SB-0276, As Passed Senate, September 18, 2013
SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 276
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled
"The social welfare act,"
by amending section 57f (MCL 400.57f), as amended by 2011 PA 132.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 57f. (1) The department shall enter into an agreement
with the Michigan economic development corporation or a successor
entity
to facilitate the administration of the JET PATH program.
The department shall make information on the program available to
the legislature.
(2) Except as provided in section 57b, at the time the
department determines that an individual is eligible to receive
family independence program assistance under this act, the
department shall determine whether that individual is eligible to
participate
in the JET PATH program or if the individual is exempt
from
JET PATH program participation under this section. The
particular activities in which the recipient is required or
authorized to participate, including community service, the number
of
hours of work required, and other details of work first the PATH
program shall be developed by the department and the Michigan
economic development corporation or a successor entity and shall be
set forth in the recipient's family self-sufficiency plan. If a
recipient
has cooperated with the JET PATH
program, the recipient
may enroll in a program approved by the local workforce development
board. Any and all training or education with the exception of high
school completion, GED preparation, and literacy training must be
occupationally relevant and in demand in the labor market as
determined by the local workforce development board and may be no
more than 2 years in duration. Participants must make satisfactory
progress while in training or education.
(3) The following individuals are exempt from participation in
the
JET PATH program:
(a) A child under the age of 16.
(b) A child age 16 to 18 who is attending elementary or
secondary school full-time.
(c) A recipient who has medical documentation of being
disabled or medical documentation of an inability to participate in
employment
or the JET PATH program for more than 90 days because of
a mental or physical condition.
(d) A recipient unable to participate as determined by the
medical review team.
(e) A recipient aged 65 or older.
(f) A recipient of supplemental security income.
(g) A recipient of retirement, survivor, or disability
insurance based on disability or blindness, or a recipient found
eligible for retirement, survivor, or disability insurance based on
disability or blindness who is in nonpay status.
(4) The department may grant a temporary exemption from
participation
in the JET PATH program to any of the following:
(a) An individual who is suffering from a documented short-
term mental or physical illness, limitation, or disability that
severely
restricts his or her ability to participate in JET PATH
program activities. An individual with a documented mental or
physical illness, limitation, or disability that does not severely
restrict
his or her ability to participate in the JET PATH program
shall
be required to participate in the JET PATH program at a
medically permissible level. An exemption under this subdivision
shall not exceed a period of 90 days without a review by a
department caseworker.
(b) An individual for whom certain program requirements have
been waived under section 56i. An exemption under this subdivision
shall not exceed a period of 90 days without a review by a
department caseworker.
(c) A parent with a child under the age of 60 days if that
child is in the home or a mother for postpartum recovery up to 60
days after giving birth if that child is not in the home.
(d) A pregnant recipient who, based on medical documentation,
is
severely restricted in her ability to participate in JET PATH
program activities for the duration of the pregnancy.
(e) The spouse of a recipient who is verified as disabled and
living in the home with the spouse if it is verified that the
spouse is needed in the home full-time due to the extent of medical
care required. An exemption under this subdivision shall not exceed
a period of 365 days without a review by a department caseworker.
(f) A parent of a child who is verified as disabled and living
in the home with the parent if it is verified that the parent is
needed in the home due to the extent of medical care required. If
the
child attends school, the parent may be referred to the JET
PATH program with limitations. An exemption under this subdivision
shall not exceed a period of 365 days without a review by a
department caseworker.
(5) An individual is not disabled for purposes of this section
if substance abuse is a contributing factor material to the
determination of disability.
(6) The department may promulgate rules in accordance with the
administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to
24.328, identifying exemptions under this section. The director of
the department may grant exemptions for extenuating circumstances
beyond the exemptions provided for in this section. The department
shall annually provide to the legislature, at the same time as the
governor's departmental budget proposal, a report of the number of
exemptions issued under this section and the individual reason for
those exemptions. This subsection does not apply after December 31,
2013.
(7) As used in this section, "PATH program" means the PATH:
partnership. accountability. training. hope. work partnership
program.