Human Services - Institutions - Digest of Bills

Digest of Bills - 1997

HUMAN SERVICES - INSTITUTIONS

H.B. 97-1166 Colorado works program - child care assistance program. Enacts a new program to replace aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) and related programs.

Short title. States that the act shall be known as the "Colorado Works Program Act".

Legislative intent. Finds that the federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996", Public Law 104-193 (herein "the federal law"), provides states with an opportunity to implement innovative strategies for enabling the needy to attain self-sufficiency.

No entitlement. Provides that nothing in the act shall be interpreted to create a legal entitlement to assistance under the works program.

Works program - purposes. States the purposes of the works program. Provides that the 45-day review and comment period required in the federal law shall be satisfied by the hearings conducted in the legislative process.

State department duties. Requires the state department of human services to:

Submit a state plan to the secretary of the federal department of health and human services;
Allocate the county block grants to the counties;
Administer the reserve account consisting of funds appropriated for the purposes of meeting emergencies or contingencies in a county;
Establish performance goals, including goals for a reduction in out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and a formula for measuring county success in implementing the works program;
Develop standardized forms for the works program;
Monitor progress in meeting the work participation rates;
Establish a process for regionalization;
Develop training for caseworkers;
Monitor interstate and intrastate migration of participants;
Comply with the federal reporting requirements.

Funding - maintenance of effort requirements. Establishes a formula for allocating the county block grants for state fiscal year 1997-98. In subsequent state fiscal years, allows for adjustments based on performance. Establishes maintenance of effort rates for the state and the counties.

County duties. Requires each board of county commissioners to appropriate such moneys as are necessary to meet the county's maintenance of effort. Requires the county department of social services to meet work participation rates, track participants' length of stay, submit required reports, use an income eligibility verification system, provide Title IV-D services, and meet the required maintenance of effort.

Target populations. Subject to certain restrictions, allows a county to serve any person or family who was eligible to receive aid to families with dependent children on July 16, 1996.

Program features. Requires a county to provide an assessment and a basic assistance grant. Establishes a pilot program pursuant to which counties may apply for waivers from work requirements and implement the works program pursuant to such waivers. Establishes allowable sanctions against participants.

Regionalization. Authorizes two or more counties to implement the works program jointly.

Private contracting. Allows the state department of human services or any county department of social services to award a contract or contracts for the implementation of the works program.

Medicaid. Exercises state options under federal law to continue to provide Medicaid coverage for certain populations.

Tax credit . Provides a tax credit for employer expenses relating to hiring of works program participants.

Creates the Colorado child care assistance program.

VETOED by Governor April 24, 1997