AN ACT CONCERNING ESTABLISHMENT OF A FOOD STAMP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM.

AN ACT CONCERNING ESTABLISHMENT OF A FOOD STAMP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM.

This bill codifies the Department of Social Services' (DSS) food stamp employment and training (FSE&T) program authorized under the Federal Food Stamp Act of 1977. It requires DSS to maximize the use of the program's optional 50% federal matching funds component. The program must provide employment and training activities, support services, and other programs and services to food stamp participants. It has two components: (1) 100% federal administrative grants and (2) optional 50% federal matching funds. DSS currently does not seek the federal matching funds.

The bill requires DSS to distribute federal matching funds to FSE&T providers whose spending generates these funds in the “relevant time period” (the bill does not define this term) and on a prorated basis. Providers include community-technical colleges, nonprofit agencies, adult education, and philanthropic and other entities eligible to provide FSE&T activities.

The bill requires any federal matching funds received under the FSE&T program to be used for employment and training activities and support services. Their use must follow the recommendations of the Child Poverty and Prevention Council's plan to reduce child poverty by 50% by 2014 (CGS § 4-67x). Federal administrative grants received under the program may be used only for employment and training activities, not support services.

1. case management;

2. job search and work experience;

3. education and training, including adult basic education, high school equivalency preparation, adult literacy classes, vocational training, and post secondary education;

4. tuition;

5. reentry programs; and

6. other services that improve employability.

Support services include dependent care and transportation services; work, training, or education-related items, including costs for uniforms, books, or training manuals; medical and dental services necessary for employment and other reasonable expenses directly related to participation in an employment and training program.

The bill directs DSS, in conjunction with the Child Poverty and Prevention Council, to collaborate with local governments, community-technical colleges, other educational institutions, community action agencies, and other entities to enroll eligible individuals in the food stamp program and to enroll eligible food stamp participants in FSE&T activities. Enrollment efforts must be conducted within available appropriations.

Starting January 15, 2009, the bill requires the DSS commissioner, in consultation with the Child Poverty and Prevention Council, to report annually to the Human Services and Appropriations Committees on the amount of federal funding received in the prior fiscal year and the impact of the programs used to reduce family poverty and promote employability.

The bill also requires the DSS commissioner to adopt regulations to administer the program.

The FSE&T program was created by the Food Security Act of 1985; the U. S. Department of Agriculture administers it. The act requires each state to implement an FSE&T program to help food stamp recipients gain skills, training, or experience to increase their ability to obtain regular employment.

Funding for the program traditionally focused on able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs), whose food stamp benefits became subject to time limits under federal welfare reform legislation passed in 1996 (P. L. 104-193). These adults, with some exceptions, can receive food stamp benefits for only three months out of each three-year period, except in months they work at least 80 hours or participate in an FSE&T activity. But, the Farm Bill of 2002 (P. L. 107-171) removed the requirement that states spend 80% of FSE&T funds on ABAWDS, giving states greater flexibility in how they use the funds.

Each state receives a 100% federal grant to administer its FSE&T program based on its percentage of mandatory work registrants. States that guarantee to serve all ABAWDs at risk of exceeding the three-month time limit receive additional federal funding. DSS currently receives a federal grant of approximately $ 700,000 to administer Connecticut's FSE&T program and uses all funding for ABAWDs.

States may also access optional 50% federal matching funds to pay for program costs that exceed those covered by the 100% administrative grant. The funds may also be used for support services, including transportation and dependent care. They are uncapped and can be matched with state, local, or private funds. Federal matching funds may be used to provide FSE&T services to both mandatory work registrants and volunteers.

Yea

Nay

(03/18/2008)