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SEC. 604. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

(a) LONGITUDINAL STUDIES OF TANF RECIPIENTS- Section 413 (42 U.S.C. 613) is amended by striking subsections (d) and (e) and inserting the following:

`(d) LONGITUDINAL STUDIES OF TANF APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS TO DETERMINE THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVE EMPLOYMENT AND FAMILY OUTCOMES-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency agreements, shall conduct longitudinal studies in 10

States of a representative sample of families that receive, and applicants for, assistance in a State program funded under this part or under a program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)).

`(2) REQUIREMENTS- The studies conducted under this subsection shall follow families that leave assistance, those that receive assistance throughout the study period, and those diverted from assistance programs. The studies shall gather information on--

`(A) family and adult demographics (including race, ethnicity, primary language, barriers to employment, educational status of adults, prior work history, and prior history of welfare receipt);

`(B) family income (including earnings, unemployment compensation, and child support);

`(C) benefit receipt (including benefits under the food stamp program, the medicaid program, the State children's health insurance program, earned income tax credits, and housing assistance);

`(D) reasons for leaving or returning to assistance programs;

`(E) work participation status and activities, including the scope and duration of work activities;

`(F) sanction status (including reasons for sanction);

`(G) time limit status (including months remaining on Federal and State time limits);

`(H) recipient views on program participation; and

`(I) other measures of family well-being over a 5-year period.

`(3) COMPARABILITY- The Secretary shall to the extent possible ensure that the studies produce comparable results and information.

`(4) REPORTS- The Secretary shall publish--

`(A) not later than December 31, 2005, interim findings from at least 12 months of longitudinal data; and

`(B) not later than December 31, 2007, findings from at least 36 months of longitudinal data.

`(e) LONGITUDINAL STUDIES OF EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS OF TANF LEAVERS-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency agreements shall conduct a study in each eligible State of a statistically relevant cohort of individuals who leave the State program funded under this part during fiscal year 2003 and individuals who leave the program during fiscal year 2005, which uses State unemployment insurance data to track the employment and earnings status of the individuals during the 3-year period beginning at the time the individuals leave the program.

`(2) REPORTS- The Secretary shall annually publish the findings of the studies conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) and shall annually publish the earnings data used in making determinations under section 407(b).'.

(b) EXTENSION OF FUNDING OF STUDIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS- Section 413(h) (42 U.S.C. 613(h)) is amended to read as follows:

`(h) FUNDING OF STUDIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS- Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $15,000,000 for each fiscal year beginning with 1997 for the purpose of paying--

`(1) the cost of conducting the research described in subsection (a);

`(2) the cost of developing and evaluating innovative approaches for reducing welfare dependency and increasing the well-being of minor children under subsection (b);

`(3) the cost of conducting studies described in subsections (d) and (e);

`(4) the Federal share of any State-initiated study approved under subsection (f); and

`(5) an amount determined by the Secretary to be necessary to operate and evaluate demonstration projects, relating to this part, that are in effect or approved under section 1115 as of August 22, 1996, and are continued after such date.'.

(c) INCLUSION OF DISABILITY STATUS IN INFORMATION STATES REPORT ABOUT TANF FAMILIES- Section 411(a)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C. 611(a)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(xviii) Whether the head of the family has a physical or mental impairment.'.

(d) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS TO INCLUDE GREATER DETAIL ABOUT STATE PROGRAMS FUNDED UNDER TANF- Section 411(b)(3) (42 U.S.C. 611(b)(3)) is amended to read as follows:

`(3) the characteristics of each State program funded under this part, including, with respect to each program funded with amounts provided under this part or with amounts the expenditure of which is counted as a qualified State expenditure for purposes of section 409(a)(7)--

`(A) the name of the program;

`(B) whether the program is authorized at a sub-State level (such as at the county level);

`(C) the purpose of the program;

`(D) the main activities of the program;

`(E) the total amount received by the program from amounts provided under this part;

`(F) the total of the amounts received by the program that are amounts the expenditure of which are counted as qualified State expenditures for purposes of section 409(a)(7);

`(G) the total funding level of the program;

`(H) the total number of individuals served by the program, and the number of such individuals served specifically with funds provided under this part or with amounts the expenditure of which are counted as qualified State expenditures for purposes of section 409(a)(7); and

`(I) the eligibility criteria for participation in the program;'.

(e) ENHANCEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE REASONS INDIVIDUALS LEAVE STATE TANF PROGRAMS-

(1) CASE CLOSURE REASONS-

(A) IN GENERAL- Section 411(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 611(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(C) DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF CASE CLOSURE REASONS- The Secretary shall develop, in consultation with States and policy experts, a comprehensive list of reasons why individuals leave State programs funded under this part. The list shall be aimed at substantially reducing the number of case closures under the programs for which a reason is not known.'.

(B) PUBLIC COMMENT- Not later than December 31, 2004, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish for public comment regulations that list the new case closure reasons to be used in accordance with section 411(a)(1)(A)(xvi)(VI) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 611(a)(1)(A)(xvi)(VI) (as amended by paragraph (2)).

(2) INCLUSION IN QUARTERLY STATE REPORTS- Section 411(a)(1)(A)(xvi) (42 U.S.C. 611(a)(1)(A)(xvi)) is amended--

(A) in subclause (IV), by striking `or' at the end;

(B) in subclause (V), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; or'; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

`(VI) a reason specified in the list developed under subparagraph (C).'.

(f) STANDARDIZED STATE PLANS- Section 402 (42 U.S.C. 602) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(d) STANDARDIZED FORMAT- Not later than February 1, 2003, the Secretary, after consulting with the States, shall promulgate regulations for public comment that establish a standardized format which States shall use to submit plans under subsection (a) for fiscal year 2004 and thereafter.'.

(g) ANNUAL STUDY AND REPORT ON TERRITORY PROGRAMS EXPENDITURES AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS-

(1) ANNUAL EXPENDITURE REPORTS- Beginning with fiscal year 2003, the Secretary of Health and Human Services annually shall collect and report to Congress expenditure data with respect to a fiscal year for Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa concerning temporary assistance to needy programs funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that are conducted by such territories and any related programs conducted by such territories that are designed to provide assistance to needy families.

(2) ANNUAL REPORT ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS- Beginning with fiscal year 2003, the Director of the Bureau of the Census shall submit to Congress annual reports on the economic conditions in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. Each report shall include information concerning the impact of the economic conditions described in the report on recipients and former recipients of assistance under temporary assistance to needy programs funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that are conducted by such territories.

SEC. 605. GAO STUDY ON IMPACT OF BAN ON SSI BENEFITS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

(a) STUDY- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to determine the impact of the prohibition under section 402 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612) with respect to the eligibility of qualified aliens (as defined in section 431 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1641)) for benefits under the supplemental security income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), including supplementary payments pursuant to an agreement for Federal administration under section 1616(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382e) and payments pursuant to an agreement entered into under section 212(b) of Public Law 93-66.

(b) REPORT- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted under subsection (a) that includes such recommendations for legislative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

SEC. 606. GRANTS TO IMPROVE STATES' POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH BARRIERS TO WORK.

Section 403(a) (42 U.S.C. 603(a)), as amended by section 103, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(7) GRANTS TO IMPROVE STATES' POLICIES AND PROCEDURE FOR ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS WITH BARRIERS TO WORK-

`(A) AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS-

`(i) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall make grants to each State for the period of fiscal years 2003 through 2006 and to be used in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph.

`(ii) AMOUNT OF GRANT-

`(I) IN GENERAL- Subject to subclause (II) and clauses (iii) and (iv), the Secretary shall have discretion to set the amount of each State's grant under this paragraph.

`(II) MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM GRANTS- No grant made under this paragraph shall be less than $750,000 or more than $3,000,000.

`(iii) LIMITATION- The total amount of grants provided to States under this paragraph for the period of fiscal years 2003 through 2006 shall not exceed $75,000,000.

`(iv) CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING AMOUNT OF GRANT- In determining the amount of a State's grant under this paragraph, the Secretary shall take into account the size of the population of the State and the extent to which the advisory review panel established with funds made available under the grant will need to review diverse policies among counties or other sub-State entities within the State that have authority to design and implement programs under the State TANF program.

`(B) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY REVIEW PANEL- Each State shall use the funds provided under a grant made under subparagraph (A) to establish an advisory review panel to improve the State's policies and procedures for assisting individuals under the State TANF program who have barriers to work.

`(C) MEMBERSHIP-

`(i) IN GENERAL- A advisory review panel established under this paragraph shall consist of the following:

`(I) Representatives of the State agency responsible for administering the State TANF program.

`(II) Representatives from other States agencies with expertise in providing services to individuals with disabilities or other barriers to work, such as vocational rehabilitation services.

`(III) Parents with barriers to work who are recipients of cash assistance or support services under the State TANF program.

`(IV) Individuals or representatives of entities with expertise in designing and implementing policies and programs to successfully serve individuals with barriers to work.

`(ii) CHAIR-

`(I) IN GENERAL- Subject to subclause (II), the Chair of the panel shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the State.

`(II) LIMITATION- The Chair shall not be a State employee.

`(iii) COORDINATION WITH EXISTING PANELS- A State should coordinate the establishment of an advisory review panel under this paragraph with other advisory panels established as of October 1, 2002, that serve recipients of assistance under the State TANF program.

`(D) DUTIES-

`(i) IN GENERAL- In seeking to improve a State's policies and procedures for assisting individuals with barriers to work, an advisory review panel established under this paragraph shall hold meetings, hire support staff, enter into contracts for independent evaluations, and submit the reports required under subparagraph (E).

`(ii) SITE VISITS; PUBLIC HEARINGS- To the extent it determines appropriate, an advisory review panel established under this paragraph may--

`(I) conduct site visits to State or local agencies responsible for administering the State TANF program; and

`(II) hold public hearings.

`(iii) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as authorizing an advisory review panel established under this paragraph to resolve complaints filed by individuals or entities related to possible violations of laws protecting civil rights.

`(E) REPORTS- An advisory review panel established under this paragraph shall submit to the Secretary on the dates described below the following reports:

`(i) On December 31, 2003, a report identifying areas in the State where improvement is needed with respect to assisting individuals with barriers to work and steps the State is taking or plans to take to make those improvements.

`(ii) On December 31, 2004, a progress report on how the improvements identified in the report described in clause (i) are being made and regarding whether additional improvements are needed, and if so, the plans to make those improvements.

`(iii) On December 31, 2005, a final report describing how the State's programs funded with funds made available under the State TANF program have been improved to assist individuals with barriers to work and identifying ongoing efforts that will be needed to maintain the improvements made.

`(F) DEFINITIONS- In this paragraph:

`(i) BARRIERS TO WORK- The term `barriers to work' includes physical and mental impairments (including learning disabilities), domestic and sexual violence, substance abuse, limited English proficiency, or low literacy levels. Such term may include transportation, child care and caring for a family member with a severe disability if those issues create a functional barrier to work for a recipient of assistance under the State TANF program.

`(ii) STATE TANF PROGRAM- The term `State TANF program' means the State program funded under this part and a program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)).

`(G) APPROPRIATIONS-

`(i) IN GENERAL- Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to carry out this paragraph, $75,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2003 through 2006.

`(ii) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE- Of the amount appropriated under clause (i), $7,000,000 shall be used by the Secretary to provide technical assistance on barriers to work and related issues.'.

SEC. 607. ENSURING A PROFESSIONAL TANF PROGRAM STAFF.

(a) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENT- Section 402(a)(1)(B) (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(v) The document shall outline how the State intends to ensure a professional workforce with the resources, skills, and expertise necessary to successfully carry

out the program, including an outline of the State's plans to provide program staff with training on program information and services and information on referral of recipients to appropriate programs and services for which recipients are eligible.'.

(b) GAO SURVEY, EVALUATION, AND REPORT-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a thorough survey and evaluation of State activities on workforce development for professional staff delivering benefits or services under the temporary assistance to needy families program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or services or benefits related to that program.

(2) REQUIREMENTS- The survey and evaluation conducted under paragraph (1) shall be designed to include the following information:

(A) Information on the qualifications, education, and training for the staff described in paragraph (1), and the amount of turnover among such staff.

(B) An assessment of the range of caseloads such staff is responsible for and the effects of caseloads on family outcomes and satisfaction with the temporary assistance to needy families program.

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