sponsored alien who is subject to
deeming pursuant to section 408(h) of the Social Security Act.'.
(c) TREATMENT OF ALIENS- Section 408 (42 U.S.C. 608) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
`(h) SPECIAL RULES RELATING TO THE TREATMENT OF 213A ALIENS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- In determining whether a 213A alien is eligible for
cash assistance under a State program funded under this part, and in
determining the amount or types of such assistance to be provided to the
alien, the State shall apply the rules of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), and
(6) of subsection (f) of this section by substituting `213A' for `non-213A'
each place it appears, subject to section 421(e) of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconcilation Act of 1996, and subject
to section 421(f) of such Act (which shall be applied by substituting
`section 408(h) of the Social Security Act' for `subsection (a)').
`(2) 213A ALIEN DEFINED- An alien is a 213A alien for purposes of this
subsection if the affidavit of support or similar agreement with respect to
the alien that was executed by the sponsor of the alien's entry into the
United States was executed pursuant to section 213A of the Immigration and
Nationality Act.'.
(d) INCLUSION OF PARTICIPATION IN ENGLISH-AS-A-SECOND-LANGUAGE PROGRAM
AMONG PERMISSIBLE WORK ACTIVITIES- Section 407(d) (42 U.S.C. 607(d)) is
further amended--
(1) by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (11);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (12) and inserting `;
and'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(14) participation in an English-as-a-second-language program.'.
SEC. 602. TREATMENT OF ALIENS UNDER THE SSI PROGRAM.
(a) ELIGIBILITY OF QUALIFIED ALIENS FOR BENEFITS-
(1) ELIMINATION OF PROHIBITION- Section 402(a) of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1612(a)) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraph (3)(A); and
(B) in paragraph (2) by striking subparagraphs (D)(i), (E), and
(H).
(2) EXCEPTION TO 5-YEAR BAN- Section 403(c)(2) of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1613(c)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(M) Assistance or benefits under the supplemental security income
program under title XVI of the Social Security Act, including
supplementary payments pursuant to an agreement for Federal administration
under section 1616(a) of the Social Security Act and payments pursuant to
an agreement entered into under section 212(b) of Public Law 93-66
(commonly known as SSI).'.
(b) BENEFITS NOT SUBJECT TO REIMBURSEMENT- Section 423(d) of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1138a
note) is further amended by adding at the end the following:
`(13) Assistance under the supplemental security income program under
title XVI of the Social Security Act, except assistance provided to a
sponsored alien who is subject to deeming pursuant to section 1621 of the
Social Security Act.'.
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