Current Federal Policies | Analysis of Policy Proposals | Workforce Research Analysis of Policy Proposals "Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Act of 2002" (S. 2552) Senator Snowe On May 22nd, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced the "Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Act of 2002" (S. 2552), which is modeled on Maine's successful Parents as Scholars program, is designed to encourage post-secondary and vocational education for TANF recipients. The legislation allows states to establish programs to provide assistance (not including tuition) to individuals participating in post-secondary or longer-duration vocational education, and to count those individuals as engaged in work. The legislation requires that during the first 24 months of participation, individuals must engage in a combination of educational activities in connection with a course of study, training, study time, employment or work experience for an average of 24 hours per week; after the first 24 months, individuals must work an average 15 hours per week in addition to school and study time, or engage in a combination of activities for an average of 30 hours per week. Individuals must maintain satisfactory academic progress, and states may not use federal TANF dollars to pay tuition. A state may count no more than 10 percent of its TANF caseload as enrolled in this program at any one time. Senator Snowe's bill is co-sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senators Bingaman (D-NM) and Senator Jeffords (I-VT). It is likely that provisions of this legislation will be considered as part of the Finance Committee process of preparing the Senate's version of TANF reauthorization legislation.