2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 46 — Public welfare and assistance
RS 46:231 — Aid to needy families; definitions

§231. Aid to needy families; definitions

As used in this Subpart, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Applicant" means a parent or relative of the parent who applies for FITAP on behalf of a child.

(2) Repealed by Acts 2005, No. 428, §3, eff. July 1, 2005.

(3) "Department" means the Department of Children and Family Services.

(4) "Dependent child" shall mean a needy child who meets all of the following criteria:

(a) A needy child under the age of eighteen or needy child under the age of nineteen who is a full-time student in a secondary school, or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training, who may reasonably be expected to complete the program of such secondary school or training before attaining the age of nineteen.

(b) The child is living with his father, mother or other relative, within fifth degree, in a place of residence maintained by one or more of such relatives as his or their own home. For the purposes of this Subpart, all such relatives shall qualify as such, whether the relationship was acquired by adoption or birth, and neither divorce nor death shall terminate such relationship.

(5) "Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program" or "FITAP" means the cash assistance program.

(6) "Family Success Agreement" means the mutually developed contract between a FITAP recipient, on behalf of their family, and the department that sets forth mutual and time-bound responsibilities, expectations, activities, and goals designed to transition a participant from welfare to self-sufficiency.

(7) "Federal Welfare Reform Act" means the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation (PRWORA) Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, and applicable changes due to its reauthorization.

(8) "Recipient" or "FITAP recipient" means the parent or a relative of the parent who receives FITAP on behalf of a dependent child.

(9) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services.

(10) "State plan" means the state TANF block grant plan.

(11) "Strategies to Empower People" or "STEP" means the education, employment, training and related services program for families receiving cash assistance payments.

(12) "Temporary Assistance to Needy Families" or "TANF" means the federal block grant program established under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, and applicable changes due to its reauthorization.

(13) "Transitional Assessment" is the mutually developed plan for the FITAP recipients, on behalf of their family, nearing the end of their eligibility for cash assistance, or who have recently entered unsubsidized employment to identify the action plan necessary to enable a successful transition from cash assistance to self-sufficiency.

(14) "Work eligible" means families containing an adult under sixty years of age or teen head of household that is not disabled, incapacitated, or caring for a family member who is disabled or incapacitated as documented by a medical expert to which the status of disability is clearly established and explained. "Work eligible" also excludes cases in which only the child portion of need that is unrelated to a sanction or penalty, known as a child-only case, is considered in determining eligibility.

Amended by Acts 1958, No. 405, §1; Acts 1960, No. 251, §1; Acts 1965, No. 18, §1; Acts 1966, No. 132, §1; Acts 1973, No. 175, §1; Acts 1978, No. 786, §6, eff. July 17, 1978; Acts 1981, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Nov. 19, 1981; Acts 1997, No. 1155, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 2003, No. 58, §1; Acts 2004, No. 110, §1; Acts 2005, No. 428, §3, eff. July 1, 2005.