Assigned to HHS                                                                                                                     FOR COMMITTEE

 


 

 

 


ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2016

 

child care assistance; education; training

Purpose

            Allows the Department of Economic Security (DES) to waive a portion of or the entire work requirement for a person receiving full-time child care assistance that meets eligibility requirements.

Background

            DES must provide child care assistance to eligible families that are attempting to achieve independence from a cash assistance program and need child care assistance. DES must provide child care assistance to eligible families that are transitioning off of cash assistance due to increased earnings to accept or maintain employment. DES is allowed to provide child care assistance to support eligible families with incomes of 165 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Level at the time of the application to accept or maintain employment (A.R.S. § 46-803).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.   Allows DES to waive a portion of or the entire work requirement for a person receiving
full-time child care assistance who is enrolled full-time in an accredited educational institution, remedial education activity or employment training program which is related to employment goals that will lead to a:

a)   vocational, technical or trade certification;

b)   associate degree; or

c)   bachelor's degree.

2.   Requires the person receiving the child care assistance to confirm their intent to obtain education or training that will lead to employment in an occupation that has starting wages sufficient to eliminate the need for public assistance.

3.   Requires DES to review the education or training program the person is pursuing and verify that the program is related to employment goals.

4.   Requires the person to demonstrate satisfactory progress to DES in the education or training program.

5.   Makes technical and conforming changes.

6.   Becomes effective on the general effective date.

House Action

HHS                1/25/21      DP     9-0-0-0

3rd Read          2/4/21                   47-10-2-0-1

Prepared by Senate Research

March 15, 2021

LMM/CRS/kja