HB 1441-FN-A-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED
2000 SESSION
HOUSE BILL 1441-FN-A-LOCAL
AN ACT relative to establishing a pilot welfare-to-work program in rural communities and making an appropriation therefor.
SPONSORS: Rep. Hansen, Hills 2; Rep. French, Merr 3; Rep. Rodd, Merr 3; Rep. R. Herman, Hills 1; Sen. Trombly, Dist 7
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill establishes a pilot welfare-to-work program in 6 rural communities patterned after the "Project Four" program currently operating in Hillsborough, and makes an appropriation therefor.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
00-2412
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand
AN ACT relative to establishing a pilot welfare-to-work program in rural communities and making an appropriation therefor.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Statement of Purpose. The general court recognizes that the devolution of welfare administration to the states, as required by the federal welfare reform legislation of 1996, has created the need for a community model to address the needs of low income families living in New Hampshire's rural communities who will soon become ineligible for state assistance. The general court further recognizes that as the 5-year limit on benefits draws near and before any serious downturn in the economy occurs, creation of a public/private partnership is necessary to ensure that these smaller, rural communities are ready. Therefore, the general court supports the establishment of a pilot welfare to work program in 6 rural communities patterned after the "Project Four" program currently operating in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, to be followed by an evaluation of its impact and potential for continued efficacy.
2 Pilot Program Established. The commissioner of health and human services shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, as necessary to establish a 3-year pilot program replicating the "Project Four" program operating in Hillsborough, in the towns of Newport, Farmington, Littleton, Franklin, Plymouth, and Seabrook, New Hampshire. Such rules shall address and implement the following:
I. The community-based program shall, with the aid of a field director and research specialist, utilize volunteers from within the towns to help recipient families develop computer, interviewing, and budgeting skills, as well as life skills such as parenting and stress management strategies, through mentoring. In-kind contributions of child care, heating oil, legal and medical services and car repairs may also be sought in an effort to help remove barriers to employment and ease the recipient's transition from welfare to work.
II. Persons eligible to receive assistance under the pilot program shall be those who are currently receiving public assistance from the state or town and who are job-ready.
III. The pilot program is authorized to provide one field director/program administrator and one research specialist for the 6 towns.
3 Evaluation; Assessment. The commissioner of health and human services shall conduct quarterly on-site evaluations of the pilot program established in this act, or may authorize an independent agency to conduct the evaluations. The commissioner shall assess the pilot program's success, evaluate its impact and potential for continual efficiency and shall make recommendations on continued funding or expended operation of the program to the speaker of the house, the senate president, and the governor on or before November 1, 2001.
4 Appropriation; Department of Health and Human Services; Pilot Program in Rural Communities. To provide funding for this act, the sum of $91,000 is appropriated to the department of health and human services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, $93,730 is appropriated to the department of health and human services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, and $98,538 is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
5 Termination. The pilot program established in this act shall terminate June 30, 2002.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
LBAO
00-2412
12/14/99
HB 1441-FN-A-LOCAL - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to establishing a pilot welfare-to-work program in rural communities and making an appropriation therefor.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Health and Human Services has determined this bill will increase state expenditures by $105,230 in FY 2001 and $111,038 in FY 2002. Local expenditures may decrease by an indeterminable amount in FY 2001 and FY 2002. There is no fiscal impact on county expenditures or state, county and local revenue.
This bill appropriates $91,000 in FY 2000, $93,730 in FY 2001, and $98,538 in FY 2002 from the general fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the purposes of this act.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department stated this bill establishes a pilot program effective July 1, 2000 and terminating June 30, 2002. Since FY 2000 ends on June 30, 2000, the fiscal year 2000 appropriation could not be used. The Department assumed the pilot program would be contracted and not administered by state employees and the appropriation for FY 2001 and FY 2002 would cover the cost of conducting the program. Additional costs to the Department for quarterly site evaluation is estimated at $11,500 in FY 2001 and $12,500 in FY 2002. Preliminary results from a similar project indicate there may be a reduction in the cost of local welfare, however, the amount cannot be determined.