Authority: Title 63.1, Chapter 6.2, 6.3, and 6.5, Code of Virginia; P.L. 104-193, Federal Code, as amended; Title IV, Part A, of the federal Social Security Act.
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.
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 Number 104-193, as amended, shall be permitted to satisfy such work requirement by providing volunteer services to a public or private, non-profit 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, $2,563,889 from the general fund and $5,127,780 from nongeneral funds the first year and $4,006,077 from the general fund and $8,012,155 the second year are appropriated to support the new Welfare-to-Work program jointly administered by the Department of Social Services and the Governor's Employment and Training Department to assist hard-to-employ recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to prepare for, obtain, and retain employment. Pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding between these two departments and approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, funds may be transferred to the Governor's Employment and Training Department to defray appropriate administrative and programmatic expenses of that agency for the Welfare-to-Work program.