Bill > S107

This bill aims to promote employment by requiring the Department of Transitional Assistance to create and maintain updated lists of various educational and training programs available in the Commonwealth, such as English language learner programs, adult basic education, high school diploma and equivalency programs, vocational training, and integrated education and training programs, with detailed information on program descriptions, costs, eligibility, and job placement rates for vocational programs. It also redefines what constitutes a work-related activity for recipients of transitional aid to include a broader range of educational and training programs, and mandates that the department conduct screenings to identify individual needs and barriers to employment before denying or reducing benefits, offering alternative education or training if needed, and considering factors like learning disabilities, housing, and family circumstances when setting employment goals or referring individuals to programs. Furthermore, the bill outlines criteria for extending benefits, such as ensuring basic needs are met and that job opportunities are available and the recipient has been assisted in obtaining them, and allows for extensions of education or training activities if an individual is making substantial progress.