WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

H.B. 482

WHEREAS, The State must transform a welfare system that fosters dependence,
low self-esteem, and irresponsible behavior to one that rewards work and fosters
self-reliance, responsibility, and family stability; and

WHEREAS, Welfare reform should move people from the welfare rolls to the
work rolls through a system of incentives and limits that instill and reward positive
behavior; and

WHEREAS, Welfare reform should result in work reform, including creating jobs
for recipients that provide a living wage in order to establish a working community and to
create an incentive for recipients to enter the workforce and thereby assure the
well-being of dependent children; and

WHEREAS, It is the intent of the General Assembly to establish a welfare system
that promotes greater economic self-sufficiency among Maryland families by emphasizing
work through job search, job preparation, and job placement and by providing
appropriate family support services, with an up-front understanding that such services
are time limited and will be followed by mandatory subsidized or unsubsidized jobs or
community service work assignments; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 88A - Social Services Administration

54A.

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING TERMS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(2) "PILOT" MEANS A WELFARE REFORM PILOT PROGRAM.

(2)     "AFDC" MEANS AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN.

(3)      "BENEFIT" MEANS CASH ASSISTANCE RECEIVED UNDER THE
PROGRAM OF AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN ESTABLISHED UNDER
TITLE IV, PART A, OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.

(4)      "COMMUNITY SERVICE" MEANS THE PERFORMANCE OF WORK FOR
A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, A PRIVATE NONPROFIT AGENCY OR
INSTITUTION, OR OTHER ACTIVITY WHICH BENEFITS THE PUBLIC, AS DEFINED BY
THE SECRETARY.

(5)     "COMMUNITY WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM" MEANS A PROGRAM
ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE PILOT TO PROVIDE WORK
EXPERIENCE TO A RECIPIENT WHO WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN FULL-TIME PAID
EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THE PILOT. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE
EMPLOY ABILITY OF THE PARTICIPANT.

(5) (6) "DEPARTMENT" MEANS THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES.

(6)     "GOOD CAUSE" SHALL BE DEFINED BY THE SECRETARY.

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