Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 54; Title 63.2, Chapters 1 through 7, Code of Virginia; Title VI, Subtitle B, P.L. 97-35, as amended; P.L. 103-252, as amended; P.L. 104-193, as amended, Federal Code.
A. It is hereby acknowledged that as of June 30, 2021 there existed with the federal government an unexpended balance of $130,397,626 in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds which are available to the Commonwealth of Virginia to reimburse expenditures incurred in accordance with the adopted State Plan for the TANF program. Based on projected spending levels and appropriations in this act, the Commonwealth's accumulated balance for authorized federal TANF block grant funds is estimated at $79,652,390 on June 30, 2022; $49,119,392 on June 30, 2023; and $17,988,412 on June 30, 2024.
B. No less than 30 days prior to submitting any amendment to the federal government related to the State Plan for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services shall provide the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance an Appropriations Committees as well as the Director, Department of Planning and Budget written documentation detailing the proposed policy changes. This documentation shall include an estimate of the fiscal impact of the proposed changes and information summarizing public comment that was received on the proposed changes.
C. Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, the Department of Social Services shall maintain a separate state program, as that term is defined by federal regulations governing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, 45 C.F.R. § 260.30, for the purpose of providing welfare cash assistance payments to able-bodied two-parent families. The separate state program shall be funded by state funds and operated outside of the TANF program. Able-bodied two-parent families shall not be eligible for TANF cash assistance as defined at 45 C.F.R. § 260.31 (a)(1), but shall receive benefits under the separate state program provided for in this paragraph. Although various conditions and eligibility requirements may be different under the separate state program, the basic benefit payment for which two-parent families are eligible under the separate state program shall not be less than what they would have received under TANF. The Department of Social Services shall establish regulations to govern this separate state program.
D. As a condition of this appropriation, the Department of Social Services shall disregard the value of one motor vehicle per assistance unit in determining eligibility for cash assistance in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and in the separate state program for able-bodied two-parent families.
E. 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 Education and Work (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.
F. A participant whose Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) financial assistance is terminated due to the receipt of 24 months of assistance as specified in § 63.2-612, Code of Virginia, or due to the closure of the TANF case prior to the completion of 24 months of TANF assistance, excluding cases closed with a sanction for noncompliance with the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work program, shall be eligible to receive employment and training assistance for up to 12 months after termination, if needed, in addition to other transitional services provided pursuant to § 63.2-611, Code of Virginia.
G. The Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the Department of Correctional Education, shall identify and apply for federal, private and faith-based grants for pre-release parenting programs for non-custodial incarcerated parent offenders committed to the Department of Corrections, including but not limited to the following grant programs: Promoting Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriages, State Child Access and Visitation Block Grant, Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative Collaboration, Special Improvement Projects, § 1115 Social Security Demonstration Grants, and any new grant programs authorized under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program.
H. Out of this appropriation, $2,647,305 the first year and $2,647,305 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to support state child care programs.
I. Out of this appropriation, the Department of Social Services shall use $4,800,000 the first year and $4,800,000 the second year from the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant to provide to each TANF recipient with two or more children in the assistance unit a monthly TANF supplement equal to the amount the Division of Child Support Enforcement collects up to $200, less the $100 disregard passed through to such recipient. The TANF child support supplement shall be paid within two months following collection of the child support payment or payments used to determine the amount of such supplement. For purposes of determining eligibility for medical assistance services, the TANF supplement described in this paragraph shall be disregarded. In the event there are sufficient federal TANF funds to provide all other assistance required by the TANF State Plan, the Commissioner may use unobligated federal TANF block grant funds in excess of this appropriation to provide the TANF supplement described in this paragraph.
J. The Board of Social Services shall combine Groups I and II for the purposes of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families cash benefits and use the Group II rates for the new group.
K. The Department of Social Services shall develop a plan to increase the standards of assistance by 10 percent annually until they equal 50 percent of the federal poverty level.
L.1. The Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Education (DOE) shall ensure that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Virginia Initiative for Employment and Work (VIEW) mandated child care forecast is funded through a combination of general fund, TANF, and Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) grant dollars. The amount of needed CCDF dollars identified in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the agencies shall be transferred from DOE to DSS within the first thirty days of the fiscal year. DSS shall notify DOE of the required amount of the next fiscal year transfer upon the enrollment of the budget. This amount shall reflect the need identified in the official forecast as well as changes resulting from actions in the final budget.
2. The MOA shall reflect the full cost of the VIEW mandated child care program. From this amount, $38,707,424 the first year and $38,707,424 the second year is appropriated at DSS and the balance shall be transferred from DOE from the CCDF grant to support the VIEW mandated child care program as specified in L.1.
M. Out of this appropriation, $2,120,420 the first year and $2,120,420 the second year from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant shall be provided for the Department of Social Services to implement a program so that TANF-eligible individuals may save funds in an individual development account established for the purposes of home purchase, education, starting a business, transportation, or self-sufficiency. The TANF funds shall be deposited to the individual development accounts at a match rate determined by the department.
N. The Department of Social Services shall increase the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash benefits and income eligibility threshold by five percent effective July 1, 2022.