Authority: Title 63.1, Chapters 6.2, 6.3, and 6.5, Code of Virginia; P.L. 104-193, as amended, P.L. 105-33, Federal Code; Title IV, Part A, of the federal Social Security Act; § 5001, federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

A. Included in the amount for Financial Assistance for Employment Services is $1,098,403 from the general fund and $2,164,708 from nongeneral funds the first year and $1,098,403 from the general fund and $2,164,708 from nongeneral funds the second year for services provided under the Food Stamp Employment Training Program.

B. The Department of Social Services, in collaboration with local departments of social services, shall maintain minimum performance standards for all local departments of social services participating in the Virginia Initiative for Employment, Not Welfare (VIEW) program. The Department shall allocate VIEW funds to local departments of social services based on these performance standards and VIEW caseloads. The allocation formula shall be developed and revised in cooperation with the local social services departments and the Department of Planning and Budget.

C. Out of the appropriation for this Item, $240,129 from nongeneral funds in the first year and $240,129 from nongeneral funds in the second year shall be provided to Russell County, in collaboration with other public and private entities to develop and implement job placement, employment training, and skills training for participants in the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW) program. Funds from this appropriation may also be used in other contiguous localities (Planning District 1 and Planning District 2) with the approval of a steering committee composed of the directors of local departments of social services in the above-listed localities.

D. To the extent permitted by federal law, food stamp recipients subject to a work requirement pursuant to § 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, as amended, shall be permitted to satisfy such work requirement by providing volunteer services to a public or private, nonprofit agency for the number of hours per month determined by dividing the household's monthly food stamp allotment by the federal minimum wage.

E. Out of the amount in Employment Services Payments, $1,000,000 from nongeneral funds the first year and $1,000,000 from nongeneral funds the second year are appropriated to assist noncustodial parents to prepare for, obtain, and retain employment through the Welfare-to-Work program.

F. The Department of Social Services shall maintain a plan for providing education, training, job-specific skills development, and other services to VIEW participants who have difficulty in finding and maintaining employment. The plan shall include (i) criteria that will be used to identify VIEW participants who are considered "hard to serve"; (ii) an estimate of how many VIEW participants are expected to receive special targeted services; (iii) a description of the types and amounts of education, training, and other services that will be offered to this population; (iv) methods for coordinating services among local departments of social services, private industry councils, and other public and private providers of service; and (v) a description of the conditions under which the federal TANF block grant, Welfare-to-Work grant, Workforce Investment Act funds, and any other source of funds for this purpose will be used to pay for services. The Plan shall be updated as appropriate and made available upon request.

G. Out of this appropriation shall be provided $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant for post-secondary education of TANF recipients or a TANF-eligible family member. This program is for individuals who qualify for admission, and the program would increase their self-sufficiency and self-sustainability. A pilot program shall be maintained at St. Paul's College.