1 New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) Services; Pilot Program Established to Eliminate Certain Barriers to Employment. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall issue a request for proposals (RFP) from vendors to provide a 2-year, statewide pilot program for case management and employment counseling or related services targeted to reduce or eliminate certain employment barriers for parents enrolled in the New Hampshire employment program (NHEP) or other parents eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) who are below or at 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, and who are approved by a transitional program administered by the department of corrections to work or seek work opportunities in the community. The employment barriers to be addressed in the RFP shall include, but not limited to, providing legal support, assistance in annulment of prior criminal convictions, and/or expungements of arrest records, that may hinder a parent's employment opportunities and long-term connection to the labor market. The pilot program shall be funded entirely with TANF federal funds in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for each fiscal year for the duration of the pilot program. The RFP shall be issued no later than October 1, 2018. The pilot program shall be operational no later than January 1, 2019. The commissioner may adopt administrative rules as necessary for implementation of this act pursuant to RSA 541-A.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) Services; Pilot Program Established to Eliminate Certain Barriers to Employment. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall issue a request for proposals (RFP) from vendors to provide a 2-year, statewide pilot program for case management and employment counseling or related services targeted to reduce or eliminate certain employment barriers for parents enrolled in the New Hampshire employment program (NHEP) or other parents eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) who are below or at 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, and who are approved by a transitional program administered by the department of corrections to work or seek work opportunities in the community. The employment barriers to be addressed in the RFP shall include, but not limited to, providing legal support, assistance in annulment of prior criminal convictions, and/or expungements of arrest records, that may hinder a parent's employment opportunities and long-term connection to the labor market. The pilot program shall be funded entirely with TANF federal funds in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for each fiscal year for the duration of the pilot program. The RFP shall be issued no later than October 1, 2018. The pilot program shall be operational no later than January 1, 2019. The commissioner may adopt administrative rules as necessary for implementation of this act pursuant to RSA 541-A.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.