ASSEMBLY, No. 1292
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION
By Assemblyman GREENWALD
An Act concerning benefits provided under the aid to families with dependent children program and amending P.L.1991, c.523.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 7 of P.L.1991, c.523 (C.44:10-25) is amended to read as follows:
7. a. Services shall be provided to each participant in the program according to a family plan which includes a written contract. The contract shall be written in English or Spanish, according to the participant's needs. The contract shall be signed by the participant and a program representative who shall act as a case manager, advocate and broker of services for the participant and the participant's family, and shall set forth the specific mutual obligations of the participant and the program and a detailed plan for the participant and the participant's family. The family plan and contract, which shall explicitly state the services that the program will provide to the participant, shall be reviewed by both the participant and the program representative at least once a year and may be revised from time to time according to the needs of the participant, the participant's family and the program.
b. The services to be provided under the program shall include, but not be limited to: job development and placement in full-time permanent jobs, preferably in the private sector; counseling and vocational assessment; intensive remedial education, including instruction in English-as-a-second language; financial and other assistance for higher education, including four-year and community colleges, and for post-secondary vocational training programs; job search assistance; community work experience; employment skills training focused on a specific job; and on-the-job training in an employment setting.
c. The program shall be designed to ensure that each participant and member of the participant's family, as age appropriate, has attained the equivalent of a high school degree, before assigning that person to a vocational-related activity under the program. The commissioner may exempt a participant or member of the participant's family from this requirement if the commissioner determines that: based upon an assessment of the person's ability and aptitude, the person lacks a reasonable prospect of being able to successfully complete the academic requirements of a high school or equivalency program of study, in which case the commissioner shall refer the person to an alternative educational program as appropriate; or the person is gainfully employed or engaged in a job search or job training activity, in which case the program representative acting pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section shall review the person's progress on a quarterly basis to assess whether the person's exemption from this requirement should continue.
Subject to federal approval, the commissioner shall adopt regulations to provide a financial incentive, by means of an increased monthly grant or one-time cash bonus or a combination thereof, for a participant or member of the participant's family who is engaged in a high school or equivalency program of study, based upon school attendance and academic achievement. The commissioner shall request a waiver of federal regulations from the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide the financial incentive.
d. The program shall assign one or more persons in each county which is participating in the program to be responsible, on a full-time basis, for job development for persons who have completed their educational or training activities under the program, with an emphasis on finding and creating permanent full-time unsubsidized jobs, preferably in the private sector, which offer wages and benefits that are adequate to support recipients and their families.
e. The commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioners of Commerce and Economic Development and Labor, and with the private industry councils established pursuant to section 18 of P.L.1989, c.293 (C.34:15C-15), shall develop a program to recruit private sector employers in each county to offer employment to persons who have completed their educational or training activities under the program.
f. The commissioner, in consultation with the Chancellor of Higher Education and the Commissioner of Education, shall, within the limits of available funds, provide financial assistance through the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.142 (C.18A:71-28 et seq.) and other State student assistance programs, in an amount sufficient to cover all tuition and educational expenses, to each program participant or other family member who has been accepted into an institution of higher education, including public four-year colleges and community colleges, or a post-secondary vocational training program, according to standards established by the commissioner.
g. The program shall provide supportive services to a program participant as a last resort when no other source is available therefor and when these services are included in the family plan. The supportive services shall include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following:
(1) day care services for the participant's child, to be provided for up to one year if the participant becomes ineligible for financial assistance under P.L.1959, c.86 (C.44:10-1 et seq.) as a result of earned income and to be purchased through a voucher issued to the participant by the program, which may be used to obtain care at a State licensed child care center or school age child care program, or at a family day care home approved by the department, that accepts the voucher, or to be provided through an alternative child care arrangement agreed to by the participant and the program representative acting pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section;
(2) transportation services, to be provided directly by the program or through an allowance or other means of subsidy by which the participant may purchase transportation; and
(3) health insurance coverage, to be provided by a participant's employer, or through a continuation of Medicaid benefits pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) for up to two years if the participant becomes ineligible for financial assistance under P.L.1959, c.86 (C.44:10-1 et seq.) as a result of earned income; or health care services to be provided by a school-based health care program.
(cf: P.L.1991, c.523, s.7)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to adopt regulations to provide a financial incentive under the Family Development Initiative established pursuant to P.L.1991, c.523 (C.44:10-19 et seq.) for a program participant (who is a recipient of aid to families with dependent children benefits) or a member of the participant's family who is engaged in a high school or equivalency program of study, based upon school attendance and academic achievement. The commissioner is directed to request a waiver of federal regulations from the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services for this purpose.
Provides for financial incentives for AFDC recipients based upon school attendance and academic record.