397#5c (DSS) Study of Incentives to Save & Work. HB30 - Conference Report

State Budget

1998 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Conference Report)

Bill Order » Item 397 #5c

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Study of Incentives to Save & Work (language only)

Item 397 #5c

Item 397 #5c
Health And Human Resources
Social Services, Department of

Language
Page 238, after line 36, insert:
"G. The Department of Social Services, in cooperation with local departments of social services, shall study methods for improving incentives for participants in the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW) and other recipients of benefits through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant to continue to work and save after their two-year benefit period has expired. The study shall include, but not be limited to, assessing
(1)
the feasibility of requiring direct deposit of welfare benefits, (2) the feasibility and benefits of creating economic literacy programs through local social services offices, (3) the creation of programs to encourage banks in the Commonwealth to offer special accounts without service charges for TANF recipients and to cash state benefit checks, and (4) other incentives."

Explanation
(This amendment requires a study of incentives for assisting welfare recipients in preparing financially for the termination of their benefits.)

Item 397

Item 397	First Year - FY1999	Second Year - FY2000
Administrative and Support Services (47900)	$48,399,569	$48,582,234
General Management and Direction (47901)	FY1999 $2,894,626	FY2000 $2,917,248
Computer Services (47902)	FY1999 $35,206,828	FY2000 $35,305,086
Accounting and Budgeting Services (47903)	FY1999 $2,489,959	FY2000 $2,506,309
Personnel Services (47914)	FY1999 $1,284,223	FY2000 $1,294,196
Planning and Evaluation Services (47916)	FY1999 $3,511,811	FY2000 $3,540,461
Procurement and Distribution Services (47918)	FY1999 $2,768,807	FY2000 $2,775,619
Administrative and Support Services for Individual and Family Economic Independence Services (47930)	FY1999 $243,315	FY2000 $243,315
Fund Sources:
General	FY1999 $17,260,155	FY2000 $17,312,371
Special	FY1999 $3,092,484	FY2000 $3,092,484
Federal Trust	FY1999 $28,046,930	FY2000 $28,177,379

Authority: Title 63.1, Chapter 1, Code of Virginia; P.L. 104-193, Federal Code, as amended.

A. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Department establish a Statewide Electronic Benefits Transfer System.

B. The Commissioner of the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Secretaries of Administration and Health and Human Resources shall develop an automated system for eligibility and service programs that include Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Food Stamps, and Medicaid. The maximum use of federal funds for this purpose shall be explored.

C.1. To provide adequate oversight of the implementation of automated systems, and to ensure coordination with local social services agencies, the Department of Social Services shall maintain a Local Information Technology Planning Committee. The Committee shall include one representative each from the Council on Information Management, the Department of Information Technology, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, and at least five local social services personnel to be selected by the Virginia League of Social Service Executives. The Committee shall provide advice to the Commissioner on all computer and telecommunications systems operated by the Department in support of programs administered by local social services agencies.

2. The Department shall retain the services of a qualified independent contractor with appropriate experience in information technology project management and systems integration to perform periodic audits of the performance of the ADAPT project. Such audits shall be conducted under the direction of the DSS Local Information Planning Committee and shall include, but not be limited to, the progress of the project in terms of: (a) planned versus actual work plan activities; (b) milestones and deliverables, (c) critical path activities, (d) execution of risk reduction activities, and (e) application of any contingency plans. The audit contractor shall report audit exceptions in a timely manner, note any areas of concern, and recommend remedial actions. At least semi-annually, the audit contractor shall issue a written report including audit findings, recommendations, and the results to date of any follow-up actions by the Department. The contractor shall distribute such reports to the Commissioner of Social Services, the DSS Local Information Technology Planning Committee, the Governor, the Department of Planning and Budget, the Council on Information Management, and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees.

3. The Department of Social Services shall own hardware and database management software purchased with funds appropriated to it. The Department of Information Technology may charge the Department of Social Services for operations and maintenance of such equipment and products but may not include any portion of the purchase price in the calculation of such charges. The Department of Information Technology may not use or sell the excess capacity resulting from these purchases.

D. Out of this appropriation shall be provided $25,000 the first year and $25,000 the second year from the general fund for the Richmond One to One Partnership.

E. As a condition of the appropriation for this item, pursuant to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law No. 104-193, the Department shall, in cooperation with local departments of social services, develop a request for a waiver of the work requirement for Food Stamp recipients residing in areas that do not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for such individuals, including those areas designated as labor surplus areas by the U.S. Department of Labor.

F. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) shall unallot $2,120,000 from the general fund in both years for the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) project. The Department of Social Services shall report to DPB the amount of the signed contract, its major provisions, and the schedule of payments. If sufficient funds are available to support the contract, DPB shall indicate its approval of the contract's overall costs. Thereafter, DPB shall approve allotment of the funds when requested by DSS to make contract payments.