Public assistance programs.

20LSO-0293
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0293
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0104

Public assistance programs.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Connolly, Brown, Flitner, Freeman and Paxton and Senator(s) Rothfuss, Schuler and Wasserburger

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to public assistance and social services; amending program governance and restrictions; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 42
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2
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103(b) by creating a new paragraph (xvii) and (e)(iv)(B) and 42
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2
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202(c)(iii), (iv) and (d)(v) are amended to read:

42
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2
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103.

Provision of assistance and services; duties of department; burial assistance; department of health state supplemental security income program.

(b)

In carrying out subsection (a) of this section and except as provided under the Wyoming Medical Assistance and Services Act, the department shall:

(xvii)

To the maximum extent possible, authorize attendance in any post
‑
secondary education program at the University of Wyoming, Wyoming community college, vocational school or training school as vocational education training for purposes of meeting public assistance and social services program requirements. The department shall inform applicants of public assistance and social service programs with a high school diploma or equivalent of the opportunity to participate in a post
‑
secondary education program.

(e)

In administering this section and in addition to other requirements imposed under this chapter and the Wyoming Medical Assistance and Services Act and federal rule and regulation, the department shall by rule and regulation:

(iv)

Establish only one (1) earned income disregard for determining assistance payable under W.S. 42
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2
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104 at six hundred dollars ($600.00) per month for any one (1) recipient. For married couples the earned income disregard shall be one thousand two hundred dollars ($1,200.00) per month. The department may in addition establish an additional individual earned income disregard tailored to the individual person as part of that person's self
‑
sufficiency plan developed pursuant to paragraph (v) of this subsection, provided:

(B)

The amount disregarded shall not exceed
six dollars and fifty cents ($6.50)
seven dollars and twenty
‑
five cents ($7.25)
per hour except that in high cost of living areas as defined by the department it shall not exceed
seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50)
eight dollars and twenty
‑
five cents ($8.25)
per hour;

42
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2
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202.

Participation required; exemptions; disqualification of benefits.

(c)

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title all nonexempt recipients under the personal opportunities with employment responsibilities (POWER) program in the state shall be required to work or perform community service as defined by rules and regulations of the department subject to coordination with the United States department of health and human services if required. Recipients may be exempted from the requirement under this subsection if one (1) of the nonexempt recipients within the assistance unit:

(iii)

Except as provided in paragraph (c)(iv) of this section, has a child who has not attained the age of
three (3)
twelve (12)
months;

(iv)

Gives birth to a child after ten (10) months as a recipient under the personal opportunities with employment responsibilities (POWER) program. The recipient under this paragraph shall be exempted from the requirements under this section for a period of
three (3)
twelve (12)
months after the child is born, unless the parent is a minor child in which case the recipient shall
be required to attend school in accordance with paragraph (v) of this subsection;

(d)

Benefits and eligibility requirements under the personal opportunities with employment responsibilities (POWER) program shall be modified for assistance units under subsection (c) of this section as follows:

(v)

Excluding allowance for personal motor vehicles as specified under W.S. 42
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2
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109(b), the amount of assets an assistance unit may own shall be not greater than
five thousand dollars ($5,000.00)
ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00)
.

Section 2.

By July 1, 2020, the department of family services shall seek approval of any state plan amendments necessary as a result of changes made by section 1 of this act and promulgate any necessary rules to effectuate the amendments made by section 1 of this act.

Section 3.

(a)
Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(b) Sections 2 and 3 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0104