Arizona works; independent
evaluation
HB 2146 eliminates the requirement of the Arizona works agency procurement board to include in the review a comparison of the Arizona Works Program with the department of economic security (DES) Empower Redesign Program.
The proposed strike-everything amendment to HB 2146 requires DES to establish a Student Financial Aid Pilot Program (Program) to assist Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients in obtaining financial aid and other services for 24 months while pursuing a degree at a college or university.
TANF provides assistance to needy families while promoting job preparation and self-sufficiency. A recipient becomes ineligible for assistance after receiving cash assistance for a 24 month period during any consecutive 60 month time period. TANF follows a work first philosophy in which recipients are required to engage in work activities to remain eligible for assistance. Current law provides temporary work exemptions for single parents caring for children less than 12 months of age, unmarried custodial parents under the age of 18 or disabled individuals. The strike-everything amendment establishes a pilot program to assist 200 TANF recipients who are enrolled in a degree granting college or university to obtain financial aid and other assistance.
· Requires DES to establish a pilot program in two sites to assist 200 degree seeking individuals with dependent children who are enrolled at a two or four year college or university.
· Specifies one pilot site must be located in a county with a population greater than one million and the other site in a county with a population between 750,000 and one million.
· Specifies DES shall assist those in the program in obtaining financial aid, cash assistance and other services comparable to those provided through welfare and TANF.
· Stipulates an individual is eligible to participation in the program 24 months, which does not include inactive time approved by DES.
· Permits an individual to apply to the program if the individual:
Ø Otherwise eligible for TANF
Ø Seeks a post secondary education that will contribute to self-sufficiency
Ø States at least 70 per cent of participants shall enroll in a nursing education program.
Ø Demonstrates aptitude to complete the education program
Ø Maintains Arizona residency for at least two years
Ø Employed a minimum of 32 hours a week for 10 of the preceding 16 weeks before the program
· Stipulates an individual must meet the following criteria to remain eligible for the program:
Ø Continues to meet eligibility requirements for TANF
Ø Enrolled in at least 12 credit hours each semester
Ø Maintain a “C” average
Ø Work at least 32 hours a week for 10 weeks during each summer break unless enrolled for a minimum of six hours during the summer.
Ø Requires an individual in the program in order to remain eligible to participate in a combination of education, study or work experience for an average of 20 hours per week for the first 24 months of the program, if this average is maintained an individual may continue to receive this assistance past the first 24 months.
Ø Requires a participant to agree in writing to serve for one year as a nurse in a medically underserved area.
Ø States the service shall being within one year of completion of the participant’s undergraduate education.
Ø Outlines the restitution of TANF cash assistance to DES if the participant fails to meet the requirements of service and requires this payment to be made within five years from the date the education is completed or the participant exits the program.
· Exempts assistance received from the program from being calculated as a resource for TANF eligibility.
· Prohibits the use of TANF block grant monies to fund this program.
· Permits general fund monies used for the program to be counted toward the federal maintenance of effort requirement.
· Establishes a 13 member student financial aid advisory committee (committee) consisting of members representing various educational and employment interests.
· Requires the committee to provide recommendations to DES regarding the program, select the site of the program, identify necessary training programs and establish selection guidelines for participants of the program.
· Defines work site experience.
· Requires DES to establish the program by January 1, 2003.
· Exempts DES from rule making requirements for one year after the effective date.
· Repeals the program and committee from and after December 31, 2007.
· Makes technical and conforming changes.
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45th Legislature
Second Regular Session 2 March
27, 2002
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