Budget Amendment ID: FY2013-S4-598

EHS 598

Removing Barriers To Asset Development

Mr. Eldridge and Ms. Chang-Diaz moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new sections:-

Section XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary and to the maximum extent possible in light of the need to meet preserve available sources of federal funding, the department of transitional assistance shall: a) encourage and allow individuals to satisfy their work program requirements pursuant to said section 110(j), in whole or in part and throughout their periods of time limited benefits and any extension periods, by participating in vocational educational training programs; and b) grant extensions of the time limit to enable individuals to complete such programs if they are making satisfactory progress toward an achievable vocational goal.

Section XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of transitional assistance shall: a) maintain in each local office of the department an up-to-date listing and description of all vocational educational programs within the relevant geographic region that can be accessed at little or no cost to the individual, including adult basic education, English for speakers of other languages, skills training, certificate programs, and higher education programs; b) at least 30 days before an individual becomes subject to the work program requirement pursuant to section 110 (j) of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 and before completion of any Employment Development Plan pursuant to section 110 (h) of said chapter 5, (i) inform the individual orally and in writing that said work program requirement may be met by participation in vocational educational programs, including programs listed in subsection (a), (ii) inform the individual of all such vocational educational programs available in the relevant geographic region that can be accessed at little or no cost to the individual, and (iii) inform the individual of the policies described in Section 1; and c) at least 30 days before an individual becomes subject to the work program requirement pursuant to section 110 (j) of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 and before completion of any Employment Development Plan pursuant to section 110 (h) of said chapter 5, 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, PELL grants, the Educational Rewards program, the Department of Education, and make appropriate referrals to such vocational educational training.

Section XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in determining eligibility for the program of transitional aid to families with dependent children under chapter 118 of the general laws and chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 and the program of emergency aid to elders, disabled and children under chapter 117A of the General Laws at least one non luxury motor vehicle used for transportation per licensed driver in a household shall not count as a resource.

Section XX Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, with respect to the programs of emergency aid to elders, disabled and children under chapter 117A of the general laws and transitional aid to families with dependent children under chapter 118 of the General Laws, the department of transitional assistance shall treat as noncountable 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 including the purchase or repair of a vehicle, 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.