ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

BARBARA GUENTHER

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 542-3171

Facsimile: (602) 542-7833

TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE

DATE: April 2, 2001

SUBJECT: Strike Everything Amendment to H.B. 2152 - minors; eating disorder treatment

Purpose

Restores eligibility for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to children born during specified time periods and appropriates approximately $3.3 million in each of the two fiscal years from the TANF block grant to the Department of Economic Security (DES) for this purpose.

Background

Current statutes relating to TANF deems ineligible for benefits any child born during three periods of time: (1) when the child’s parent is receiving welfare benefits; (2) during a voluntary interruption in benefits of less than five years; and (3) while the parent is temporarily ineligible due to noncompliance with an eligibility requirement.

There are exceptions for children born: (1) as a result of sexual assault; (2) within the first ten months of the parent’s initial eligibility; (3) within ten months after the twelfth consecutive month the parent was not receiving benefits; and (4) within ten months of the parent’s resumption of benefits following 12 months of not receiving benefits. These children are counted when calculating any benefit increases that arise from across-the-board increases for all program recipients, and a parent or other relative may earn an amount equal to the disallowed cash payment without affecting their eligibility.

The strike everything amendment removes ineligibility based on the time period of a child’s birth, thereby allowing a family to receive $72 per month in cash assistance for a child born to a TANF recipient. It also appropriates approximately $3.3 million in each of the fiscal years 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 from the TANF block grant to DES. The fiscal analysis conducted by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee reflects an increase in expenditures of this amount from a combination of federal TANF and state general funds for this purpose. The provisions of the strike everything amendment are identical to the provisions of S.B. 1469 as passed by the Senate (21-8-1) on March 30, 2001.

Provisions

1. Appropriates approximately $3.3 million in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the TANF block grant to DES for benefits applicable to children born to a parent receiving TANF, sanctioned for noncompliance or within five years of leaving the welfare system.

2. Allows a family to receive an additional TANF benefit for a child born while a parent is receiving TANF benefits, born during a voluntary interruption of benefits or born during a period of noncompliance.

3. Makes technical and conforming changes.

4. Provides for a general effective date.

BG/jas