Sections 1 and 2 (119B.011, subdivision 23; 119B.05, subdivision 1) amend child care statutes, inserting the definition of the new program, Work Participation Rate Enhancement Program, and making families who are participating in this program eligible for child care assistance.

Section 3 (256J.021) creates the separate state program for the work participation rate enhancement program, established under section 6.

Section 4 (256J.08, subdivision 65) expands the MFIP definition of "participant" to include a person who receives cash payments under the work participation rate enhancement program.

Section 5 (256J.521, subdivision 1) amends the assessment of the MFIP participant by requiring the job counselor to determine if the participant should be referred to the new program under section 6.

Section 6 (267J.575) establishes the work participation rate enhancement program (WORK PREP).

Subdivision 1 states the purpose of the program, which is to serve families who are not making significant progress within MFIP due to barriers to employment. The program's goal is to stabilize and improve the lives of families at risk of long-term welfare dependency.

Subdivision 2 defines the program terms, which are "work participation rate enhancement program," "case management," "family stabilization plan," and "family stabilization services."

Subdivision 3 specifies the eligibility criteria for the program. Eligible participants include:

(1) participants who are age 60 or older, have been diagnosed as suffering from an illness or incapacity that is expected to last 30 days or more, or participants who are needed in the home to care for an ill or incapacitated family member, provided the individual is eligible for or has an employment plan that is adjusted due to personal and family circumstances under the MFIP assessment statute;

(2) participants who are unlikely to benefit from DWP, which includes individuals who are unable to obtain or retain employment due to illness, injury, or incapacity, individuals who are required in the home as a caregiver, individuals who are pregnant and unable to work, and individuals who have applied for SSI or SSDI.

(3) participants who meets the requirements for or have been granted a hardship extension under either the ill or incapacitated or hard-to-employ category; or

(4) a person applying for SSI or SSDI.

Families must meet all other MFIP eligibility requirements, and they are eligible for the same financial assistance as MFIP participants.

Subdivision 4 requires all participants to participate in the family stabilization services.

Subdivision 5 requires the county to provide family stabilization services through a case management model. This section specifies what must be included in the family stabilization plan, when the case manager and the family must meet to develop the plan, and under what circumstances the case manager may modify the plan.

Subdivision 6 requires compliance with the plan, and specifies the number of hours the family must be participating in activities. When the participant's participation in work activities meets the federal participation requirements, the participant is referred to the MFIP program and assigned a job counselor.

Subdivision 7 specifies the sanction policy for participants in this program.

Section 7 (256J.621) establishes the work participation bonus, which provides $75 per month to a participant who is employed and working at least 24 hours per week when the participant's case is closed. The participant will receive the bonus in any month that the participant is employed an average of 24 hours per week, for a maximum of 12 months.

Sections 8 to 11 (256J.626, subdivision 1; 256J.626, subdivision 2; 256J.626, subdivision 3; 256J.626, subdivision 4) incorporate expenditures for the work participation rate enhancement program into the MFIP consolidated fund.

Section 12(256J.626, subdivision 7) amends the MFIP consolidated fund performance base funds statute by requiring that each county and tribe be allocated 100 percent of their calendar year allocation, instead of 95 percent. This section also states that counties and tribes will be allocated additional funds from federal TANF bonus funds the state receives. The additional funds will be determined by the commissioner based on available funds, instead of capped at 2.5 or five percent of the initial allocation.

JW:rdr

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