Amendment #69 to S1806

Expanding the Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Program

Representatives Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield, Livingstone of Boston, Balser of Newton, Lewis of Winchester, Gordon of Bedford, Cullinane of Boston, Hecht of Watertown, Andrews of Orange and Kaufman of Lexington moves to amend the bill by inserting in SECTION 2 after line item 4400-1100 the following:-

4400-1980 For the department of transitional assistance for the operation of pathways to self- sufficiency program in collaboration with the Commonwealth Corporation under subsection (1) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, as amended by Section 15 of this act…………………$6,000,0000

Further, by deleting in SECTION 2A, in line item 7003-0810, the following words and figure,  “provided, that not less than $6,000,000 shall be used to administer, in consultation with the Commonwealth Corporation, the pathways to self-sufficiency program, established pursuant to section 12 of chapter 23H of the General Laws……$11,000,000”, and inserting in place thereof the figure $5,000,000 after the word “assistance”.

Moreover by striking out SECTIONS 11 and 15 in its entirety and inserting in place of SECTION 15 the following: -

SECTION 15. Said section 110 of said chapter 5 is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (l) as amended by section 157 of chapter 43 of the acts of 1997, and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(1) There is hereby established a pathways to self-sufficiency program to promote financial independence by matching applicants with employment, education and training and other strategies of demonstrated effectiveness in order to move recipients of cash assistance into full-time employment at family-sustaining wages, improve financial stability and create opportunities and pathways towards economic self-sufficiency.

(2) Subject to appropriation, the Commonwealth Corporation, in collaboration with the department of transitional assistance and the department of career services, shall design the pathways to self-sufficiency program and shall administer the program in consultation with the department of transitional assistance, the department of career services and the advisory committee established pursuant to subsection (8) of this SECTION.  Subject to appropriation, the pathways to work program shall be mandatory for all applicants, except those that are exempt from the work requirements under subsection (e) of section 110 of chapter 5 in the acts of 1995, as amended.  During the first year of employment under the pathways to self-sufficiency program applicants shall receive a child care voucher. Applicants requiring additional skills, education or training in order to be eligible for pathways to self-sufficiency program jobs shall receive cash assistance under transitional aid to families with dependent children, if otherwise eligible, and be referred to an appropriate educational, training, or barrier removal program. The Commonwealth Corporation, in collaboration with the department, shall monitor the participation of applicants in the educational, training or barrier removal programs to which they are referred and the applicant shall provide documentation to the department of such participation.

(3) Program components shall include but are not be limited to: (i) education, vocational skills training, internship, job-readiness, on-the job training, and job search activities; (ii) child care and transportation support services; (iii) social services referrals and (vi) other support services, including a fund to address emergency financial needs that otherwise may prevent program completion. Following a thorough employment assessment process, applicants with relevant job skills and experience shall be matched with appropriate employment for the required number of hours, as specified in 106 CMR 203.400(A)(5).

(4) The Commonwealth Corporation shall develop and oversee procedures to (i) provide appropriate referrals to program activities; (ii) provide case management and coaching services; (iii) place recipients on relevant waiting lists when an opening in an appropriate activity is not currently available; and (iv) report to the department of transitional assistance when a recipient is determined to be unable to participate in a pathways to self-sufficiency program activities for reasons that the program is unable to address. The department, in consultation with the Commonwealth Corporation, shall create selection criteria and guidelines for employment agencies seeking to participate in the placement of applicants, including, but not limited to: (1) experience with job-seeking difficulties facing recipients of public assistance; (2) demonstrated ability to identify and overcome barriers to employment; (3) geographic diversity; (4) experience with members of diverse populations and non-English speakers; (5) a willingness to accommodate job-seekers with dependent children or family members; and (6) a proven track record of job placement and retention. The department shall establish employment counseling program to assist recipients of cash assistance under transitional aid to families with dependent children recently employed. The program shall include, but not be limited to, job coaching, assistance in resolving workplace disputes, life skills development, counseling and tutoring, support services referrals, tax information forms regarding state and federal earned income tax credits, and any other activities that will assist recipients through the first year after transitioning into employment. The department shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this section.

(5) The Commonwealth Corporation shall aim to increase recipients’ access to education, training, job readiness and job placement by collaborating, when possible, with a broad base of organizations including, but not limited to the following: (i) employers, community-based education and training providers, public and nonprofit vocational technical schools, organized labor, career centers and local workforce investment boards and administering entities; (ii) the department in order to expand the department’s works internship program to other state agencies and the legislature; (iii) the department of higher education, working with community colleges to ensure access and viability for recipients, including but not limited to arrangements for flexible scheduling, career counseling and academic and other support; (iv) developing new job sector-based training activities through partnerships with employers; (v) developing activities that integrate adult basic education, graduate equivalency degree preparation or English for the workplace with vocational skills training; and (vi) readiness training designed to strengthen soft skills such as time management, conflict resolution, life and work balance, self-confidence and study skills.

(6) Recipients who are subject to but do not meet the transitional aid to families with dependent children work requirements, without good cause, shall be sanctioned pursuant to subsections (h) and (j) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, as amended.

(7) The Commonwealth Corporation and the department of transitional assistance shall collect data regarding recipients participating in the pathways to self-sufficiency program including, but not limited to: (i) work experience; (ii) job readiness; (iii) reading and numeracy levels; (iv) disabilities; (v) grade level attainment; (vi) participation in adult basic education; (vii) participation in graduate equivalency degree programs; (viii) participation in English in the workplace or English as a second or other language programs; (ix) participation in vocational training categorized by type of training and vocational area; (x) participation in post-secondary education programs;(xi) use of child care benefits and unmet need for child care; (xii) use of transportation assistance and unmet need for transportation assistance; (xiii) use of other services provided by the pathways program or other sources to which the pathways program referred the recipient; (xiv) unmet need for services; (xv) barriers to employment, (xvi) the cost of implementing the components of the pathways program; (xvii) the estimated costs per participant (3) job placement and retention rates; (4) the extent to which appropriate activities and supports were available to recipients; and (5) the components of the pathways to self-sufficiency program that were implemented in light of available resources and appropriations. The Commonwealth Corporation shall file an annual report no later than January 1st, regarding the data collected with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means, and shall post the report on its website.

(8) There shall be a pathways to self-sufficiency program advisory committee to advise the Commonwealth Corporation on the design of the program, alignment with other resources serving recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children and, after implementation, on experiences with the program.  The committee shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development, or their designees; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, or their designees; the secretary of labor and workforce development, or a designee; the commissioner of higher education, or a designee; the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance, or a designee; a representative from Jewish Vocational Services; a representative from the Crittenton Women’s Union, Inc.; a representative of the Massachusetts one-stop career centers; a representative from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, or a designee; a representative from the Massachusetts Workforce Board Association; and up to four representatives of employers from different sectors to be designated by the Commonwealth Corporation.  The committee shall examine strategies and make recommendations regarding recipient long-term economic stability and addressing barriers to employment.

(9) (i) The department, in consultation with the Commonwealth Corporation, shall adopt rules and regulations to determine which employers within the commonwealth shall have the opportunity to accept program participants. No employer shall be required to participate in the program.

(ii) The department, in consultation with the Commonwealth Corporation, shall establish rules and regulations to: (a) develop criteria and fair procedures for excluding employers that fail to abide by program requirements or other demonstrated unwillingness to comply with the stated intent of the program; (b) provide that employers demonstrating a pattern of terminating participants prior to the completion of training or of not offering unsubsidized employment to participants who have successfully completed training with that employer shall be ineligible to receive additional participants; and, (c) the rights and responsibilities of participating employers.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #69 to S1806

Expanding the Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Program