PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 351

(ii) A minor parent may be exempt from the requirements of
subparagraph (i) of this paragraph if a social service worker confirms that the minor
parent or child's physical safety or emotional health would be in jeopardy.

(q) (1) Custodial parents under the age of 20 years shall be required to attend
classes on:

(i) Family health, unless attendance would violate their bona fide
religious beliefs and practices; and

(ii) Parenting skills.

(2) Failure to consistently attend class as provided under paragraph (1) of
this subsection shall result in the removal of the custodial parent from the calculation of
the AFDC benefit.

(r) The Secretary shall revise the rules of eligibility so that noncustodial parents
in need of education and job training in order to pay child support obligations shall be
served in Project Independence, to the extent resources permit.

(s) (1) The Secretary, through Project Independence, shall train interested and
appropriate recipients in child care provider skills in order to meet the growing need for
child care services in the State.

(2) To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall utilize these trained
individuals to provide community-based child care services to present and former AFDC
recipients.

(t) (1) The provisions of this subsection shall apply to all AFDC recipients in
the State.

(2) The Secretary shall revise the schedule of program assistance by
requiring benefits to be paid beginning 14 days after the application date.

(u) (1) The provisions of this subsection shall apply to all AFDC recipients in
the State.

(2) The Secretary shall revise the schedule of program assistance by
requiring State-only assistance for pregnant women who have no other children to be
paid beginning 14 days after the application date.

(v) (1) Except for a control group, the provisions of this subsection shall apply
to all AFDC recipients in the State.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the Secretary
shall revise the schedule of AFDC benefits to be paid to a recipient under the AFDC
program by eliminating the increment in cash benefits under the program for which a
recipient would otherwise be eligible as a result of the birth of a dependent child 10 or
more months after:

(i) The recipient's initial application for AFDC benefits; or

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