HB 263-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Jan2012… 2694h
2011 SESSION
01/05
HOUSE BILL 263-FN
AN ACT relative to the time limits for assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF).
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
This bill revises the law regarding the time limits for assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF).
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Jan2012… 2694h
11-0142
01/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven
AN ACT relative to the time limits for assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF).
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF); Family Assistance Program. Amend RSA 167:83, II(p) to read as follows:
(p) Establishing a limit for assistance for the family assistance program at the number of months in a consecutive 36-month period and a lifetime limit of 36 months for assistance from such programs and similar programs administered by other states.
(q) Any other matters necessary to implement the program in a manner that promotes the purpose and goals of this subdivision.
2 Applicability. RSA 167:83, II(p) as inserted by section one of this act shall not apply to persons currently receiving assistance from the family assistance program on the effective date of this act.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
11-0142
Amended 03/28/12
HB 263 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to the time limits for assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF).
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Health and Human Services and the New Hampshire Municipal Association state this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2011-2694h), will increase state expenditures and may increase local expenditures in FY 2013 and each year thereafter. This bill will have no fiscal impact on state, county, or local revenue, or county revenue and expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Health and Human Services indicates this bill would limit cash assistance for adults in the TANF Family Assistance Program to 36 consecutive months, and limit the lifetime receipt of cash assistance in the program to 36 months. The Department states the proposed limit would not apply to the three other TANF cash assistance programs: the New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP), the Interim Disabled Program (IDP), or the Families with Older Children program (FWOC). The Department states section 408 of the Social Security Act exempts minor children who are not head of a household or married to a head of household from the lifetime limit. The Department provides the following information and assumptions:
• The number of Family Assistance Program (FAP) cases subject to the work requirement and those determined to be unable to meet the work requirement will remain stable;
• There will be no change to the hardship policy currently in effect;
• On December 31, 2011, there were 43 FAP cases at 37 months or more. 8 of the cases were child only cases;
• Of the 35 remaining cases, 12 cases are currently receiving assistance under a hardship extension. The Department assumes these cases will remain as hardship cases;
• Adults in the FAP have been determined to be unable to work due to their own health condition or the need to care for another family member. Such individuals apply for and are determined eligible for hardship extension once they reach the time limit. The Department assumes of the remaining 23 cases, all of the individuals will apply for and be eligible for hardship extensions;
• There will be an estimated one-time cost of $86,303 for changes to the eligibility management system;
• There will be additional costs for revisions to existing forms and brochures related to the TANF program, for staff training and for mailings. These costs are not known; and
• An effective date of July1, 2012 is assumed since the bill is effective 60 days after passage.
Based on these assumptions, the Department expects there will be no decrease in expenditures for cash assistance, and an indeterminable increase in expenditures to implement the changes to the TANF program.
The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill may increase demand for welfare assistance from cities and towns resulting in additional local expenditures. The Association is not able to determine the potential fiscal impact.