Amendment #21 to S1806

Job Diversion Program

Representatives Gordon of Bedford, Kaufman of Lexington, Livingstone of Boston, Hecht of Watertown, Keefe of Worcester, Andrews of Orange, Rogers of Cambridge, Provost of Somerville, Lewis of Winchester, Balser of Newton, Cullinane of Boston and Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield moves to amend the bill in Section 16 by deleting Section 13(a) and inserting in its place the following:-

Section 13. (a) The department shall require all adult applicants who are not exempt from the work requirement to conduct an initial job search prior to receiving cash assistance unless the applicant has good cause for not participating as determined by the department, which may include: (i) disability; (ii) homelessness or a housing crisis as defined pursuant to section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by the federal Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009, 42 U.S.C. section 11302; (iii) lacking appropriate state-standard child care; (iv) a victim of domestic violence; or (v) who is experiencing or whose immediate family member is experiencing a crisis or emergency situation which may include physical or mental illness, injury, serious health conditions, hospitalizations or exacerbation of chronic illness that temporarily prevent participation in the initial job search. The department may require written, dated and signed verification from any applicant claiming an exemption from the initial job search under this section.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #21 to S1806

Job Diversion Program