GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	4 

HOUSE BILL 24*
Committee Substitute Favorable 3/1/95
Third Edition Engrossed 3/29/95
Fourth Edition Engrossed 4/19/95

Short Title:  Food Stamp Workfare.	(Public)
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Sponsors:
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Referred to:  
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January 26, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REQUIRE RECIPIENTS OF FOOD STAMPS TO PARTICIPATE IN WORKFARE.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.    Effective October 1, 1995, Part 5 of Article 2 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 108A-52.1.  Food Stamp Workfare.
(a)	The General Assembly finds that all eligible food stamp recipients should participate in the work of the community while receiving assistance to:
(1)	Introduce recipients to the work environment of their community so that they may gain work experience, which will lead to paid employment in the public or private sector;
(2)	Enable recipients to return something of value to the community that is supporting them; and
(3)	Act as a deterrent to abuse of the Food Stamp Program by those who could work but choose not to.
(b)	Effective October 1, 1995, the Department of Human Resources shall ensure that all eligible food stamp recipients are available to participate in the work of their community by being available to work for no compensation at the discretion of and under the supervision of those public or private nonprofit agencies in their county of residence that the county department of social services has designated as 'employing agencies', for as long as the recipients receive food stamps.  The Department shall ensure that all 100 counties participate.  Local implementation of workfare shall allow maximum flexibility, including the option:
(1)	To operate workfare in any manner consistent with current United States Department of Agriculture Workfare rules and the provisions of this section; or
(2)	To operate workfare through the Department of Human Resources and the Employment Security Commission as a component of the Employment and Training Program.
(c)	For purposes of the work requirements of this section, current United States Department of Agriculture Workfare rules on eligibility exemptions for work requirements pursuant to this Article are modified as follows:
(1)	The maximum age exemption threshold is 65 years of age;
(2)	A parent or other household member who is responsible for the care of a dependent child under five or an incapacitated person is exempt; Provided that a parent or other household member who is responsible for the care of a dependent child between the ages of five and twelve may be exempt for good cause due to lack of adequate child care; and
(3)	Full-time students are exempt.
(d)	The Department shall ensure that the number of hours worked per month do not exceed the number of hours produced by dividing the monthly value of the recipient's food stamps by the appropriate minimum wage.
(e)	The Department shall ensure that applicants for food stamps and recipients currently receiving food stamps are notified of the work requirements established by this section and shall also review procedures developed by local departments of social services to ensure that all employing agencies operate fairly and in full cooperation with the local department of social services."
Sec. 2.  The Department shall immediately, as of the effective date of this section, prepare and apply for any waiver from the federal government required to implement Section 1 of this act.  If, before the effective date of Section 1 of this act, the federal government denies the waiver or has not accepted the waiver, then the Department shall implement Section 1 of this act to the extent that implementation is not inconsistent with any federal law.
Sec. 3. The State of North Carolina shall reimburse each county for any net administrative cost to the county resulting from the implementation of workfare as mandated by this act; Provided that, to be eligible for reimbursement, a county shall operate workfare through the Department of Human Resources and the Employment Security Commission as a component of the Employment and Training Program.
Sec. 4.  Except for and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 2 of this act, Section 1 of this act becomes effective October 1, 1995, and applies to food stamp benefits issued beginning with the month following that date.  The remainder of this act is effective upon ratification.