SENATE DOCKET, NO. 894        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 44

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting financial stability and asset development.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 894        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 44

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 37 OF 2017-2018.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act promoting financial stability and asset development.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Subsection (j) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:

The department shall:

(1) at least 30 days before an individual becomes subject to the work program requirement pursuant to this subsection and before completion of any employment development plan pursuant to subsection (h), (i) inform the individual orally and in writing that said work program requirement may be met by participation in a vocational educational program, including adult basic education, English for speakers of other languages, skills training, certificate programs, and higher education programs, (ii) inform the individual of all vocational educational programs available in the relevant geographic region that can be accessed at little or no cost to the individual, and (iii) inform that individual of the policies described in subsections (e) and (f);

(2) at least 30 days before an individual becomes subject to the work program requirement pursuant to this subsection and before completion of any employment development plan pursuant to subsection (h), provide the individual with counseling on how to access vocational educational training without incurring debt, including but not limited to information on the availability of funding for such programs through the employment services program, the Workforce Investment Act, federal Pell grants pursuant to 20 U.S.C. 1070, the educational rewards program, the U.S. Department of Education, and appropriate referrals to such vocational educational training;

(3) use funds appropriated for the department’s employment services program to expand the availability of programs that integrate skills training with adult basic education for those without a high school diploma and English for speakers of other languages and instruction for those with limited English proficiency, including but not limited to programs at community colleges;

(4) encourage and allow an individual to satisfy the work program requirement pursuant to said this subsection, in whole or in part and throughout the period of time limited benefits and any extension periods, by participating in a vocational educational training program; and

(5) grant extensions of the time limit to enable an individual to complete such programs if the individual is making satisfactory progress toward an achievable vocational goal.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in order to encourage asset development, promote employment, prevent homelessness, and simplify administration, persons otherwise eligible for the program of emergency aid to elders, disabled and children under chapter 117A shall not be subject to a resource limit.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, on or before October 1, 2019, the department of transitional assistance shall establish a generally applicable work expense deduction within the program of transitional aid to families with dependent children at a level intended to cover work expenses incurred by working recipients, including but not limited to payroll deductions, transportation, and clothing expenses. Said work expense deduction shall be not less than $250 and shall thereafter be adjusted annually to reflect inflation.

SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, payments under state or private work study programs and state grants for education or training shall not be counted as income or a resource in determining eligibility for or benefits levels under the program of emergency aid to elders, disabled and children under chapter 117A and the program of transitional aid to families with dependent children under chapter 118.

SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary and in order to encourage asset development, promote employment, and prevent homelessness, with respect to the programs of emergency aid to elders, disabled and children under chapter 117A and transitional aid to families with dependent children under chapter 118, the department of transitional assistance shall treat as uncountable with regard to any maximum countable resource limits and the lump sum income rule up to $10,000 that has been expended or is placed in an individual asset account for later expenditure for costs related to education or training, transportation to work or to other activities of daily living, obtaining or retaining or maintaining housing, debt reduction, starting a business, health care, basic household necessities, or other responsible expenses as identified by the department.