ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
REVISED
TANF; eligibility
requirements
Restores
eligibility for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) to children born
during specified time periods.
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.
The
bill 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. The bill also
contains a legislative intent clause that the bill has only prospective effect
and is effective if TANF funds for federal fiscal year 2002-2003 are
appropriated at an amount at least equal to the current TANF funding for
Arizona, excluding bonus monies.
A fiscal analysis conducted
by Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff estimates an annual impact of $5.7
million from a combination of federal TANF and state general funds.
1. 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.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Confirms that the act is prospective.
4. Conditions enactment on TANF appropriations for FFY 2002-2003 being at least equal to TANF appropriations for FFY 2001-2002.
5. Requires the Director of the Department of Economic Security to notify Legislative Council of the federal reauthorization and funding amount within one day of receiving notification from the federal government.
6. Becomes effective on the federal funding applicable date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Corrects the federal fiscal year reference to the first year TANF is reauthorized.
Senate Action
FS 1/23/02 DPA 5-1-0-0
APPROP 3/12/02 DP 8-2-2-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 15, 2002