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1997 SESSION

974742717
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 201
Offered January 8, 1997
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study alternatives for welfare recipients who reach the lifetime welfare limit without meaningful work, health benefits, and necessary services.
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Patrons-- Miller, Y.B., Howell, Lucas, Marsh and Maxwell; Delegate: Robinson
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Referred to the Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, on August 22, 1996, President Clinton signed into law HR 3734, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193) which eliminated the individual entitlement program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and created a block grant, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), for states to provide cash assistance to needy families; and

WHEREAS, the law imposes a five-year lifetime limit on assistance from the TANF block grant (whether or not the five years are consecutive); and

WHEREAS, time limits underscore the temporary nature of public assistance and provide incentives for adults to find work rather than to depend on welfare; and

WHEREAS, time limits may nevertheless result in the removal of many children from TANF assistance who will be subsequently left without support; and

WHEREAS, states can exempt 20 percent of recipients for hardship reasons and can use their own funds to provide benefits beyond five years, such as training and education, health care, child care, and transportation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study alternatives for welfare recipients who reach the lifetime welfare limit without meaningful work, health benefits, and necessary services. The joint subcommittee shall be composed of 11 members as follows: three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; four members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker; one citizen at large to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; two citizens at large to be appointed by the Speaker; and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources or his designee to serve ex officio without voting privileges.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 5,400.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1998 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.