Bill > HB0142

This bill makes several changes to Tennessee's public assistance programs: 1. It makes certain investigative records of the Department of Human Services confidential during the course of an investigation, with some exceptions for sharing information with law enforcement or the Comptroller's office. 2. It establishes fines of $2,500 to $10,000 for fraudulently obtaining food assistance through false impersonation, identity, or identification. 3. It requires the Department of Human Services to convene Families First Community Advisory Board meetings to provide input on program effectiveness and make recommendations. 4. It creates a two-year pilot program that provides an optional alternative temporary assistance pathway with enhanced educational support services or cash assistance for eligible families actively pursuing degrees, certifications, or other educational advancement. 5. It amends the maximum standard grant for the Temporary Assistance program to be at least 25% of the standard of need, and authorizes the Department to study the impact of this change. The overall aim of the bill is to make changes to Tennessee's public assistance programs related to confidentiality, fraud penalties, advisory boards, and alternative assistance pathways.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0142&ga=112