Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel
Deliberative Teleconference
March 15, 2004 1:35 pm - 3:00 pm

Carol Brenner, Designated Federal Officer, called the meeting to order at approximately 1:35 p.m. and turned the meeting over to Chair, Sarah Wiggins Mitchell.

Presiding: Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair
Welcome, Introductions and Review of Agenda

Purpose: To discuss the Panel's Annual Report to the President and Congress.

Attendees

Advisory Panel Members
Sarah Wiggins Mitchell, Chair, Katie Beckett, Berthy De La Rosa-Aponte, Thomas Golden, Andy Imparato, Bryon MacDonald, David Miller, Stephen Start, and Torrey Westrom,

Advisory Panel Staff
Marie Strahan, Executive Director
Bernie Wixon
Lisa Ekman
Monique Fisher

Designated Federal Officer
Carol Brenner

Contract Staff
Bonnie O'Day, CESSI
Stella Christian, SRC Court Reporters

The Annual Report to President and Congress
Marie Strahan stated that the conference call was scheduled to get direction from the Panel members on any substantive comments, questions, or recommendations for the Annual Report.

Action: Prior to discussing the annual report, the Panel agreed that the oral testimony regarding the EN's using the Ticket program as a supplement rather than a substitute funding source would be refined.

Action: The Panel agreed to support SSA's change to the EN payment process and to suggest one additional change. The panel is pleased about the quarterly submissions that ENs need to make, but wants the payments made monthly.

Action: The Panel agreed to include information about people who are dually eligible in the Employment Support Infrastructure section of the Annual Report.

Action: The Panel agreed to update the language on the reauthorization of BPAO's.

Action: The Panel agreed to delete the reference to P&A if data are not available.

Action: The Panel agreed to modify the discussion of infrastructure to say "AWICS should have six weeks of training comparable to the ESR training." - page 17

Action: The Panel agreed to recommend that the President direct the administration agencies to report to the President or the White House on their progress and responsibilities with respect to TWWIIA implementation. - page 24

Action: The Panel agreed to change the discussion regarding SSA and RSA working together to "full opportunities for ENs to participate in the program and work collaboratively with the VR agencies."

Action: The Panel agreed to clarify the Medicaid Buy in section to recommend that flexibility be granted to states in meeting matching fund requirements for the demonstration project. - page 34

Action: The Panel agreed to incorporate discussion from a previous draft regarding the elimination of the 24 month waiting period for use of certain work incentives.

Action: The Panel agreed to move the Expedited Reinstatement from the Emerging Issues section to the Recommendation section of the report.

Action: The Panel agreed to modify the Healthcare and Medicaid discussion to reflect that Medicaid buy-ins are not the panacea.

Action: Marie Strahan will verify if housing and transportation are specified as partner agencies in the legislation.

Action: Sarah Mitchell will determine the order of the sections and circulate them among the panel for concurrence.

Action: Panel members will submit their comments to Bonnie O'Day by Friday, March 19, 2004

The teleconference adjourned at approximately 3:00 pm.