HR 4090 RH
Union Calendar No. 275
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4090
[Report No. 107-460, Part I]
To reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to States for
temporary assistance for needy families, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 9, 2002
Mr. HERGER (for himself, Mr. SHAW, Mr. WATKINS of Oklahoma, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr.
ENGLISH, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Ms. DUNN of Washington, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. BRADY
of Texas, Mr. CAMP, Mr. MCINNIS, and Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
May 14, 2002
Additional sponsors: Mr. BARR of Georgia, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. WILSON of South
Carolina, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Ms. HART, and Mr. PITTS
May 14, 2002
Reported with an amendment and referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce for a period ending not later than May 14, 2002, for consideration of
such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of
that committee pursuant to clause 1(e), rule X
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in
italic]
May 14, 2002
Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 9,
2002]
A BILL
To reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to States for
temporary assistance for needy families, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Personal Responsibility, Work, and
Family Promotion Act of 2002'.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--TANF
Sec. 102. Family assistance grants.
Sec. 103. Promotion of family formation and healthy
marriage.
Sec. 104. Supplemental grant for population increases in certain
States.
Sec. 105. Bonus to reward employment achievement.
Sec. 106. Contingency fund.
Sec. 108. Repeal of Federal loan for State welfare
programs.
Sec. 109. Universal engagement and family self-sufficiency plan
requirements.
Sec. 110. Work participation requirements.
Sec. 111. Maintenance of effort.
Sec. 112. Performance improvement.
Sec. 113. Data collection and reporting.
Sec. 114. Direct funding and administration by Indian
tribes.
Sec. 115. Research, evaluations, and national studies.
Sec. 116. Study by the Census Bureau.
Sec. 117. Definition of assistance.
Sec. 118. Technical corrections.
Sec. 119. Fatherhood program.
TITLE II--CHILD CARE
Sec. 201. Entitlement funding.
TITLE III--CHILD SUPPORT
Sec. 301. Federal matching funds for limited pass through of child
support payments to families receiving TANF.
Sec. 302. State option to pass through all child support payments to
families that formerly received TANF.
Sec. 303. Mandatory review and adjustment of child support orders
for families receiving TANF.
Sec. 304. Mandatory fee for successful child support collection for
family that has never received TANF.
Sec. 305. Report on undistributed child support payments.
Sec. 306. Use of new hire information to assist in administration of
unemployment compensation programs.
Sec. 307. Decrease in amount of child support arrearage triggering
passport denial.
Sec. 308. Use of tax refund intercept program to collect past-due
child support on behalf of children who are not minors.
Sec. 309. Garnishment of compensation paid to veterans for
service-connected disabilities in order to enforce child support
obligations.
Sec. 310. Improving Federal debt collection practices.
Sec. 311. Maintenance of technical assistance funding.
Sec. 312. Maintenance of Federal Parent Locator Service
funding.
TITLE IV--CHILD WELFARE
Sec. 401. Extension of authority to approve demonstration
projects.
Sec. 402. Elimination of limitation on number of waivers.
Sec. 403. Elimination of limitation on number of States that may be
granted waivers to conduct demonstration projects on same topic.
Sec. 404. Elimination of limitation on number of waivers that may be
granted to a single State for demonstration projects.
Sec. 405. Streamlined process for consideration of amendments to and
extensions of demonstration projects requiring waivers.
Sec. 406. Availability of reports.
Sec. 407. Technical correction.
TITLE V--SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
Sec. 501. Review of State agency blindness and disability
determinations.
TITLE VI--BROADENED WAIVER AUTHORITY
Sec. 601. Program integration demonstration projects.
TITLE VII--EFFECTIVE DATE
Sec. 701. Effective date.
SEC. 3. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this Act an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a
section or other provision, the amendment or repeal shall be considered to be
made to a section or other provision of the Social Security Act.
SEC. 4. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program
established by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193) has succeeded in moving
families from welfare to work and reducing child poverty.
(A) There has been a dramatic increase in the employment of
current and former welfare recipients. The percentage of working
recipients reached an all-time high in fiscal years 1999 and 2000. In
fiscal year 1999, 33 percent of adult recipients were working, compared to
less than 7 percent in fiscal year 1992, and 11 percent in fiscal year
1996. All States met the overall participation rate standard in fiscal
year 2000, as did the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
(B) Earnings for welfare recipients remaining on the rolls have
also increased significantly, as have earnings for female-headed
households. The increases have been particularly large for the bottom 2
income quintiles, that is, those women who are most likely to be former or
present welfare recipients.
(C) Welfare dependency has plummeted. As of September 2001,
2,103,000 families and 5,333,000 individuals were receiving assistance.
Accordingly, the number of families in the welfare caseload and the number
of individuals receiving cash assistance declined 52 percent and 56
percent, respectively, since the enactment of TANF. These declines have
persisted even as unemployment rates have increased: unemployment rates
nationwide rose 25 percent, from 3.9 percent in September 2000 to 4.9
percent in September 2001, while welfare caseloads continued to drop by 7
percent.
(D) The child poverty rate continued to decline between 1996 and
2000, falling 21 percent from 20.5 to 16.2 percent. The 2000 child poverty
rate is the lowest since 1979. Child poverty rates for African-American
and Hispanic children have also fallen dramatically during the past 6
years. African-American child poverty is at the lowest rate on record and
Hispanic child poverty has had the largest 4-year decrease on
record.
(E) Despite these gains, States have had mixed success in fully
engaging welfare recipients in work activities. While all States have met
the overall work participation rates required by law, in 2000, in an
average month, only about 1/3 of all families with an adult participated
in work activities that were countable toward the State's participation
rate. Eight jurisdictions failed to meet the more rigorous 2-parent work
requirements, and about 20 States are not subject to the 2-parent
requirements, most because they moved their 2-parent cases to separate
State programs where they are not subject to a penalty for failing the
2-parent rates.
(2) As a Nation, we have made substantial progress in reducing teen
pregnancies and births, slowing increases in nonmarital childbearing, and
improving child support collections and paternity establishment.
(A) The teen birth rate has fallen continuously since 1991, down a
dramatic 22 percent by 2000. During the period of 1991-2000, teenage birth
rates fell in all States and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands. Declines also have spanned age, racial, and ethnic
groups. There has been success in lowering the birth rate for both younger
and older teens. The birth rate for those 15-17 years of age is down 29
percent since 1991, and the rate for those 18 and 19 is down 16 percent.
Between 1991 and 2000, teen birth rates declined for all women ages
15-19--white, African American, American Indian, Asian or Pacific
Islander, and Hispanic women ages 15-19. The rate for African American
teens--until recently the highest--experienced the largest decline, down
31 percent from 1991 to 2000, to reach the lowest rate ever reported for
this group. Most births to teens are nonmarital; in 2000, about 73 percent
of the births to teens aged 15-19 occurred outside of
marriage.
(B) Nonmarital childbearing continued to increase slightly in
2000, however not at the sharp rates of increase seen in recent decades.
The birth rate among unmarried women in 2000 was 3.5 percent lower than
its peak reached in 1994, while the proportion of births occurring outside
of marriage has remained at approximately 33 percent since
1998.
(C) The negative consequences of out-of-wedlock birth on the
mother, the child, the family, and society are well documented. These
include increased likelihood of welfare dependency, increased risks of low
birth weight, poor cognitive development, child abuse and neglect, and
teen parenthood, and decreased likelihood of having an intact marriage
during adulthood.
(D) An estimated 23,900,000 children do not live with their
biological father. 16,000,000 children live with their mother only. These
facts are attributable largely to declining marriage rates, increasing
divorce rates, and increasing rates of nonmarital births during the latter
part of the 20th century.
(E) There has been a dramatic rise in cohabitation as marriages
have declined. Only 40 percent of children of cohabiting couples will see
their parents marry. Those who do marry experience a 50 percent higher
divorce rate. Children in single-parent households and cohabiting
households are at much higher risk of child abuse than children in intact
married and stepparent families.
(F) Children who live apart from their biological fathers, on
average, are more likely to be poor, experience educational, health,
emotional, and psychological problems, be victims of child abuse, engage
in criminal behavior, and become involved with the juvenile justice system
than their peers who live with their married, biological mother and
father. A child living in a single-parent family is nearly 5 times as
likely to be poor as a child living in a married-couple family. In
married-couple families, the child poverty rate is 8.1 percent, in
households headed by a single mother, the poverty rate is 39.7
percent.
(G) Since the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, child support collections within
the child support enforcement system have grown every year, increasing
from $12,000,000,000 in fiscal year 1996 to nearly $19,000,000,000 in
fiscal year 2001. The number of paternities established or acknowledged in
fiscal year 2002 reached an historic high of over 1,500,000--which
includes a nearly 100 percent increase through in-hospital acknowledgement
programs to 688,510 in 2000 from 349,356 in 1996. Child support
collections were made in over 7,000,000 cases in fiscal year 2000,
significantly more than the almost 4,000,000 cases having a collection in
1996.
(3) The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996 gave States great flexibility in the use of Federal funds to
develop innovative programs to help families leave welfare and begin
employment and to encourage the formation of 2-parent families.
(A) Total Federal and State TANF expenditures in fiscal year 2000
were $24,000,000,000, up from $22,600,000,000 for the previous year. This
increased spending is attributable to significant new investments in
supportive services in the TANF program, such as child care and activities
to support work.
(B) Since the welfare reform effort began there has been a
dramatic increase in work participation (including employment, community
service, and work experience) among welfare recipients, as well as an
unprecedented reduction in the caseload because recipients have left
welfare for work.
(C) States are making policy choices and investment decisions best
suited to the needs of their citizens.
(i) To expand aid to working families, all States disregard a
portion of a family's earned income when determining benefit
levels.
(ii) Most States increased the limits on countable assets above
the former Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. Every
State has increased the vehicle asset level above the prior AFDC limit
for a family's primary automobile.
(iii) States are experimenting with programs to promote marriage
and father involvement. Over half the States have eliminated
restrictions on 2-parent families. Many States use TANF, child support,
or State funds to support community-based activities to help fathers
become more involved in their children's lives or strengthen
relationships between mothers and fathers.
(4) Therefore, it is the sense of the Congress that increasing
success in moving families from welfare to work, as well as in promoting
healthy marriage and other means of improving child well-being, are very
important Government interests and the policy contained in part A of title
IV of the Social Security Act (as amended by this Act) is intended to serve
these ends.
TITLE I--TANF
SEC. 101. PURPOSES.
Section 401(a) (42 U.S.C. 601(a)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking `increase'
and inserting `improve child well-being by increasing';
(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting `and services' after
`assistance';
(3) in paragraph (2), by striking `parents on government benefits'
and inserting `families on government benefits and reduce poverty';
and
(4) in paragraph (4), by striking `two-parent families' and
inserting `healthy, 2-parent married families, and encourage responsible
fatherhood'.
SEC. 102. FAMILY ASSISTANCE GRANTS.
(a) EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY- Section 403(a)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C.
603(a)(1)(A)) is amended--
(1) by striking `1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002' and
inserting `2003 through 2007'; and
(2) by inserting `payable to the State for the fiscal year' before
the period.
(b) STATE FAMILY ASSISTANCE GRANT- Section 403(a)(1) (42 U.S.C.
603(a)(1)) is amended by striking subparagraphs (B) through (E) and inserting
the following:
`(B) STATE FAMILY ASSISTANCE GRANT- The State family assistance
grant payable to a State for a fiscal year shall be the amount that bears
the same ratio to the amount specified in subparagraph (C) of this
paragraph as the amount required to be paid to the State under this
paragraph for fiscal year 2002 (determined without regard to any reduction
pursuant to section 412(a)(1)) bears to the total amount required to be
paid under this paragraph for fiscal year 2002.
`(C) 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 $16,566,542,000 for grants under this
paragraph.'.
(c) MATCHING GRANTS FOR THE TERRITORIES- Section 1108(b)(2) (42 U.S.C.
1308(b)(2)) is amended by striking `1997 through 2002' and inserting `2003
through 2007'.
SEC. 103. PROMOTION OF FAMILY FORMATION AND HEALTHY MARRIAGE.
(a) STATE PLANS- Section 402(a)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(A)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
`(vii) Encourage equitable treatment of married, 2-parent
families under the program referred to in clause (i).'.
(b) HEALTHY MARRIAGE PROMOTION GRANTS; REPEAL OF BONUS FOR REDUCTION
OF ILLEGITIMACY RATIO- Section 403(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)) is amended to
read as follows:
`(2) HEALTHY MARRIAGE PROMOTION GRANTS-
`(A) AUTHORITY- The Secretary shall award competitive grants to
States, territories, and tribal organizations for not more than 50 percent
of the cost of developing and implementing innovative programs to promote
and support healthy, married, 2-parent families.
`(B) HEALTHY MARRIAGE PROMOTION ACTIVITIES- Funds provided under
subparagraph (A) shall be used to support any of the following programs or
activities:
`(i) Public advertising campaigns on the value of marriage and
the skills needed to increase marital stability and
health.
`(ii) Education in high schools on the value of marriage,
relationship skills, and budgeting.
`(iii) Marriage education, marriage skills, and relationship
skills programs, including parenting skills, financial management,
conflict resolution, and job and career advancement, for non-married
pregnant women and non-married expectant fathers.
`(iv) Pre-marital education and marriage skills training for
engaged couples and for couples interested in marriage.
`(v) Marriage enhancement and marriage skills training programs
for married couples.
`(vi) Divorce reduction programs that teach relationship
skills.
`(vii) Marriage mentoring programs which use married couples as
role models and mentors in at-risk communities.
`(viii) Programs to reduce the disincentives to marriage in
means-tested aid programs, if offered in conjunction with any activity
described in this subparagraph.
`(C) 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.'.
(c) COUNTING OF SPENDING ON NON-ELIGIBLE FAMILIES TO PREVENT AND
REDUCE INCIDENCE OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS, ENCOURAGE FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE
OF HEALTHY, 2-PARENT MARRIED FAMILIES, OR ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD-
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) COUNTING OF SPENDING ON NON-ELIGIBLE FAMILIES TO PREVENT
AND REDUCE INCIDENCE OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK BIRTHS, ENCOURAGE FORMATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF HEALTHY, 2-PARENT MARRIED FAMILIES, OR ENCOURAGE
RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD- The term `qualified State expenditures'
includes the total expenditures by the State during the fiscal year
under all State programs for a purpose described in paragraph (3) or
(4) of section 401(a).'.
SEC. 104. SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT FOR POPULATION INCREASES IN CERTAIN
STATES.
Section 403(a)(3)(H) (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(3)(H)) is amended--
(1) in the subparagraph heading, by striking `OF GRANTS FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2002';
(2) in clause (i), by striking `fiscal year 2002' and inserting
`each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006';
(3) in clause (ii), by striking `2002' and inserting `2006';
and
(4) in clause (iii), by striking `fiscal year 2002' and inserting
`each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006'.
SEC. 105. BONUS TO REWARD EMPLOYMENT ACHIEVEMENT.
(a) REALLOCATION OF FUNDING- Section 403(a)(4) (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(4))
is amended--
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking `HIGH PERFORMANCE STATES'
and inserting `EMPLOYMENT ACHIEVEMENT';
(2) in subparagraph (D)(ii)--
(A) in subclause (I), by striking `equals $200,000,000' and
inserting `(other than 2003) equals $200,000,000, and for bonus year 2003
equals $100,000,000'; and
(B) in subclause (II), by striking `$1,000,000,000' and inserting
`$900,000,000'; and
(3) in subparagraph (F), by striking `$1,000,000,000' and inserting
`$900,000,000'.
(b) BONUS TO REWARD EMPLOYMENT ACHIEVEMENT-
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 403(a)(4) (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(4)) is amended
by striking subparagraphs (A) through (F) and inserting the
following:
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall make a grant pursuant to this
paragraph to each State for each bonus year for which the State is an
employment achievement State.
`(i) IN GENERAL- Subject to clause (ii) of this subparagraph,
the Secretary shall determine the amount of the grant payable under this
paragraph to an employment achievement State for a bonus year, which
shall be based on the performance of the State as determined under
subparagraph (D)(i) for the fiscal year that immediately precedes the
bonus year.
`(ii) LIMITATION- The amount payable to a State under this
paragraph for a bonus year shall not exceed 5 percent of the State
family assistance grant.
`(C) FORMULA FOR MEASURING STATE PERFORMANCE-
`(i) IN GENERAL- Subject to clause (ii), not later than October
1, 2003, the Secretary, in consultation with the National Governors
Association, the American Public Human Services Association, and the
National Conference of State Legislatures, shall develop a formula for
measuring State performance in operating the State program funded under
this part so as to achieve the goals of employment entry, job retention,
and increased earnings from employment for families receiving assistance
under the program, as measured on an absolute basis and on the basis of
improvement in State performance.
`(ii) SPECIAL RULE FOR BONUS YEAR 2004- For the purposes of
awarding a bonus under this paragraph for bonus year 2004, the Secretary
may measure the performance of a State in fiscal year 2003 using the job
entry rate, job retention rate, and earnings gain rate components of the
formula developed under section 403(a)(4)(C) as in effect immediately
before the effective date of this paragraph.
`(D) DETERMINATION OF STATE PERFORMANCE- For each bonus year, the
Secretary shall--
`(i) use the formula developed under subparagraph (C) to
determine the performance of each eligible State for the fiscal year
that precedes the bonus year; and
`(ii) prescribe performance standards in such a manner so as to
ensure that--
`(I) the average annual total amount of grants to be made
under this paragraph for each bonus year equals $100,000,000;
and
`(II) the total amount of grants to be made under this
paragraph for all bonus years equals $500,000,000.
`(E) DEFINITIONS- In this paragraph:
`(i) BONUS YEAR- The term `bonus year' means each of fiscal
years 2004 through 2008.
`(ii) EMPLOYMENT ACHIEVEMENT STATE- The term `employment
achievement State' means, with respect to a bonus year, an eligible
State whose performance determined pursuant to subparagraph (D)(i) for
the fiscal year preceding the bonus year equals or exceeds the
performance standards prescribed under subparagraph (D)(ii) for such
preceding fiscal year.
`(F) APPROPRIATION- Out of any money in the Treasury of the United
States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for fiscal years
2004 through 2008 $500,000,000 for grants under this
paragraph.
`(G) GRANTS FOR TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS- This paragraph shall apply
with respect to tribal organizations in the same manner in which this
paragraph applies with respect to States. In determining the criteria
under which to make grants to tribal organizations under this paragraph,
the Secretary shall consult with tribal organizations.'.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take
effect on October 1, 2003.
SEC. 106. CONTINGENCY FUND.
(a) DEPOSITS INTO FUND- Section 403(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 603(b)(2)) is
amended--
(1) by striking `1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002' and
inserting `2003 through 2007'; and
(2) by striking all that follows `$2,000,000,000' and inserting a
period.
(b) GRANTS- Section 403(b)(3)(C)(ii) (42 U.S.C. 603(b)(3)(C)(ii)) is
amended by striking `fiscal years 1997 through 2002' and inserting `fiscal
years 2003 through 2007'.
(c) DEFINITION OF NEEDY STATE- Clauses (i) and (ii) of section
403(b)(5)(B) (42 U.S.C. 603(b)(5)(B)) are amended by inserting after `1996'
the following: `, and the Food Stamp Act of 1977 as in effect during the
corresponding 3-month period in the fiscal year preceding such most recently
concluded 3-month period,'.
(d) ANNUAL RECONCILIATION: FEDERAL MATCHING OF STATE EXPENDITURES
ABOVE `MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT' LEVEL- Section 403(b)(6) (42 U.S.C. 603(b)(6))
is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii)--
(A) by adding `and' at the end of subclause (I);
(B) by striking `; and' at the end of subclause (II) and inserting
a period; and
(C) by striking subclause (III);
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i)(II), by striking all that follows
`section 409(a)(7)(B)(iii))' and inserting a period;
(3) by amending subparagraph (B)(ii)(I) to read as
follows:
`(I) the qualified State expenditures (as defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i)) for the fiscal year; plus'; and
(4) by striking subparagraph (C).
(e) CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN CHILD CARE EXPENDITURES IN DETERMINING
STATE COMPLIANCE WITH CONTINGENCY FUND MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT REQUIREMENT-
Section 409(a)(10) (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(10)) is amended--
(1) by striking `(other than the expenditures described in subclause
(I)(bb) of that paragraph)) under the State program funded under this part'
and inserting a close parenthesis; and
(2) by striking `excluding any amount expended by the State for
child care under subsection (g) or (i) of section 402 (as in effect during
fiscal year 1994) for fiscal year 1994,'.
SEC. 107. USE OF FUNDS.
(a) GENERAL RULES- Section 404(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 604(a)(2)) is amended
by striking `in any manner that' and inserting `for any purposes or activities
for which'.
(b) TREATMENT OF INTERSTATE IMMIGRANTS-
(1) STATE PLAN PROVISION- Section 402(a)(1)(B) (42 U.S.C.
602(a)(1)(B)) is amended by striking clause (i) and redesignating clauses
(ii) through (iv) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively.
(2) USE OF FUNDS- Section 404 (42 U.S.C. 604) is amended by striking
subsection (c).
(c) INCREASE IN AMOUNT TRANSFERABLE TO CHILD CARE- Section 404(d)(1)
(42 U.S.C. 604(d)(1)) is amended by striking `30' and inserting `50'.
(d) INCREASE IN AMOUNT TRANSFERABLE TO TITLE XX PROGRAMS- Section
404(d)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 604(d)(2)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
`(B) APPLICABLE PERCENT- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the
applicable percent is 10 percent for fiscal year 2003 and each succeeding
fiscal year.'.
(e) 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 to read as follows:
`(e) AUTHORITY TO CARRYOVER OR RESERVE CERTAIN AMOUNTS FOR BENEFITS OR
SERVICES OR FOR FUTURE CONTINGENCIES-
`(1) CARRYOVER- A State or tribe may use a grant made to the State
or tribe under this part for any fiscal year to provide, without fiscal year
limitation, any benefit or service that may be provided under the State or
tribal program funded under this part.
`(2) CONTINGENCY RESERVE- A State or tribe may designate any portion
of a grant made to the State or tribe under this part as a contingency
reserve for future needs, and may use any amount so designated to provide,
without fiscal year limitation, any benefit or service that may be provided
under the State or tribal program funded under this part. If a State or
tribe so designates a portion of such a grant, the State shall, on an annual
basis, include in its report under section 411(a) the amount so
designated.'.
SEC. 108. REPEAL OF FEDERAL LOAN FOR STATE WELFARE PROGRAMS.
(a) REPEAL- Section 406 (42 U.S.C. 606) is repealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-
(1) Section 409(a) (42 U.S.C. 609(a)) is amended by striking
paragraph (6).
(2) Section 412 (42 U.S.C. 612) is amended by striking subsection
(f) and redesignating subsections (g) through (i) as subsections (f) through
(h), respectively.
(3) Section 1108(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1308(a)(2)) is amended by striking
`406,'.
SEC. 109. UNIVERSAL ENGAGEMENT AND FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLAN
REQUIREMENTS.
(a) MODIFICATION OF STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS- Section 402(a)(1)(A) (42
U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(A)) is amended by striking clauses (ii) and (iii) and
inserting the following:
`(ii) Require a parent or caretaker receiving assistance under
the program to engage in work or alternative self-sufficiency activities
(as defined by the State), consistent with section
407(e)(2).
`(iii) Require families receiving assistance under the program
to engage in activities in accordance with family self-sufficiency plans
developed pursuant to section 408(b).'.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLANS-
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 408(b) (42 U.S.C. 608(b)) is amended to read
as follows:
`(b) FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLANS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- A State to which a grant is made under section 403
shall--
`(A) make an initial assessment, in the manner deemed appropriate
by the State, of the skills, prior work experience, and employability of
each recipient of assistance under the program;
`(B) establish for each family that includes a work-eligible
individual receiving assistance under the State program funded under this
part a self-sufficiency plan that specifies appropriate activities
described in the State plan submitted pursuant to section 402, including
direct work activities as appropriate designed to assist the family in
achieving their maximum degree of self-sufficiency, and that provides for
the ongoing participation of the individual in the
activities;
`(C) require, at a minimum, each member of the family who is a
work-eligible individual (as defined in section 407(b)(2)(C)) to
participate in activities in accordance with the self-sufficiency
plan;
`(D) monitor the participation of such family members in the
activities and the progress of the family toward
self-sufficiency;
`(E) regularly review the self-sufficiency plan; and
`(F) revise the self-sufficiency plan as
appropriate.
`(2) TIMING- The State shall comply with paragraph (1) with respect
to a family--
`(A) in the case of a family that, as of October 1, 2002, is not
receiving assistance from the State program funded under this part, not
later than 60 days after the family first receives assistance on the basis
of the most recent application for the assistance; or
`(B) in the case of a family that, as of such date, is receiving
the assistance, not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment
of this subsection.'.
(2) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO ESTABLISH FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLAN-
Section 409(a)(3) (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(3)) is amended--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting `OR ESTABLISH FAMILY
SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLAN' after `RATES'; and
(B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting `or 408(b)' after
`407(a)'.
SEC. 110. WORK PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 407 (42 U.S.C. 607) is amended by striking all
that precedes subsection (b)(3) and inserting the following:
`SEC. 407. WORK PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS.
`(a) PARTICIPATION RATE REQUIREMENTS- A State to which a grant is made
under section 403 for a fiscal year shall achieve a minimum participation rate
equal to not less than--
`(1) 50 percent for fiscal year 2003;
`(2) 55 percent for fiscal year 2004;
`(3) 60 percent for fiscal year 2005;
`(4) 65 percent for fiscal year 2006; and
`(5) 70 percent for fiscal year 2007 and each succeeding fiscal
year.
`(b) CALCULATION OF PARTICIPATION RATES-
`(1) AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE- For purposes of subsection (a), the
participation rate of a State for a fiscal year is the average of the
participation rates of the State for each month in the fiscal
year.
`(2) MONTHLY PARTICIPATION RATES; INCORPORATION OF 40-HOUR WORK WEEK
STANDARD-
`(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of paragraph (1), the participation
rate of a State for a month is--
`(i) the total number of countable hours (as defined in
subsection (c)) with respect to the counted families for the State for
the month; divided by
`(ii) 160 multiplied by the number of counted families for the
State for the month.
`(B) COUNTED FAMILIES DEFINED-
`(i) IN GENERAL- In subparagraph (A), the term `counted family'
means, with respect to a State and a month, a family that includes a
work-eligible individual and that receives assistance in the month under
the State program funded under this part, subject to clause
(ii).
`(ii) STATE OPTION TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN FAMILIES- At the option of
a State, the term `counted family' shall not include--
`(I) a family in the first month for which the family receives
assistance from a State program funded under this part on the basis of
the most recent application for such assistance;
or
`(II) on a case-by-case basis, a family in which the youngest
child has not attained 12 months of age.
`(iii) STATE OPTION TO INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE
UNDER A TRIBAL FAMILY ASSISTANCE PLAN OR TRIBAL WORK PROGRAM- At the
option of a State, the term `counted family' may include families in the
State that are receiving assistance under a tribal family assistance
plan approved under section 412 or under a tribal work program to which
funds are provided under this part.
`(C) WORK-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL DEFINED- In this section, the term
`work-eligible individual' means an individual--
`(i) who is married or a single head of household;
and
`(ii) whose needs are (or, but for sanctions under this part
that have been in effect for more than 3 months (whether or not
consecutive) in the preceding 12 months or under part D, would be)
included in determining the amount of cash assistance to be provided to
the family under the State program funded under this
part.'.
(b) RECALIBRATION OF CASELOAD REDUCTION CREDIT- Section
407(b)(3)(A)(ii) (42 U.S.C. 607(b)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended to read as
follows:
`(ii) the average monthly number of families that received
assistance under the State program funded under this part
during--
`(I) if the fiscal year is fiscal year 2003, fiscal year
1996;
`(II) if the fiscal year is fiscal year 2004, fiscal year
1998;
`(III) if the fiscal year is fiscal year 2005, fiscal year
2001;
`(IV) if the fiscal year is fiscal year 2006, fiscal year
2002; or
`(V) if the fiscal year is fiscal year 2007, fiscal year
2003.'.
(c) SUPERACHIEVER CREDIT- Section 407(b) (42 U.S.C. 607(b)) is amended
by striking paragraphs (4) and (5) and inserting the following:
`(4) SUPERACHIEVER CREDIT-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The participation rate, determined under
paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, of a superachiever State for a
fiscal year shall be increased by the lesser of--
`(i) the amount (if any) of the superachiever credit applicable
to the State; or
`(ii) the number of percentage points (if any) by which the
minimum participation rate required by subsection (a) for the fiscal
year exceeds 50 percent.
`(B) SUPERACHIEVER STATE- For purposes of subparagraph (A), a
State is a superachiever State if the State caseload for fiscal year 2001
has declined by at least 60 percent from the State caseload for fiscal
year 1995.
`(C) AMOUNT OF CREDIT- The superachiever credit applicable to a
State is the number of percentage points (if any) by which the decline
referred to in subparagraph (B) exceeds 60 percent.
`(D) DEFINITIONS- In this paragraph:
`(i) STATE CASELOAD FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001- The term `State
caseload for fiscal year 2001' means the average monthly number of
families that received assistance during fiscal year 2001 under the
State program funded under this part.
`(ii) STATE CASELOAD FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995- The term `State
caseload for fiscal year 1995' means the average monthly number of
families that received aid under the State plan approved under part A
(as in effect on September 30, 1995) during fiscal year
1995.'.
(d) COUNTABLE HOURS- Section 407 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 607) is
amended by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the
following:
`(1) DEFINITION- In subsection (b)(2), the term `countable hours'
means, with respect to a family for a month, the total number of hours in
the month in which any member of the family who is a work-eligible
individual is engaged in a direct work activity or other activities
specified by the State (excluding an activity that does not address a
purpose specified in section 401(a)), subject to the other provisions of
this subsection.
`(2) LIMITATIONS- Subject to such regulations as the Secretary may
prescribe:
`(A) MINIMUM WEEKLY AVERAGE OF 24 HOURS OF DIRECT WORK ACTIVITIES
REQUIRED- If the work-eligible individuals in a family are engaged in a
direct work activity for an average total of fewer than 24 hours per week
in a month, then the number of countable hours with respect to the family
for the month shall be zero.
`(B) MAXIMUM WEEKLY AVERAGE OF 16 HOURS OF OTHER ACTIVITIES- An
average of not more than 16 hours per week of activities specified by the
State (subject to the exclusion described in paragraph (1)) may be
considered countable hours in a month with respect to a
family.
`(3) SPECIAL RULES- For purposes of paragraph (1):
`(A) PARTICIPATION IN QUALIFIED ACTIVITIES-
`(i) IN GENERAL- If, with the approval of the State, the
work-eligible individuals in a family are engaged in 1 or more qualified
activities for an average total of at least 24 hours per week in a
month, then all such engagement in the month shall be considered
engagement in a direct work activity, subject to clause
(iii).
`(ii) QUALIFIED ACTIVITY DEFINED- The term `qualified activity'
means an activity specified by the State (subject to the exclusion
described in paragraph (1)) that meets such standards and criteria as
the State may specify, including--
`(I) substance abuse counseling or
treatment;
`(II) rehabilitation treatment and
services;
`(III) work-related education or training directed effectively
at enabling the family member to work; or
`(IV) job search or job readiness
assistance.
`(I) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in subclause (II), clause
(i) shall not apply to a family for more than 3 months in any period
of 24 consecutive months.
`(II) SPECIAL RULE APPLICABLE TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING- A
State may, on a case-by-case basis, apply clause (i) to a
work-eligible individual so that participation by the individual in
education or training, if needed to permit the individual to complete
a certificate program or other specific course of education in
preparation for specific employment to fill a known job need in a
local area, may be considered countable hours with respect to the
family of the individual for not more than 4
months.
`(B) SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BY TEEN HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD- The
work-eligible members of a family shall be considered to be engaged in a
direct work activity for an average of 40 hours per week in a month if the
family includes an individual who is married, or is a single head of
household, who has not attained 20 years of age, and the
individual--
`(i) maintains satisfactory attendance at secondary school or
the equivalent in the month; or
`(ii) participates in education directly related to employment
for an average of at least 20 hours per week in the
month.
`(d) DIRECT WORK ACTIVITY- In this section, the term `direct work
activity' means--
`(1) unsubsidized employment;
`(2) subsidized private sector employment;
`(3) subsidized public sector employment;
`(4) on-the-job training;
`(5) supervised work experience; or
`(6) supervised community service.'.
(e) PENALTIES AGAINST INDIVIDUALS- Section 407(e)(1) (42 U.S.C.
607(e)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
`(1) REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), if an
individual in a family receiving assistance under a State program funded
under this part fails to engage in activities required in accordance with
this section, or other activities required by the State under the program,
and the family does not otherwise engage in activities in accordance with
the self-sufficiency plan established for the family pursuant to section
408(b), the State shall--
`(i) if the failure is partial or persists for not more than 1
month--
`(I) reduce the amount of assistance otherwise payable to the
family pro rata (or more, at the option of the State) with respect to
any period during a month in which the failure occurs;
or
`(II) terminate all assistance to the family, subject to such
good cause exceptions as the State may establish;
or
`(ii) if the failure is total and persists for at least 2
consecutive months, terminate all cash payments to the family including
qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) for
at least 1 month and thereafter until the individual resumes full
participation in the activities, subject to such good cause exceptions
as the State may establish.
`(B) SPECIAL RULE- In the event of a conflict between a
requirement of clause (i)(II) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) and a
requirement of a State constitution to provide assistance to needy parents
and children, the State constitutional requirement shall
control.'.
(f) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-
(1) Section 404(k)(1)(D) (42 U.S.C. 604(k)(1)(D)) is amended by
striking `work activities (as defined in section 407(d)' and inserting
`direct work activities'.
(2) Section 407(f) (42 U.S.C. 607(f)) is amended in each of
paragraphs (1) and (2) by striking `work activity described in subsection
(d)' and inserting `direct work activity'.
(3) The heading of section 409(a)(14) (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(14)) is
amended by inserting `OR REFUSING TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES UNDER A FAMILY
SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLAN' after `WORK'.
SEC. 111. MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 409(a)(7) (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(7)) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A) by striking `fiscal year 1998, 1999, 2000,
2001, 2002, or 2003' and inserting `fiscal year 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
or 2008'; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii)--
(A) by inserting `preceding' before `fiscal year';
and
(B) by striking `for fiscal years 1997 through
2002,'.
(b) STATE SPENDING ON PROMOTING HEALTHY MARRIAGE-
(1) IN GENERAL- Section 404 (42 U.S.C. 604) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
`(l) MARRIAGE PROMOTION- A State, territory, or tribal organization to
which a grant is made under section 403(a)(2) may use a grant made to the
State, territory, or tribal organization under any other provision of section
403 for marriage promotion activities, and the amount of any such grant so
used shall be considered State funds for purposes of section
403(a)(2).'.
(2) FEDERAL TANF FUNDS USED FOR MARRIAGE PROMOTION DISREGARDED FOR
PURPOSES OF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT REQUIREMENT- Section 409(a)(7)(B)(i) (42
U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B)(i)), as amended by section 103(c) of this Act, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
`(VI) EXCLUSION OF FEDERAL TANF FUNDS USED FOR MARRIAGE
PROMOTION ACTIVITIES- Such term does not include the amount of any
grant made to the State under section 403 that is expended for a
marriage promotion activity.'.
SEC. 112. PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT.
(a) STATE PLANS- Section 402(a) (42 U.S.C. 602(a)) is
amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) (as added by section
103(a) of this Act) as clauses (vii) and (viii); and
(ii) by striking clause (v) and inserting the
following:
`(v) Establish annual, specific numerical performance goals,
measures, measurement methodology, and plans to improve outcomes with
respect to each of the 4 program purposes described in section
401(a).
`(vi) Describe any strategies the State may be undertaking to
address--
`(I) employment retention and advancement for recipients of
assistance under the program, including placement into high-demand
jobs, consistent with the criteria used by the Secretary in
establishing performance targets in regulations prescribed under
section 403(a)(4)(B);
`(II) efforts to reduce teen pregnancy;
`(III) services for struggling and noncompliant families, and
for clients with special problems; and
`(IV) program integration, including the extent to which
employment and training services under the program are provided
through the One-Stop Career Center System created under the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998, and the extent to which former recipients of
such assistance have access to additional core, intensive, or training
services funded through such Act.'; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking clause (iii) (as so
redesignated by section 107(b)(1) of this Act) and inserting the
following:
`(iii) The document shall describe strategies and programs the
State is undertaking to engage religious organizations in the provision
of services funded under this part and efforts related to section 104 of
the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconcilation Act of
1996.
`(iv) The document shall describe strategies to improve program
management and performance.'; and
(2) in paragraph (4), by inserting `and tribal' after `that
local'.
(b) CONSULTATION WITH STATE REGARDING PLAN AND DESIGN OF TRIBAL
PROGRAMS- Section 412(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 612(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking `and' at the end of subparagraph (E);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) and
inserting `; and'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(G) provides an assurance that the State in which the tribe is
located has been consulted regarding the plan and its
design.'.
(c) PERFORMANCE MEASURES- Section 413 (42 U.S.C. 613) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
`(k) PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT- The Secretary, in consultation with the
National Governors' Association, the National Conference of State
Legislatures, and the American Public Human Services Association, shall
develop uniform performance measures designed to assess the degree of
effectiveness, and the degree of improvement, of State programs funded under
this part in accomplishing the purposes of this part.'.
(d) ANNUAL RANKING OF STATES- Section 413(d)(1) (42 U.S.C. 613(d)(1))
is amended by striking `long-term private sector jobs' and inserting `private
sector jobs, the success of the recipients in retaining employment, the
ability of the recipients to increase their wages'.
SEC. 113. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING.
(a) CONTENTS OF REPORT- Section 411(a)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C. 611(a)(1)(A))
is amended--
(1) in clause (vii), by inserting `and minor parent' after `of each
adult';
(2) in clause (viii), by striking `and educational
level';
(3) in clause (ix), by striking `, and if the latter 2, the amount
received';
(A) by striking `each type of'; and
(B) by inserting before the period `and, if applicable, the reason
for receipt of the assistance for a total of more than 60
months';
(5) in clause (xi), by striking the subclauses and inserting the
following:
`(I) Subsidized private sector employment.
`(II) Unsubsidized employment.
`(III) Public sector employment, supervised work experience,
or supervised community service.
`(IV) On-the-job training.
`(V) Job search and placement.
`(VIII) Other activities directed at the purposes of this
part, as specified in the State plan submitted pursuant to section
402.';
(6) in clause (xii), by inserting `and progress toward universal
engagement' after `participation rates';
(7) in clause (xiii), by striking `type and' before `amount of
assistance';
(8) in clause (xvi), by striking subclause (II) and redesignating
subclauses (III) through (V) as subclauses (II) through (IV), respectively;
and
(9) by adding at the end the following:
`(xviii) The date the family first received assistance from the
State program on the basis of the most recent application for such
assistance.
`(xix) Whether a self-sufficiency plan is established for the
family in accordance with section 408(b).
`(xx) With respect to any child in the family, the marital
status of the parents at the birth of the child, and if the parents were
not then married, whether the paternity of the child has been
established.'.
(b) USE OF SAMPLES- Section 411(a)(1)(B) (42 U.S.C. 611(a)(1)(B)) is
amended--
(A) by striking `a sample' and inserting `samples';
and
(B) by inserting before the period `, except that the Secretary
may designate core data elements that must be reported on all families';
and
(2) in clause (ii), by striking `funded under this part' and
inserting `described in subparagraph (A)'.
(c) REPORT ON FAMILIES THAT BECOME INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE-
Section 411(a) (42 U.S.C. 611(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (5);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (5) (as so redesignated) the
following:
`(6) REPORT ON FAMILIES THAT BECOME INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
ASSISTANCE- The report required by paragraph (1) for a fiscal quarter shall
include for each month in the quarter the number of families and total
number of individuals that, during the month, became ineligible to receive
assistance under the State program funded under this part (broken down by
the number of families that become so ineligible due to earnings, changes in
family composition that result in increased earnings, sanctions, time
limits, or other specified reasons).'.
(d) REGULATIONS- Section 411(a)(7) (42 U.S.C. 611(a)(7)) is
amended--
(1) by inserting `and to collect the necessary data' before `with
respect to which reports';
(2) by striking `subsection' and inserting `section'; and
(3) by striking `in defining the data elements' and all that follows
and inserting `, the National Governors' Association, the American Public
Human Services Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures,
and others in defining the data elements.'.
(e) ADDITIONAL REPORTS BY STATES- Section 411 (42 U.S.C. 611) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (e);
and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
`(b) ANNUAL REPORTS ON PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS- Not later than 90 days
after the end of fiscal year 2004 and each succeeding fiscal year, each
eligible State shall submit to the Secretary a report on the characteristics
of the State program funded under this part and other State programs funded
with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)). The
report shall include, with respect to each such program, the program name, a
description of program activities, the program purpose, the program
eligibility criteria, the sources of program funding, the number of program
beneficiaries, sanction policies, and any program work requirements.
`(c) MONTHLY REPORTS ON CASELOAD- Not later than 3 months after the
end of a calendar month that begins 1 year or more after the enactment of this
subsection, each eligible State shall submit to the Secretary report on the
number of families and total number of individuals receiving assistance in the
calendar month under the State program funded under this part.
`(d) ANNUAL REPORT ON PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT- Beginning with fiscal
year 2004, not later than January 1 of each fiscal year, each eligible State
shall submit to the Secretary a report on achievement and improvement during
the preceding fiscal year under the numerical performance goals and measures
under the State program funded under this part with respect to each of the
matters described in section 402(a)(1)(A)(v).'.
(f) ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS BY THE SECRETARY- Section 411(e), as so
redesignated by subsection (e) of this section, is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking `and each
fiscal year thereafter' and inserting `and by July 1 of each fiscal year
thereafter';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking `families applying for
assistance,' and by striking the last comma; and
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting `and other programs funded with
qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i))' before
the semicolon.
(g) INCREASED ANALYSIS OF STATE SINGLE AUDIT REPORTS- Section 411 (42
U.S.C. 611) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(f) INCREASED ANALYSIS OF STATE SINGLE AUDIT REPORTS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Within 3 months after a State submits to the
Secretary a report pursuant to section 7502(a)(1)(A) of title 31, United
States Code, the Secretary shall analyze the report for the purpose of
identifying the extent and nature of problems related to the oversight by
the State of nongovernmental entities with respect to contracts entered into
by such entities with the State program funded under this part, and
determining what additional actions may be appropriate to help prevent and
correct the problems.
`(2) INCLUSION OF PROGRAM OVERSIGHT SECTION IN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE
CONGRESS- The Secretary shall include in each report under subsection (a) a
section on oversight of State programs funded under this part, including
findings on the extent and nature of the problems referred to in paragraph
(1), actions taken to resolve the problems, and to the extent the Secretary
deems appropriate make recommendations on changes needed to resolve the
problems.'.
SEC. 114. DIRECT FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION BY INDIAN TRIBES.
(a) TRIBAL FAMILY ASSISTANCE GRANT- Section 412(a)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C.
612(a)(1)(A)) is amended by striking `1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002'
and inserting `2003 through 2007'.
(b) GRANTS FOR INDIAN TRIBES THAT RECEIVED JOBS FUNDS- Section
412(a)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 612(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking `1997, 1998,
1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002' and inserting `2003 through 2007'.
SEC. 115. RESEARCH, EVALUATIONS, AND NATIONAL STUDIES.
(a) SECRETARY'S FUND FOR RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE- Section 413 (42 U.S.C. 613), as amended by section 112(c) of this
Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
`(l) FUNDING FOR RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Out of any money in the Treasury of the United
States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $102,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007, which shall be available to the
Secretary for the purpose of conducting and supporting research and
demonstration projects by public or private entities, and providing
technical assistance to States, Indian tribal organizations, and such other
entities as the Secretary may specify that are receiving a grant under this
part, which shall be expended primarily on activities described in section
403(a)(2)(B), and which shall be in addition to any other funds made
available under this part.
`(2) SET ASIDE FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR COORDINATION OF
PROVISION OF CHILD WELFARE AND TANF SERVICES TO TRIBAL FAMILIES AT RISK OF
CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1)
for a fiscal year, $2,000,000 shall be awarded on a competitive basis to
fund demonstration projects designed to test the effectiveness of tribal
governments or tribal consortia in coordinating the provision to tribal
families at risk of child abuse or neglect of child welfare services and
services under tribal programs funded under this part.
`(B) USE OF FUNDS- A grant made to such a project shall be
used--
`(i) to improve case management for families eligible for
assistance from such a tribal program;
`(ii) for supportive services and assistance to tribal children
in out-of-home placements and the tribal families caring for such
children, including families who adopt such children;
and
`(iii) for prevention services and assistance to tribal families
at risk of child abuse and neglect.
`(C) REPORTS- The Secretary may require a recipient of funds
awarded under this paragraph to provide the Secretary with such
information as the Secretary deems relevant to enable the Secretary to
facilitate and oversee the administration of any project for which funds
are provided under this paragraph.'.
(b) FUNDING OF STUDIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS- Section 413(h)(1) (42
U.S.C. 613(h)(1)) is amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) by
striking `1997 through 2002' and inserting `2003 through 2007'.
(c) REPORT ON ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN AFFIDAVITS OF SUPPORT AND SPONSOR
DEEMING- Not later than March 31, 2004, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall submit to the
Congress a report on the enforcement of affidavits of support and sponsor
deeming as required by section 421, 422, and 432 of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
SEC. 116. STUDY BY THE CENSUS BUREAU.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 414(a) (42 U.S.C. 614(a)) is amended to read
as follows:
`(a) IN GENERAL- The Bureau of the Census shall implement a new
longitudinal survey of program dynamics, developed in consultation with the
Secretary and made available to interested parties, to allow for the
assessment of the outcomes of continued welfare reform on the economic and
child well-being of low-income families with children, including those who
received assistance or services from a State program funded under this part,
and, to the extent possible, shall provide State representative samples. The
content of the survey should include such information as may be necessary to
examine the issues of out-of-wedlock childbearing, marriage, welfare
dependency, the beginning and ending of spells of assistance, work, earnings
and employment stability, and the well-being of children.'.
(b) APPROPRIATION- Section 414(b) (42 U.S.C. 614(b)) is amended by
striking `1996,' and all that follows through `2002' and inserting `2003
through 2007'.
SEC. 117. DEFINITION OF ASSISTANCE.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 419 (42 U.S.C. 619) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `assistance' means payment, by cash,
voucher, or other means, to or for an individual or family for the purpose
of meeting a subsistence need of the individual or family (including food,
clothing, shelter, and related items, but not including costs of
transportation or child care).
`(B) EXCEPTION- The term `assistance' does not include a payment
described in subparagraph (A) to or for an individual or family on a
short-term, nonrecurring basis (as defined by the State in accordance with
regulations prescribed by the Secretary).'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-
(1) Section 404(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 604(a)(1)) is amended by striking
`assistance' and inserting `aid'.
(2) Section 404(f) (42 U.S.C. 604(f)) is amended by striking
`assistance' and inserting `benefits or services'.
(3) Section 408(a)(5)(B)(i) (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(5)(B)(i)) is amended
in the heading by striking `ASSISTANCE' and inserting `AID'.
(4) Section 413(d)(2) (42 U.S.C. 613(d)(2)) is amended by striking
`assistance' and inserting `aid'.
SEC. 118. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Section 409(c)(2) (42 U.S.C. 609(c)(2)) is amended by inserting a
comma after `appropriate'.
(b) Section 411(a)(1)(A)(ii)(III) (42 U.S.C. 611(a)(1)(A)(ii)(III)) is
amended by striking the last close parenthesis.
(c) Section 413(j)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 613(j)(2)(A)) is amended by
striking `section' and inserting `sections'.
(d)(1) Section 413 (42 U.S.C. 613) is amended by striking subsection
(g) and redesignating subsections (h) through (j) and subsections (k) and (l)
(as added by sections 112(c) and 115(a) of this Act, respectively) as
subsections (g) through (k), respectively.
(2) Each of the following provisions is amended by striking `413(j)'
and inserting `413(i)':
(A) Section 403(a)(5)(A)(ii)(III) (42 U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(A)(ii)(III)).
(B) Section 403(a)(5)(F) (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(F)).
(C) Section 403(a)(5)(G)(ii) (42 U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(G)(ii)).
(D) Section 412(a)(3)(B)(iv) (42 U.S.C.
612(a)(3)(B)(iv)).
SEC. 119. FATHERHOOD PROGRAM.
(a) SHORT TITLE- This section may be cited as the `Promotion and
Support of Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage Act of 2002'.
(1) IN GENERAL- Title I of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 117. FATHERHOOD PROGRAM.
`(a) IN GENERAL- Title IV (42 U.S.C. 601-679b) is amended by inserting
after part B the following:
`PART C--FATHERHOOD PROGRAM
`SEC. 441. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
`(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds that there is substantial evidence
strongly indicating the urgent need to promote and support involved,
committed, and responsible fatherhood, and to encourage and support healthy
marriages between parents raising children, including data demonstrating the
following:
`(1) In approximately 90 percent of cases where a parent is absent,
that parent is the father.
`(2) By some estimates, 60 percent of children born in the 1990's
will spend a significant portion of their childhood in a home without a
father.
`(3) Nearly 75 percent of children in single-parent homes will
experience poverty before they are 11 years old, compared with only 20
percent of children in 2-parent families.
`(4) Low income is positively correlated with children's
difficulties with education, social adjustment, and delinquency, and
single-parent households constitute a disproportionate share of low-income
households.
`(5) Where families (whether intact or with a parent absent) are
living in poverty, a significant factor is the father's lack of job
skills.
`(6) Children raised in 2-parent married families, on average, fare
better as a group in key areas, including better school performance, reduced
rates of substance abuse, crime, and delinquency, fewer health, emotional,
and behavioral problems, lower rates of teenage sexual activity, less risk
of abuse or neglect, and lower risk of teen suicide.
`(7) Committed and responsible fathering during infancy and early
childhood contributes to the development of emotional security, curiosity,
and math and verbal skills.
`(8) An estimated 24,000,000 children (33.5 percent) live apart from
their biological father.
`(9) A recent national survey indicates that of all children under
age 18 not living with their biological father, 29 percent had not seen
their father even once in the last 12 months.
`(b) PURPOSES- The purposes of this part are:
`(1) To provide for projects and activities by public entities and
by nonprofit community entities, including religious organizations, designed
to test promising approaches to accomplishing the following
objectives:
`(A) Promoting responsible, caring, and effective parenting
through counseling, mentoring, and parenting education, dissemination of
educational materials and information on parenting skills, encouragement
of positive father involvement, including the positive involvement of
nonresident fathers, and other methods.
`(B) Enhancing the abilities and commitment of unemployed or
low-income fathers to provide material support for their families and to
avoid or leave welfare programs by assisting them to take full advantage
of education, job training, and job search programs, to improve work
habits and work skills, to secure career advancement by activities such as
outreach and information dissemination, coordination, as appropriate, with
employment services and job training programs, including the One-Stop
delivery system established under title I of the Workforce Investment Act
of 1998, encouragement and support of timely payment of current child
support and regular payment toward past due child support obligations in
appropriate cases, and other methods.
`(C) Improving fathers' ability to effectively manage family
business affairs by means such as education, counseling, and mentoring in
matters including household management, budgeting, banking, and handling
of financial transactions, time management, and home
maintenance.
`(D) Encouraging and supporting healthy marriages and married
fatherhood through such activities as premarital education, including the
use of premarital inventories, marriage preparation programs, skills-based
marriage education programs, marital therapy, couples counseling, divorce
education and reduction programs, divorce mediation and counseling,
relationship skills enhancement programs, including those designed to
reduce child abuse and domestic violence, and dissemination of information
about the benefits of marriage for both parents and
children.
`(2) Through the projects and activities described in paragraph (1),
to improve outcomes for children with respect to measures such as increased
family income and economic security, improved school performance, better
health, improved emotional and behavioral stability and social adjustment,
and reduced risk of delinquency, crime, substance abuse, child abuse and
neglect, teen sexual activity, and teen suicide.
`(3) To evaluate the effectiveness of various approaches and to
disseminate findings concerning outcomes and other information in order to
encourage and facilitate the replication of effective approaches to
accomplishing these objectives.
`SEC. 442. DEFINITIONS.
`In this part, the terms `Indian tribe' and `tribal organization' have
the meanings given them in subsections (e) and (l), respectively, of section 4
of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
`SEC. 443. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR SERVICE PROJECTS.
`(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may make grants for fiscal years 2003
through 2007 to public and nonprofit community entities, including religious
organizations, and to Indian tribes and tribal organizations, for
demonstration service projects and activities designed to test the
effectiveness of various approaches to accomplish the objectives specified in
section 441(b)(1).
`(b) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FULL SERVICE GRANTS- In order to be
eligible for a grant under this section, except as specified in subsection
(c), an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary containing the
following:
`(1) PROJECT DESCRIPTION- A statement including--
`(A) a description of the project and how it will be carried out,
including the geographical area to be covered and the number and
characteristics of clients to be served, and how it will address each of
the 4 objectives specified in section 441(b)(1); and
`(B) a description of the methods to be used by the entity or its
contractor to assess the extent to which the project was successful in
accomplishing its specific objectives and the general objectives specified
in section 441(b)(1).
`(2) EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS- A demonstration of ability to
carry out the project, by means such as demonstration of experience in
successfully carrying out projects of similar design and scope, and such
other information as the Secretary may find necessary to demonstrate the
entity's capacity to carry out the project, including the entity's ability
to provide the non-Federal share of project resources.
`(3) ADDRESSING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE- A
description of how the entity will assess for the presence of, and intervene
to resolve, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect, including how the
entity will coordinate with State and local child protective service and
domestic violence programs.
`(4) ADDRESSING CONCERNS RELATING TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SEXUAL
ACTIVITY- A commitment to make available to each individual participating in
the project education about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and about the
health risks associated with abusing such substances, and information about
diseases and conditions transmitted through substance abuse and sexual
contact, including HIV/AIDS, and to coordinate with providers of services
addressing such problems, as appropriate.
`(5) COORDINATION WITH SPECIFIED PROGRAMS- An undertaking to
coordinate, as appropriate, with State and local entities responsible for
the programs under parts A, B, and D of this title, including programs under
title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (including the One-Stop
delivery system), and such other programs as the Secretary may
require.
`(6) RECORDS, REPORTS, AND AUDITS- An agreement to maintain such
records, make such reports, and cooperate with such reviews or audits as the
Secretary may find necessary for purposes of oversight of project activities
and expenditures.
`(7) SELF-INITIATED EVALUATION- If the entity elects to contract for
independent evaluation of the project (part or all of the cost of which may
be paid for using grant funds), a commitment to submit to the Secretary a
copy of the evaluation report within 30 days after completion of the report
and not more than 1 year after completion of the project.
`(8) COOPERATION WITH SECRETARY'S OVERSIGHT AND EVALUATION- An
agreement to cooperate with the Secretary's evaluation of projects assisted
under this section, by means including random assignment of clients to
service recipient and control groups, if determined by the Secretary to be
appropriate, and affording the Secretary access to the project and to
project-related records and documents, staff, and clients.
`(c) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR LIMITED PURPOSE GRANTS- In order to be
eligible for a grant under this section in an amount under $25,000 per fiscal
year, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary containing the
following:
`(1) PROJECT DESCRIPTION- A description of the project and how it
will be carried out, including the number and characteristics of clients to
be served, the proposed duration of the project, and how it will address at
least 1 of the 4 objectives specified in section 441(b)(1).
`(2) QUALIFICATIONS- Such information as the Secretary may require
as to the capacity of the entity to carry out the project, including any
previous experience with similar activities.
`(3) COORDINATION WITH RELATED PROGRAMS- As required by the
Secretary in appropriate cases, an undertaking to coordinate and cooperate
with State and local entities responsible for specific programs relating to
the objectives of the project including, as appropriate, jobs programs and
programs serving children and families.
`(4) RECORDS, REPORTS, AND AUDITS- An agreement to maintain such
records, make such reports, and cooperate with such reviews or audits as the
Secretary may find necessary for purposes of oversight of project activities
and expenditures.
`(5) COOPERATION WITH SECRETARY'S OVERSIGHT AND EVALUATION- An
agreement to cooperate with the Secretary's evaluation of projects assisted
under this section, by means including affording the Secretary access to the
project and to project-related records and documents, staff, and
clients.
`(d) CONSIDERATIONS IN AWARDING GRANTS-
`(1) DIVERSITY OF PROJECTS- In awarding grants under this section,
the Secretary shall seek to achieve a balance among entities of differing
sizes, entities in differing geographic areas, entities in urban and in
rural areas, and entities employing differing methods of achieving the
purposes of this section, including working with the State agency
responsible for the administration of part D to help fathers satisfy child
support arrearage obligations.
`(2) PREFERENCE FOR PROJECTS SERVING LOW-INCOME FATHERS- In awarding
grants under this section, the Secretary may give preference to applications
for projects in which a majority of the clients to be served are low-income
fathers.
`(1) IN GENERAL- Grants for a project under this section for a
fiscal year shall be available for a share of the cost of such project in
such fiscal year equal to--
`(A) up to 80 percent (or up to 90 percent, if the entity
demonstrates to the Secretary's satisfaction circumstances limiting the
entity's ability to secure non-Federal resources) in the case of a project
under subsection (b); and
`(B) up to 100 percent, in the case of a project under subsection
(c).
`(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE- The non-Federal share may be in cash or in
kind. In determining the amount of the non-Federal share, the Secretary may
attribute fair market value to goods, services, and facilities contributed
from non-Federal sources.
`SEC. 444. MULTICITY, MULTISTATE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
`(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may make grants under this section for
fiscal years 2003 through 2007 to eligible entities (as specified in
subsection (b)) for 2 multicity, multistate projects demonstrating approaches
to achieving the objectives specified in section 441(b)(1). One of the
projects shall test the use of married couples to deliver program
services.
`(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES- An entity eligible for a grant under this
section must be a national nonprofit fatherhood promotion organization that
meets the following requirements:
`(1) EXPERIENCE WITH FATHERHOOD PROGRAMS- The organization must have
substantial experience in designing and successfully conducting programs
that meet the purposes described in section 441.
`(2) EXPERIENCE WITH MULTICITY, MULTISTATE PROGRAMS AND GOVERNMENT
COORDINATION- The organization must have experience in simultaneously
conducting such programs in more than 1 major metropolitan area in more than
1 State and in coordinating such programs, where appropriate, with State and
local government agencies and private, nonprofit agencies (including
community-based and religious organizations), including State or local
agencies responsible for child support enforcement and workforce
development.
`(c) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS- In order to be eligible for a grant
under this section, an entity must submit to the Secretary an application that
includes the following:
`(A) ELIGIBLE ENTITY- A demonstration that the entity meets the
requirements of subsection (b).
`(B) OTHER- Such other information as the Secretary may find
necessary to demonstrate the entity's capacity to carry out the project,
including the entity's ability to provide the non-Federal share of project
resources.
`(2) PROJECT DESCRIPTION- A description of and commitments
concerning the project design, including the following:
`(A) IN GENERAL- A detailed description of the proposed project
design and how it will be carried out, which shall--
`(i) provide for the project to be conducted in at least 3 major
metropolitan areas;
`(ii) state how it will address each of the 4 objectives
specified in section 441(b)(1);
`(iii) demonstrate that there is a sufficient number of
potential clients to allow for the random selection of individuals to
participate in the project and for comparisons with appropriate control
groups composed of individuals who have not participated in such
projects; and
`(iv) demonstrate that the project is designed to direct a
majority of project resources to activities serving low-income fathers
(but the project need not make services available on a means-tested
basis).
`(B) OVERSIGHT, EVALUATION, AND ADJUSTMENT COMPONENT- An agreement
that the entity--
`(i) in consultation with the evaluator selected pursuant to
section 445, and as required by the Secretary, will modify the project
design, initially and (if necessary) subsequently throughout the
duration of the project, in order to facilitate ongoing and final
oversight and evaluation of project operation and outcomes (by means
including, to the maximum extent feasible, random assignment of clients
to service recipient and control groups), and to provide for mid-course
adjustments in project design indicated by interim
evaluations;
`(ii) will submit to the Secretary revised descriptions of the
project design as modified in accordance with clause (i);
and
`(iii) will cooperate fully with the Secretary's ongoing
oversight and ongoing and final evaluation of the project, by means
including affording the Secretary access to the project and to
project-related records and documents, staff, and
clients.
`(3) ADDRESSING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE- A
description of how the entity will assess for the presence of, and intervene
to resolve, domestic violence and child abuse and neglect, including how the
entity will coordinate with State and local child protective service and
domestic violence programs.
`(4) ADDRESSING CONCERNS RELATING TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SEXUAL
ACTIVITY- A commitment to make available to each individual participating in
the project education about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and about the
health risks associated with abusing such substances, and information about
diseases and conditions transmitted through substance abuse and sexual
contact, including HIV/AIDS, and to coordinate with providers of services
addressing such problems, as appropriate.
`(5) COORDINATION WITH SPECIFIED PROGRAMS- An undertaking to
coordinate, as appropriate, with State and local entities responsible for
the programs funded under parts A, B, and D of this title, programs under
title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (including the One-Stop
delivery system), and such other programs as the Secretary may
require.
`(6) RECORDS, REPORTS, AND AUDITS- An agreement to maintain such
records, make such reports, and cooperate with such reviews or audits (in
addition to those required under the preceding provisions of paragraph (2))
as the Secretary may find necessary for purposes of oversight of project
activities and expenditures.
`(1) IN GENERAL- Grants for a project under this section for a
fiscal year shall be available for up to 80 percent of the cost of such
project in such fiscal year.
`(2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE- The non-Federal share may be in cash or in
kind. In determining the amount of the non-Federal share, the Secretary may
attribute fair market value to goods, services, and facilities contributed
from non-Federal sources.
`SEC. 445. EVALUATION.
`(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, directly or by contract or cooperative
agreement, shall evaluate the effectiveness of service projects funded under
sections 443 and 444 from the standpoint of the purposes specified in section
441(b)(1).
`(b) EVALUATION METHODOLOGY- Evaluations under this section
shall--
`(1) include, to the maximum extent feasible, random assignment of
clients to service delivery and control groups and other appropriate
comparisons of groups of individuals receiving and not receiving
services;
`(2) describe and measure the effectiveness of the projects in
achieving their specific project goals; and
`(3) describe and assess, as appropriate, the impact of such
projects on marriage, parenting, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect,
money management, employment and earnings, payment of child support, and
child well-being, health, and education.
`(c) EVALUATION REPORTS- The Secretary shall publish the following
reports on the results of the evaluation:
`(1) An implementation evaluation report covering the first 24
months of the activities under this part to be completed by 36 months after
initiation of such activities.
`(2) A final report on the evaluation to be completed by September
30, 2010.
`SEC. 446. PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
`The Secretary is authorized, by grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement, to carry out projects and activities of national significance
relating to fatherhood promotion, including--
`(1) COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION- Assisting States,
communities, and private entities, including religious organizations, in
efforts to promote and support marriage and responsible fatherhood by
collecting, evaluating, developing, and making available (through the
Internet and by other means) to all interested parties information regarding
approaches to accomplishing the objectives specified in section
441(b)(1).
`(2) MEDIA CAMPAIGN- Developing, promoting, and distributing to
interested States, local governments, public agencies, and private nonprofit
organizations, including charitable and religious organizations, a media
campaign that promotes and encourages involved, committed, and responsible
fatherhood and married fatherhood.
`(3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- Providing technical assistance, including
consultation and training, to public and private entities, including
community organizations and faith-based organizations, in the implementation
of local fatherhood promotion programs.
`(4) RESEARCH- Conducting research related to the purposes of this
part.
`SEC. 447. NONDISCRIMINATION.
`The projects and activities assisted under this part shall be
available on the same basis to all fathers and expectant fathers able to
benefit from such projects and activities, including married and unmarried
fathers and custodial and noncustodial fathers, with particular attention to
low-income fathers, and to mothers and expectant mothers on the same basis as
to fathers.
`SEC. 448. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATION FOR CERTAIN
PURPOSE.
`(a) AUTHORIZATION- There are authorized to be appropriated
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007 to carry out the
provisions of this part.
`(b) RESERVATION- Of the amount appropriated under this section for
each fiscal year, not more than 15 percent shall be available for the costs of
the multicity, multicounty, multistate demonstration projects under section
444, evaluations under section 445, and projects of national significance
under section 446.'.
`(b) INAPPLICABILITY OF EFFECTIVE DATE PROVISIONS- Section 116 shall
not apply to the amendment made by subsection (a) of this section.'.
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- Section 2 of such Act is amended in the
table of contents by inserting after the item relating to section 116 the
following new item:
`Sec. 117.Fatherhood program.'.
TITLE II--CHILD CARE
SEC. 201. ENTITLEMENT FUNDING.
Section 418(a)(3)(F) (42 U.S.C. 618(a)(3)(F)) is amended to read as
follows:
`(F) $2,717,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through
2007.'.
TITLE III--CHILD SUPPORT
SEC. 301. FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS FOR LIMITED PASS THROUGH OF CHILD
SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO FAMILIES RECEIVING TANF.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 457(a) (42 U.S.C. 657(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting `subject to paragraph (7)'
before the semicolon; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(7) FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS FOR LIMITED PASS THROUGH OF CHILD
SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO FAMILIES RECEIVING TANF- Notwithstanding paragraph (1),
a State shall not be required to pay to the Federal Government the Federal
share of an amount collected during a month on behalf of a family that is a
recipient of assistance under the State program funded under part A, to the
extent that--
`(A) the State distributes the amount to the family;
`(B) the total of the amounts so distributed to the family during
the month--
`(i) exceeds the amount (if any) that, as of December 31, 2001,
was required under State law to be distributed to a family under
paragraph (1)(B); and
`(ii) does not exceed the greater of--
`(II) $50 plus the amount described in clause (i);
and
`(C) the amount is disregarded in determining the amount and type
of assistance provided to the family under the State program funded under
part A.'.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply
to amounts distributed on or after October 1, 2004.
SEC. 302. STATE OPTION TO PASS THROUGH ALL CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO
FAMILIES THAT FORMERLY RECEIVED TANF.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 457(a) (42 U.S.C. 657(a)), as amended by
section 301 of this Act, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by
inserting `, except as provided in paragraph (8),' after `shall';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(8) STATE OPTION TO PASS THROUGH ALL CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO
FAMILIES THAT FORMERLY RECEIVED TANF- In lieu of applying paragraph (2) to
any family described in paragraph (2), a State may distribute to the family
any amount collected during a month on behalf of the family.'.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply
to amounts distributed on or after October 1, 2004.
SEC. 303. MANDATORY REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS FOR
FAMILIES RECEIVING TANF.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 466(a)(10)(A)(i) (42 U.S.C. 666(a)(10)(A)(i))
is amended--
(1) by striking `parent, or,' and inserting `parent or';
and
(2) by striking `upon the request of the State agency under the
State plan or of either parent,'.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take
effect on October 1, 2004.
SEC. 304. MANDATORY FEE FOR SUCCESSFUL CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTION FOR
FAMILY THAT HAS NEVER RECEIVED TANF.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 454(6)(B) (42 U.S.C. 654(6)(B)) is
amended--
(1) by inserting `(i)' after `(B)';
(2) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and
(II), respectively;
(3) by adding `and' after the semicolon; and
(4) by adding after and below the end the following new
clause:
`(ii) in the case of an individual who has never received
assistance under a State program funded under part A and for whom the
State has collected at least $500 of support, the State shall impose an
annual fee of $25 for each case in which services are furnished, which
shall be retained by the State from support collected on behalf of the
individual (but not from the 1st $500 so collected), paid by the
individual applying for the services, recovered from the absent parent, or
paid by the State out of its own funds (the payment of which from State
funds shall not be considered as an administrative cost of the State for
the operation of the plan, and shall be considered income to the
program);'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 457(a)(3) (42 U.S.C. 657(a)(3)) is
amended to read as follows:
`(3) FAMILIES THAT NEVER RECEIVED ASSISTANCE- In the case of any
other family, the State shall distribute to the family the portion of the
amount so collected that remains after withholding any fee pursuant to
section 454(6)(B)(ii).'.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on October 1, 2003.
SEC. 305. REPORT ON UNDISTRIBUTED CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on
Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of
the Senate a report on the procedures that the States use generally to locate
custodial parents for whom child support has been collected but not yet
distributed. The report shall include an estimate of the total amount of such
undistributed child support and the average length of time it takes for such
child support to be distributed. To the extent the Secretary deems
appropriate, the Secretary shall include in the report recommendations as to
whether additional procedures should be established at the State or Federal
level to expedite the payment of undistributed child support.
SEC. 306. USE OF NEW HIRE INFORMATION TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTRATION OF
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 453(j) (42 U.S.C. 653(j)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
`(7) INFORMATION COMPARISONS AND DISCLOSURE TO ASSIST IN
ADMINISTRATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION PROGRAMS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- If a State agency responsible for the
administration of an unemployment compensation program under Federal or
State law transmits to the Secretary the name and social security account
number of an individual, the Secretary shall, if the information in the
National Directory of New Hires indicates that the individual may be
employed, disclose to the State agency the name, address, and employer
identification number of any putative employer of the individual, subject
to this paragraph.
`(B) CONDITION ON DISCLOSURE- The Secretary shall make a
disclosure under subparagraph (A) only to the extent that the Secretary
determines that the disclosure would not interfere with the effective
operation of the program under this part.
`(C) USE OF INFORMATION- A State agency may use information
provided under this paragraph only for purposes of administering a program
referred to in subparagraph (A).'.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take
effect on October 1, 2003.
SEC. 307. DECREASE IN AMOUNT OF CHILD SUPPORT ARREARAGE TRIGGERING
PASSPORT DENIAL.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 452(k)(1) (42 U.S.C. 652(k)(1)) is amended by
striking `$5,000' and inserting `$2,500'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 454(31) (42 U.S.C. 654(31)) is
amended by striking `$5,000' and inserting `$2,500'.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on October 1, 2003.
SEC. 308. USE OF TAX REFUND INTERCEPT PROGRAM TO COLLECT PAST-DUE CHILD
SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT MINORS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 464 (42 U.S.C. 664) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking `(as that term is defined
for purposes of this paragraph under subsection (c))'; and
(i) by striking `(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), as
used in' and inserting `In'; and
(ii) by inserting `(whether or not a minor)' after `a child'
each place it appears; and
(B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3).
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take
effect on October 1, 2004.
SEC. 309. GARNISHMENT OF COMPENSATION PAID TO VETERANS FOR
SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES IN ORDER TO ENFORCE CHILD SUPPORT
OBLIGATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 459(h) (42 U.S.C. 659(h)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(V), by striking all that follows `Armed
Forces' and inserting a semicolon; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(3) LIMITATIONS WITH RESPECT TO COMPENSATION PAID TO VETERANS FOR
SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES- Notwithstanding any other provision of this
section:
`(A) Compensation described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(V) shall not
be subject to withholding pursuant to this section--
`(i) for payment of alimony; or
`(ii) for payment of child support if the individual is fewer
than 60 days in arrears in payment of the support.
`(B) Not more than 50 percent of any payment of compensation
described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(V) may be withheld pursuant to this
section.'.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take
effect on October 1, 2004.
SEC. 310. IMPROVING FEDERAL DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES.
Section 3716(h)(3) of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read
as follows:
`(3) In applying this subsection with respect to any debt owed to a
State, other than past due support being enforced by the State, subsection
(c)(3)(A) shall not apply. Subsection (c)(3)(A) shall apply with respect to
past due support being enforced by the State notwithstanding any other
provision of law, including sections 207 and 1631(d)(1) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 407 and 1383(d)(1)), section 413(b) of Public law 91-173 (30
U.S.C. 923(b)), and section 14 of the Act of August 29, 1935 (45 U.S.C.
231m).'.
SEC. 311. MAINTENANCE OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING.
Section 452(j) (42 U.S.C. 652(j)) is amended by inserting `or the
amount appropriated under this paragraph for fiscal year 2002, whichever is
greater,' before `which shall be available'.
SEC. 312. MAINTENANCE OF FEDERAL PARENT LOCATOR SERVICE
FUNDING.
Section 453(o) (42 U.S.C. 653(o)) is amended--
(1) in the 1st sentence, by inserting `or the amount appropriated
under this paragraph for fiscal year 2002, whichever is greater,' before
`which shall be available'; and
(2) in the 2nd sentence, by striking `for each of fiscal years 1997
through 2001'.
TITLE IV--CHILD WELFARE
SEC. 401. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO APPROVE DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS.
Section 1130(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1320a-9(a)(2)) is amended by striking
`2002' and inserting `2007'.
SEC. 402. ELIMINATION OF LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF WAIVERS.
Section 1130(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1320a-9(a)(2)) is amended by striking
`not more than 10'.
SEC. 403. ELIMINATION OF LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF STATES THAT MAY BE
GRANTED WAIVERS TO CONDUCT DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ON SAME TOPIC.
Section 1130 (42 U.S.C. 1320a-9) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
`(h) NO LIMIT ON NUMBER OF STATES THAT MAY BE GRANTED WAIVERS TO
CONDUCT SAME OR SIMILAR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS- The Secretary shall not refuse
to grant a waiver to a State under this section on the grounds that a purpose
of the waiver or of the demonstration project for which the waiver is
necessary would be the same as or similar to a purpose of another waiver or
project that is or may be conducted under this section.'.
SEC. 404. ELIMINATION OF LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF WAIVERS THAT MAY BE
GRANTED TO A SINGLE STATE FOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
Section 1130 (42 U.S.C. 1320a-9) is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
`(i) NO LIMIT ON NUMBER OF WAIVERS GRANTED TO, OR DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS THAT MAY BE CONDUCTED BY, A SINGLE STATE- The Secretary shall not
impose any limit on the number of waivers that may be granted to a State, or
the number of demonstration projects that a State may be authorized to
conduct, under this section.'.
SEC. 405. STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO AND
EXTENSIONS OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS REQUIRING WAIVERS.
Section 1130 (42 U.S.C. 1320a-9) is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
`(j) STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS AND
EXTENSIONS- The Secretary shall develop a streamlined process for
consideration of amendments and extensions proposed by States to demonstration
projects conducted under this section.'.
SEC. 406. AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS.
Section 1130 (42 U.S.C. 1320a-9) is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
`(k) AVAILABILITY OF REPORTS- The Secretary shall make available to
any State or other interested party any report provided to the Secretary under
subsection (f)(2), and any evaluation or report made by the Secretary with
respect to a demonstration project conducted under this section, with a focus
on information that may promote best practices and program
improvements.'.
SEC. 407. TECHNICAL CORRECTION.
Section 1130(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 1320a-9(b)(1)) is amended by striking
`422(b)(9)' and inserting `422(b)(10)'.
TITLE V--SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
SEC. 501. REVIEW OF STATE AGENCY BLINDNESS AND DISABILITY
DETERMINATIONS.
Section 1633 (42 U.S.C. 1383b) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
`(e)(1) The Commissioner of Social Security shall review
determinations, made by State agencies pursuant to subsection (a) in
connection with applications for benefits under this title on the basis of
blindness or disability, that individuals who have attained 18 years of age
are blind or disabled as of a specified onset date. The Commissioner of Social
Security shall review such a determination before any action is taken to
implement the determination.
`(2)(A) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Commissioner of Social
Security shall review--
`(i) at least 20 percent of all determinations referred to in
paragraph (1) that are made in fiscal year 2003;
`(ii) at least 40 percent of all such determinations that are made
in fiscal year 2004; and
`(iii) at least 50 percent of all such determinations that are made
in fiscal year 2005 or thereafter.
`(B) In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Commissioner of Social
Security shall, to the extent feasible, select for review the determinations
which the Commissioner of Social Security identifies as being the most likely
to be incorrect.'.
TITLE VI--BROADENED WAIVER AUTHORITY
SEC. 601. PROGRAM INTEGRATION DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
(a) PURPOSE- The purpose of this section is to establish a program of
demonstration projects in a State or portion of a State to integrate multiple
public assistance, workforce development, and other programs, for the purpose
of supporting working individuals and families, helping families escape
welfare dependency, promoting child well-being, or helping build stronger
families, using innovative approaches to strengthen service systems and
provide more coordinated and effective service delivery.
(b) DEFINITIONS- In this section:
(1) ADMINISTERING SECRETARY- The term `administering Secretary'
means, with respect to a qualified program, the head of the Federal agency
responsible for administering the program.
(2) QUALIFIED PROGRAM- The term `qualified program'
means--
(A) a program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act;
or
(B) the program under title XX of such Act.
(c) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS- The head of a State entity or of a
sub-State entity administering 2 or more qualified programs proposed to be
included in a demonstration project under this section shall (or, if the
project is proposed to include qualified programs administered by 2 or more
such entities, the heads of the administering entities (each of whom shall be
considered an applicant for purposes of this section) shall jointly) submit to
the administering Secretary of each such program an application that contains
the following:
(1) PROGRAMS INCLUDED- A statement identifying each qualified
program to be included in the project, and describing how the purposes of
each such program will be achieved by the project.
(2) POPULATION SERVED- A statement identifying the population to be
served by the project and specifying the eligibility criteria to be
used.
(3) DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION- A detailed description of the
project, including--
(A) a description of how the project is expected to improve or
enhance achievement of the purposes of the programs to be included in the
project, from the standpoint of quality, of cost-effectiveness, or of
both; and
(B) a description of the performance objectives for the project,
including any proposed modifications to the performance measures and
reporting requirements used in the programs.
(4) WAIVERS REQUESTED- A description of the statutory and regulatory
requirements with respect to which a waiver is requested in order to carry
out the project, and a justification of the need for each such
waiver.
(5) COST NEUTRALITY- Such information and assurances as necessary to
establish to the satisfaction of the administering Secretary, in
consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, that
the proposed project is reasonably expected to meet the applicable cost
neutrality requirements of subsection (d)(4).
(6) EVALUATION AND REPORTS- An assurance that the applicant will
conduct ongoing and final evaluations of the project, and make interim and
final reports to the administering Secretary, at such times and in such
manner as the administering Secretary may require.
(7) OTHER INFORMATION AND ASSURANCES- Such other information and
assurances as the administering Secretary may require.
(d) APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS-
(1) IN GENERAL- The administering Secretary with respect to a
qualified program that is identified in an application submitted pursuant to
subsection (c) may approve the application and, except as provided in
paragraph (2), waive any requirement applicable to the program, to the
extent consistent with this section and necessary and appropriate for the
conduct of the demonstration project proposed in the application, if the
administering Secretary and the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget determine that the project--
(A) has a reasonable likelihood of achieving the objectives of the
programs to be included in the project;
(B) may reasonably be expected to meet the applicable cost
neutrality requirements of paragraph (4), as determined by the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget; and
(C) includes the integration of 2 or more qualified
programs.
(2) PROVISIONS EXCLUDED FROM WAIVER AUTHORITY-
(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a waiver
shall not be granted under paragraph (1) with respect to any provision of
law relating to--
(i) civil rights or prohibition of
discrimination;
(ii) purposes or goals of any program;
(iii) maintenance of effort requirements;
(v) labor standards under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938;
or
(vi) environmental protection.
(B) EXCEPTION FOR CONSOLIDATION AND UNIFORMITY OF STATE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR ADDRESSING CERTAIN COMPLAINTS OR GRIEVANCES-
Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to prevent a waiver from being
granted to enable an applicant that is or includes State to consolidate
and provide for uniform State administrative procedures for addressing
complaints or grievances regarding public health or safety, labor
standards, civil rights, occupational health or safety, or environmental
protection.
(3) AGREEMENT OF EACH ADMINISTERING SECRETARY REQUIRED-
(A) IN GENERAL- An applicant may not conduct a demonstration
project under this section unless each administering Secretary with
respect to any program proposed to be included in the project has approved
the application to conduct the project.
(B) AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTATION- Before
approving an application to conduct a demonstration project under this
section, an administering Secretary shall have in place an agreement with
the applicant with respect to the payment of funds and responsibilities
required of the administering Secretary with respect to the
project.
(4) COST-NEUTRALITY REQUIREMENT-
(A) GENERAL RULE- Notwithstanding any other provision of law
(except subparagraph (B)), the total of the amounts that may be paid by
the Federal Government for a fiscal year with respect to the programs in
the State in which an entity conducting a demonstration project under this
section is located that are affected by the project shall not exceed the
estimated total amount that the Federal Government would have paid for the
fiscal year with respect to the programs if the project had not been
conducted, as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget.
(B) SPECIAL RULE- If an applicant submits to the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget a request to apply the rules of this
subparagraph to the programs in the State in which the applicant is
located that are affected by a demonstration project proposed in an
application submitted by the applicant pursuant to this section, during
such period of not more than 5 consecutive fiscal years in which the
project is in effect, and the Director determines, on the basis of
supporting information provided by the applicant, to grant the request,
then, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the total of the amounts
that may be paid by the Federal Government for the period with respect to
the programs shall not exceed the estimated total amount that the Federal
Government would have paid for the period with respect to the programs if
the project had not been conducted.
(5) 90-DAY APPROVAL DEADLINE-
(A) IN GENERAL- If an administering Secretary receives an
application to conduct a demonstration project under this section and does
not disapprove the application within 90 days after the receipt,
then--
(i) the administering Secretary is deemed to have approved the
application for such period as is requested in the application, except
to the extent inconsistent with subsection (e); and
(ii) any waiver requested in the application which applies to a
qualified program that is identified in the application and is
administered by the administering Secretary is deemed to be granted,
except to the extent inconsistent with paragraph (2) or (4) of this
subsection.
(B) DEADLINE EXTENDED IF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS SOUGHT- The
90-day period referred to in subparagraph (A) shall not include any period
that begins with the date the Secretary requests the applicant to provide
additional information with respect to the application and ends with the
date the additional information is provided.
(e) DURATION OF PROJECTS- A demonstration project under this section
may be approved for a term of not more than 5 years, and may be renewed for 1
or more additional terms of not more than 5 years.
(f) REPORTS TO CONGRESS- Each administering Secretary shall provide
annually to the Congress a report concerning demonstration projects approved
under this section, including--
(1) the projects approved for each applicant;
(2) the number of waivers granted under this section, and the
specific statutory provisions waived;
(3) how well each project for which a waiver is granted is improving
or enhancing program achievement from the standpoint of quality,
cost-effectiveness, or both;
(4) how well each project for which a waiver is granted is meeting
the performance objectives specified in subsection (c)(3)(B);
(5) how each project for which a waiver is granted is conforming
with the cost-neutrality requirements of subsection (d)(4); and
(6) to the extent the administering Secretary deems appropriate,
recommendations for modification of programs based on outcomes of the
projects.
TITLE VII--EFFECTIVE DATE
SEC. 701. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) IN GENERAL- Except as otherwise provided, the amendments made by
this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2002.
(b) EXCEPTION- In the case of a State plan under part A or D of title
IV of the Social Security Act which the Secretary determines requires State
legislation in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed
by the amendments made by this Act, the effective date of the amendments
imposing the additional requirements shall be 3 months after the first day of
the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular
session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment
of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, in the case of a State
that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session shall be
considered to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
Union Calendar No. 275
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4090
[Report No. 107-460, Part I]
A BILL
To reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to States for
temporary assistance for needy families, and for other purposes.
May 14, 2002
Reported with an amendment and referred to the Committee on Education
and the Workforce for a period ending not later than May 14, 2002, for
consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the
jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(e), rule X
May 14, 2002
Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be
printed
END