Bill Text: OR HB3440 | 2013 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to assistance to low income families with children; declaring an emergency.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB3440 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2013-HB3440-Engrossed.html
77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within { + braces and plus signs + } . LC 3181 A-Engrossed House Bill 3440 Ordered by the House April 12 Including House Amendments dated April 12 Sponsored by Representatives OLSON, CONGER, Senator STEINER HAYWARD; Representatives DOHERTY, GOMBERG, MATTHEWS, SPRENGER, WHISNANT, WHITSETT, Senators BEYER, KRUSE SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's brief statement of the essential features of the measure. Requires Department of Human Services to provide aid necessary to prevent { - family from qualifying for temporary assistance for needy families program due to temporary loss in earnings - } { + homelessness and assist caretaker relative in returning to employment + }. Specifies maximum amount of aid that may be paid. { - Requires department to provide employment retention services to employed families that receive aid under temporary assistance for needy families program. - } Reduces period of aid in post-TANF program from 12 months to { - four - } { + three + } months and specifies amount of aid to be paid. Becomes operative July 1, 2013. Declares emergency, effective on passage. A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to assistance to low income families with children; creating new provisions; amending ORS 412.124; and declaring an emergency. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: SECTION 1. { + Section 2 of this 2013 Act is added to and made a part of ORS 412.001 to 412.155. + } SECTION 2. { + (1) The Department of Human Services shall provide aid to a family that qualifies for the temporary assistance for needy families program as necessary to prevent homelessness and assist a caretaker relative in returning to gainful regular employment. (2) If the caretaker relative is unable to return to work upon receiving aid under this section, the department shall immediately determine the family's eligibility for the temporary assistance for needy families program and conduct the assessment described in ORS 412.006 (3) and (4). (3) Total aid paid to a family under this section during the 2013 calendar year may not exceed $1,000. The maximum amount of aid allowed under this subsection shall be increased in calendar years after 2013 by the percentage increase in the Portland-Salem Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for All Items as reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. + } SECTION 3. ORS 412.124 is amended to read: 412.124. (1) The Department of Human Services shall continue to provide aid to families residing in Oregon that become ineligible for temporary assistance for needy families under ORS 412.006 due to employment or increased hours of work. (2) Families may receive aid under this section for { - 12 - } { + three + } consecutive months or until the household income exceeds 250 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, whichever occurs first, as long as the caretaker relatives participate in combined employment and work activities for the number of hours required each month to satisfy federally required participation rates. (3) If the needy caretaker relatives cease to participate in employment or suitable activities for a sufficient number of hours each month to satisfy federally required participation rates, the department shall determine eligibility under ORS 412.006 based upon information available to the department. If the department does not have sufficient information available to determine eligibility for aid under ORS 412.006, the department shall provide notice and an opportunity for hearing prior to terminating aid. The notice must state the information that the department lacks and that the caretaker relatives must provide to complete the determination for aid. (4) { - The department by rule shall establish standards for aid provided under this section. - } { + The aid paid to a family under this section shall be calculated using the statewide standard adopted by the department under ORS 411.070 for the temporary assistance for needy families program, in accordance with the size of the family. + } The department must disregard such aid for purposes of publicly subsidized child care assistance. { + The amount of aid shall be: (a) In the first month of eligibility under this section, no less than 75 percent of the statewide standard; (b) In the second month of eligibility under this section, no less than 50 percent of the statewide standard; and (c) In the third month of eligibility under this section, no less than 25 percent of the statewide standard. + } (5) In addition to money payments, aid includes necessary support service payments and services as part of the job opportunity and basic skills program to directly or indirectly assist the family in achieving long term financial stability { + , including but not limited to: + } { + (a) Assistance in finding appropriate child care and enrolling the family in the department's program of publicly subsidized child care assistance; (b) Assistance with budgeting and saving money; and (c) Other activities designed to assist the family in retaining employment + }. SECTION 4. { + Section 2 of this 2013 Act and the amendments to ORS 412.124 by section 3 of this 2013 Act become operative July 1, 2013. + } SECTION 5. { + This 2013 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2013 Act takes effect on its passage. + } ----------