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Permits State agencies to exempt from the Section 6(o)
work requirements for ABAWDs up to 15 percent of a
State’s “covered individuals.” “Covered individuals” are
those ABAWDs who are not: a) excepted under paragraph
6(o)(3); b) covered by a waiver; c) complying with the
work requirement; or d) in their first or second three
months of eligibility. |
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The 15 percent exemption will amount to an average
monthly number of exemptions for ABAWDs that USDA will
assign to States each fiscal year. For FY 1998, the
State may grant an average monthly number of exemptions
up to 15% of the total “covered individuals” estimated
by USDA based on FY 1996 QC data as adjusted by other
significant caseload factors. |
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Beginning in FY 1999, the 15 percent exemption criteria
will also reflect changes in the State’s entire caseload
and changes in the proportion of the entire FSP caseload
covered by the ABAWD related waivers. UDSA will also
adjust the number of exemptions assigned for a current
fiscal year based on the actual number of exemptions
granted by the States in the preceding year. |
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Gives USDA the authority to require whatever State
reports it deems necessary to ensure compliance with the
15 percent exemption requirements. |
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Provides additional E&T funding to encourage States to
create work slots primarily for ABAWDs. |
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Retains the current statutory E&T allocation amounts and
adds an additional $131 million each fiscal year through
2001. In fiscal year 2002 the additional amount drops to
$75 million: |
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FY 1998 $81 million+$131
million=$212 million
FY 1999 $84 million+$131 million=$215 million
FY 2000 $86 million+$131 million=$217 million
FY 2001 $88 million+$131 million=$219 million
FY 2002 $90 million+$ 75 million=$165 million |
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Allocated funds remain available until expended. |
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State agencies must use at least 80% of allocated
Federal funds each fiscal year to serve ABAWDs who are
placed in and comply with a qualifying work, training,
or workfare program. |
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In fiscal year 1998, Federal E&T funds will be allocated
based on the estimated proportion of ABAWDs in each
State’s food stamp caseload. |
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In fiscal years 1999 through 2002, E&T funds will be
allocated based on the estimated proportion of ABAWDs in
each State’s food stamp caseload who do not live in an
area granted a waiver of the ABAWD work requirement.
However, if a State agency provides E&T services to
ABAWDs in a waived area, those ABAWDs are counted when
determining the State agency’s E&T allocation. |
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Each State agency’s proportion of ABAWDs will be
estimated using fiscal year 1996 quality control data
and other appropriate factors, and will be adjusted each
fiscal rear to reflect caseload changes. |
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Each State agency will be allocated at least $50,000 for
each fiscal year. |
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State agencies must notify FCS if they determine they
will not use all of their E&T funds. Unused funds will
be reallocated by FCS in an appropriate and equitable
manner during the fiscal year or during the subsequent
fiscal year. |
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The Secretary must monitor State agencies’ expenditures
of E&T funds, including the cost of individual
components. If the Secretary chooses to determine the
reimbursable costs of operating E&T components, the
Secretary must establish that each State agency’s
planned and actual expenditures on the components are
reasonable. |
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In order to receive the additional E&T funds allocated
to it under the Balanced Budget Agreement, each State
agency must spend the same amount of State money it
spent in fiscal year 1996 to administer its E&T program
and its optional workfare program (if applicable). |
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The Secretary must report to the appropriate House and
Senate Committees within 30 months after the date of
enactment of the Balanced Budget Agreement on whether
States have used the additional E&T allocations to
increase the number of E&T and workfare. |
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Adds Cuban and Haitian entrants to the list of aliens
eligible for food stamps in section 402 and to the list
of qualified aliens in section 431. They are eligible
for 5 years from the date granted status as a
Cuban-Haitian entrant. |
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Adds a new section 436 to the PRWORA to provide that
aliens who are otherwise ineligible for food stamps are
not made eligible for food stamps because they receive
SSI. |
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Adds Amerasian immigrants to the list of aliens eligible
for means tested public benefits. |
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Amends the reference to aliens whose deportation is
withheld under section 243(h) of the INA to refer to
“section 243(h) of such Act (as in effect immediately
before the effective date of section 307 of division C
of Public Law 104-208) or section 241 (b)(3) of such Act
(as amended by section 305(a) of division C of Public
Law 104-208).” This brings the PRWORA into conformity
with legislation affecting deportations passed
subsequent to PRWORA. |
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Adds a qualifying clause to the description of the
veteran eligibility requirement to apply a minimum
active duty service requirement. The veteran must have
an honorable discharge, not on account of alienage, and
must be one “who fulfills the minimum active-duty
service requirements of section 5303A(d) of title 38,
United States Code” [24 months or the period for which
the person was called to active duty]. |
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Adds eligibility for the spouse of a deceased veteran or
individual on active duty. A spouse is eligible if he or
she is the unremarried surviving spouse of the veteran
or person on active duty who is deceased if the marriage
fulfills the requirements of section 1304 of title 38,
U.S. C. [married for at least one year or for any period
if a child was born of the marriage or was born before
the marriage]. |
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Expands the definition of a veteran to include military
personnel who die during active duty service and certain
Filipinos. |
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Contains a “sense of the Congress” statement that Hmong
and other Highland Lao veterans who fought with U.S.
forces during the Vietnam conflict and have lawfully
been admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence should
be considered veterans for purposes of continuing
certain welfare benefits consistent with the exceptions
provided other noncitizen veterans under the PRWORA.
That would make them eligible for food stamps. |
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Amends the battered alien provision to require that the
agency providing the benefits (not the Attorney General)
make the determination regarding the connection between
the battery and the need for benefits. |
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Requires the Attorney General to issue guidance
concerning the definition of “battery” and “extreme
cruelty” and the standards and methods to be used for
determining whether a substantial connection exists
between the battery and the need for benefits. |
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Adds the alien child of the battered parent as a
qualified alien and exempts that child from the alien
deeming provisions. |
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Provides that not later than 90 days after the enactment
of the Welfare Reform Technical Amendments Act of 1997
the Attorney General, in consultation with the
Department of Health and Human Services, shall issue
interim verification guidance and shall issue
regulations by which States or local governments can
verify alien eligibility. |
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Authorizes the Attorney General to disclose information
to Federal, State, and local authorities providing
benefits to be used to determine the eligibility of
battered aliens. |
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Authorizes SSA to disclose quarters of coverage
information concerning an alien and an alien’s spouse or
parents to other government agencies. |
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Adds clarification to provide that the quarters of
coverage of a parent can be credited to a child if the
quarters were worked before the date on which the alien
attains age 18. This would allow quarters worked before
a child was born to be credited to the child.
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