Bill > S35

This bill aims to promote employment by making several changes to the transitional aid to families with dependent children program. Key provisions include: 1. Requiring the Department of Transitional Assistance to create and maintain up-to-date lists of various education and training programs in the state, including details on eligibility, availability of financial aid, and job placement/retention rates. 2. Expanding the definition of "education or training activity" to include a wider range of programs, such as English language learning, adult basic education, high school equivalency, and vocational/occupational skills training. 3. Requiring the department to conduct screenings to identify recipients' needs, barriers to employment, and potential eligibility for exemptions or good cause, and to use this information in establishing goals and referrals. 4. Prohibiting the department from denying or reducing benefits for non-compliance with work-related requirements unless the recipient has been offered an appropriate, available, and no-cost work activity. 5. Allowing recipients to request benefits extensions based on various criteria, such as lack of basic resources, lack of available job opportunities or education/training programs, and significant barriers to full-time employment.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S35