1998 Minnesota Code
Chapters 245 - 267 Public Welfare and Related Activities
Chapter 256K Work First Program Pilot Projects
Section 256K.01 Work first program.

256K.01 Work first program.

Subdivision 1. Citation. Sections 256K.01 to 256K.09 may be cited as the work first program.

Subd. 2. Definitions. As used in sections 256K.01 to 256K.09, the following words have the meanings given them.

(a) "Applicant" means an individual who has submitted a request for assistance and has never received an AFDC, MFIP-S or a family general assistance grant through the MAXIS computer system as a caregiver, or an applicant whose AFDC, MFIP-S or family general assistance application was denied or benefits were terminated due to noncompliance with work first requirements.

(b) "Application date" means the date any Minnesota county agency receives a signed and dated combined application form Part I.

(c) "CAF" means a combined application form on which people apply for multiple assistance programs, including: cash assistance, refugee cash assistance, Minnesota supplemental aid, food stamps, medical assistance, general assistance medical care, emergency assistance, emergency medical assistance, and emergency general assistance medical care.

(d) "Caregiver" means a parent or eligible adult, including a pregnant woman, who is part of the assistance unit that has applied for or is receiving an AFDC, MFIP-S, or family general assistance grant. In a two-parent family, both parents are caregivers.

(e) "Child support" means a voluntary or court-ordered payment by absent parents in an assistance unit.

(f) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of human services.

(g) "Department" means the department of human services.

(h) "Employability development plan" or "EDP" means a plan developed by the applicant, with advice from the employment advisor, for the purposes of identifying an employment goal, improving work skills through certification or education, training or skills recertification, and which addresses barriers to employment.

(i) "EDP status report form" means a program form on which deferred participants indicate what has been achieved in the participant's employability development plan and the types of problems encountered.

(j) "Employment advisor" means a program staff member who is qualified to assist the participant to develop a job search or employability development plan, match the participant with existing job openings, refer the participant to employers, and has an extensive knowledge of employers in the area.

(k) "Financial specialist" means a program staff member who is trained to explain the benefits offered under the program, determine eligibility for different assistance programs, and broker other resources from employers and the community.

(l) "Job network" means individuals that a person may contact to learn more about particular companies, inquire about job leads, or discuss occupational interests and expertise.

(m) "Job search allowance" means the amount of financial assistance needed to support job search.

(n) "Job search plan" or "JSP" means the specific plan developed by the applicant, with advice from the employment advisor, to secure a job as soon as possible, and focus the scope of the job search process and other activities.

(o) "JSP status report form" means a program form on which participants indicate the number of submitted job applications, job interviews held, jobs offered, other outcomes achieved, problems encountered, and the total number of hours spent on job search per week.

(p) "Participant" means a recipient who is required to participate in the work first program.

(q) "Program" means the work first program.

(r) "Provider" means an employment and training agency certified by the commissioner of economic security under section 268.871, subdivision 1.

(s) "Self-employment" means employment where people work for themselves rather than an employer, are responsible for their own work schedule, and do not have taxes or FICA withheld by an employer.

(t) "Self-sufficiency agreement" means the agreement between the county or its representative and the applicant that describes the activities that the applicant must conduct and the necessary services and aid to be furnished by the county to enable the individual to meet the purpose of either the job search plan or employability development plan.

(u) "Subsidized job" means a job that is partly reimbursed by the provider for cost of wages for participants in the program.

Subd. 3. Establishing work first program. The commissioners of human services and economic security may develop and establish pilot projects which require applicants for aid under AFDC, MFIP-S or family general assistance to meet the requirements of the work first program. The purpose of the program is to:

(1) ensure that the participant is working as early as possible;

(2) promote greater opportunity for economic self-support, participation, and mobility in the work force; and

(3) minimize the risk for long-term welfare dependency.

Subd. 4. Program administration. The program must be administered in a way that, in addition to the county agency, other sectors in the community such as employers from the public and private sectors, not-for-profit organizations, educational and social service agencies, labor unions, and neighborhood associations are involved.

Subd. 5. Program design. The program shall meet the following principles:

(1) work is the primary means of economic support;

(2) the individual's potential is reviewed during the application process to determine how to approach the job market aggressively;

(3) public aid such as cash and medical assistance, child care, child support assurance, and other cash benefits are used to support intensive job search and immediate work; and

(4) maximum use is made of tax credits to supplement income.

Subd. 6. Duties of commissioner. In addition to any other duties imposed by law, the commissioner shall:

(1) establish the program according to sections 256K.01 to 256K.09 and allocate money as appropriate to pilot counties participating in the program;

(2) provide systems development and staff training;

(3) accept and supervise the disbursement of any funds that may be provided from other sources for use in the demonstration program; and

(4) direct a study to safeguard the interests of children.

Subd. 7. Duties of county agency. The county agency shall:

(1) collaborate with the commissioners of human services and economic security and other agencies to develop, implement, and evaluate the demonstration of the work first program;

(2) operate the work first program in partnership with private and public employers, local industry councils, labor unions, and employment, educational, and social service agencies, according to subdivision 4; and

(3) ensure that program components such as client orientation, immediate job search, job development, creation of temporary public service jobs, job placements, and postplacement follow-up are implemented according to the work first program.

Subd. 8. Duties of participant. To be eligible for an AFDC, MFIP-S or family general assistance benefit, a participant shall cooperate with the county agency, the provider, and the participant's employer in all aspects of the program.

HIST: 1997 c 85 art 2 s 1