Bill Text: CT SB00209 | 2012 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Increasing Educational Incentives In The Jobs First Employment Services Program.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-24 - Public Hearing 03/01 [SB00209 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2012-SB00209-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 209
February Session, 2012		LCO No. 1137
		*01137_______HS_*
Referred to Committee on Human Services
Introduced by:
(HS)

AN ACT INCREASING EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVES IN THE JOBS FIRST EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAM.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 17b-112k of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) The Commissioner of Social Services and the Labor Commissioner shall, within available appropriations, implement a pilot program that serves not [more] less than one [hundred] thousand persons who are receiving benefits under the temporary family assistance program and participating in the Jobs First employment services program as established by section 17b-688c. Participants will receive vocational education and take courses leading to the attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalent. [The pilot program shall provide to participants: (1) Intensive case management services to identify participants' (A) employment goals, (B) support service needs, and (C) training, education and work experience needs; (2) assistance in accessing needed support services, training, education and work experience; and (3) funding to facilitate participation in necessary adult basic education, skills training, postsecondary education or subsidized employment.] Participation in the pilot program shall be an allowable activity in which a participant may engage as part of his or her employability plan developed pursuant to section 17b-689c.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (c) of section 17b-112, the Commissioner of Social Services shall, within available appropriations, grant [a] two six-month [extension] extensions of time-limited cash assistance benefits to [any person who] a family in which an adult is enrolled in the pilot program, provided such family has (1) [has] made a good-faith effort to comply with the requirements of the pilot program, (2) [has] not exceeded the sixty-month limit, described in subsection (c) of section 17b-112, and (3) [has not been granted more than two extensions] earned less than one hundred per cent of the federal poverty level.

(c) Not later than October 1, [2012] 2013, the Commissioner of Social Services and the Labor Commissioner shall jointly submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies concerning the pilot program. Such report shall include, but shall not be limited to: (1) The number of persons participating in the pilot program; (2) the education, training and work experience activities of the participants; (3) [the support services identified as needed by program participants through the provision of case management services by the Department of Social Services and the Labor Department and the support services actually received by each program participant; (4)] the educational degrees and certificates obtained by participants; and [(5)] (4) descriptions of the employment obtained by participants as a result of the pilot program.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	from passage	17b-112k

Statement of Purpose:

To increase educational incentives for participants in the Jobs First employment services program.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]