Revision: May 31, 2013, midnight
HB 261-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
6Feb2013… 0119h
05/30/13 1959s
2013 SESSION
05/10
HOUSE BILL 261-FN
AN ACT relative to the assistance program for 2-parent families with dependent children and making a technical correction.
SPONSORS: Rep. Donovan, Sull 4; Rep. Porter, Hills 1; Rep. J. Schmidt, Hills 28; Rep. Gale, Hills 28; Rep. Hackel, Hills 29; Rep. Jack, Hills 36; Rep. Harriott-Gathright, Hills 36; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill permits the department of health and human services to establish an assistance program for 2-parent families with dependent children, subject to available funding.
This bill also makes a technical correction to HB 505 of the 2013 regular legislative session.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
6Feb2013… 0119h
05/30/13 1959s
13-0755
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen
AN ACT relative to the assistance program for 2-parent families with dependent children and making a technical correction.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Assistance Program for 2-Parent Families with Dependent Children. Amend RSA 167:77-e to read as follows:
167:77-e Assistance Program for 2-Parent Families with Dependent Children.
I. Subject to available public and/or private funds, the department may establish a non-TANF[, state-funded] financial assistance program for 2-parent needy families with dependent children in which one parent is underemployed or unemployed. With the exception of parental underemployment or unemployment, client eligibility and program requirements and administration shall be in accordance with this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter.
II. There is hereby established the non-TANF financial assistance program fund. The fund shall contain all private funds received by the department to be used to carry out the provisions of this section. The fund shall be nonlapsing and shall be continually appropriated to the commissioner for the purposes of this section.
2 New Subparagraph; State Treasurer Accounts; Non-TANF Financial Assistance Program Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (310) the following new subparagraph:
(311) Moneys deposited in the non-TANF financial assistance program fund under RSA 167:77-e, II.
3 New Paragraph; Economic Development Advisory Council. Amend RSA 12-A:22-a by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:
V. The director of economic development may request changes in council membership, and the original appointing authority may replace a member for lack of participation.
4 Contingency. If HB 505 of the 2013 regular legislative session becomes law, section 3 of this act shall take effect at 12:01 am on the effective date of HB 505. If HB 505 does not become law, then section 3 of this act shall not take effect.
5 Effective Date.
I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect as provided in section 4 of this act.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
13-0755
Revised 04/03/13
Amended 03/18/13
HB 261 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to the assistance program for 2-parent families with dependent children.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Health and Human Services and New Hampshire Municipal Association state this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2013-0119h), may have an indeterminable fiscal impact on state revenue, and state and local expenditures. This bill will have no impact on county expenditures, or county and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill allows the Department to establish a non-TANF, state-funded financial assistance program for two-parent needy families with dependent children in which one parent is underemployed or unemployed. The Department indicates the Unemployed Parent Program was eliminated in 2011 due to budget constraints. The bill states the reestablishment of this program is subject to available public and/or private funds, and establishes a non-lapsing “non-TANF financial assistance program fund,” which shall contain all private funds received by the Department to carry out the provisions of the bill. The bill does not itself contain an appropriation for the program. The Department assumes that the program can only be reinstated if 100% of the necessary public or private funds are available; until that time, the Department states the bill will have no impact on state, local, and county revenue and expenditures. Should funds become available, the Department assumes the following:
• The bill will reinstate this eligibility group using the same eligibility criteria and requirements in place when the program was eliminated.
• Based on records from the previous program and current law, there will be approximately 231 cases receiving an average monthly grant of $584.68.
• Previously, $500,000 per fiscal year was appropriated for employment and training services. This amount will be allocated for employment and training.
Based on these assumptions the Department estimates that, should the program be reinstated, there will be an annual cost of $2,120,733 beginning in the first year of operation. (231 Cases x 584.68 x 12 months = $1,620,733 + $500,000 = $2,120,733.)
The New Hampshire Municipal Association states that, if operational, the program would have the potential to alleviate some of the need for local welfare assistance and reduce municipal expenditures. The Association is not able to estimate the reduction in local expenditures.