board of dental examiners
(NOW: Arizona works program)
Purpose
Extends and modifies the Arizona Works Program, eliminates the Arizona Works Agency Procurement Board (Board), requires the Department of Economic Security (DES) to issue requests for proposals for JOBS case management and support services throughout the state and removes reporting requirements.
Laws 1997, Chapter 300 established the Arizona Works Program, a welfare employment pilot program operated by a private contractor. The Board was established to review proposals and award a contract to a private entity. The Board awarded the contract to MAXIMUS, Inc. on January 11, 1999.
The Arizona Works Program pilot offices are located in eastern Maricopa County and replace the DES Empower Redesign Program (Empower) in those areas. Arizona Works and Empower administer welfare benefits and services that are primarily funded through the federal temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) block grant. In addition to the TANF cash assistance, employment and child care programs, MAXIMUS currently operates the state funded general assistance program, the food stamp employment and training program and assignment of eligible TANF participants into work activities.
Arizona statute required the Board to select a rural area as a second pilot site beginning January 1, 2001, but contract negotiations regarding cost allocations delayed implementation. The Board selected Greenlee County as the site for the rural pilot project with a scheduled implementation date of April 1, 2002.
The DES JOBS Program works with TANF recipients to prepare families for the transition from welfare to work. Services include comprehensive assessment of skills and needs, job readiness, job search, placement in subsidized and unsubsidized employment, supportive services and short-term work-related training to aid in job retention and advancement.
The legislation narrows the scope of and extends the Arizona Works Program, eliminates the Board, privatizes the JOBS Program and eliminates audit and review requirements.
The fiscal impact is unknown. A fiscal note has been requested but not received.
1. Repeals the Arizona Works Program on January 1, 2004.
2. Extends the Arizona Works Program completion date from December 31, 2002 to December 31, 2003.
3. Narrows the scope of the Arizona Works Program to JOBS case management and support services.
4. Eliminates the Board on September 30, 2002.
5. Eliminates the $350 and $390 per month flat grants and conforms Arizona Works Program benefit levels to DES Empower benefit levels for TANF recipients.
6. Exempts from the family cap a child born while the custodial parent was receiving and within ten months after receiving benefits through the Arizona Works Program.
7. Limits eligibility determination by the Arizona Works Program to TANF related child care for TANF cash assistance recipients and persons transitioning off TANF cash assistance.
8. Removes requirement to use incentive payments to enhance client services.
9. Conforms definitions and functions.
10. Requires DES and the vendor to renegotiate the contract within 90 days of a federal statute, rule or policy change that impacts the terms of the contract.
11. Requires DES and MAXIMUS to negotiate and modify their contract to conform to this act.
12. Requires DES to issue a request for proposals every five years for JOBS case management and support services.
13. Requires JOBS private providers to demonstrate ability to perform and be responsive to client needs.
14. Requires DES to determine whether responding providers are qualified.
15. Requires DES to provide JOBS services in any area with no qualified provider.
16. Allows DES to continue seeking qualified private providers and to negotiate with contracted providers to expand or contract services or areas of service, due to gaps or duplication.
17. Permits a provider to operate in more than one area of the state.
18. Grants priority consideration for employment by private JOBS providers for DES employees who are displaced by the privatization of the JOBS Program.
19. Requires a contract to specify service areas and make contractors accountable for performance. Allows a contract to specify penalties for failure to perform.
20. Exempts the contracts from the competitive government process.
21. Limits contract payments to the amount available to DES to operate the JOBS program.
22. Requires DES to retain sufficient funds to ensure efficient operations and compliance with contract terms, state plans, and all federal and state statutes and rules.
23. Eliminates reviews by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and annual audits by the Office of the Auditor General.
24. Makes technical and conforming changes.
25. Provides for a delayed effective date of October 1, 2002, for revisions to the Arizona Works Program and elimination of the Board.
26. Provides for a delayed effective date of July 1, 2003 for privatization of the JOBS program.
8. Provides for a delayed effective date of January 1, 2004 to eliminate references to the Arizona Works Program.
APPROP 4/23/02 DPA S/E 10-2-2-2 HEA 1/22/02 DPA 8-0-0-0
3rd Read 5/06/02 33-21-5-0 3rd Read 2/04/02 20-5-5-0
Final Read 5/22/02 37-19-4-0 Final Read 5/21/02 24-3-3-0
Signed by the Governor 6/4/02
Chapter 331
Prepared by Senate Staff
June 13, 2002