44032000 - Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children Grant Pmt

Account Description FY2018
Spending
FY2019
GAA
4403-2000 Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children Grant Pmt
For a program of transitional aid to families with dependent children; provided, that the need standard shall be equal to the standard that was in effect in fiscal year 2018 unless the department determines that a reduction in the monthly payment standard shall be implemented before the end of the fiscal year to keep program expenditures within the amounts appropriated in this item; provided further, that the payment standard shall be equal to the need standard; provided further, that the department shall notify parents under 20 years of age who are receiving benefits from the program of the requirements of clause (2) of subsection (i) of said section 110 of said chapter 5 or any successor law; provided further, that a $40 per month rental allowance shall be paid to households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public or subsidized housing; provided further, that a nonrecurring children's clothing allowance of $350 shall be provided to each child eligible under this program in September 2018; provided further, that the children's clothing allowance shall be included in the standard of need for the month of September 2018; provided further, that benefits under this program shall not be available to those families in which a child has been removed from the household under a court order after a care and protection hearing under chapter 119 of the General Laws or to adult recipients otherwise eligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children but for the temporary removal of the dependent child or children from the home by the department of children and families under department procedures; provided further, that notwithstanding section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the department shall render aid to pregnant women with no other eligible dependent children only if it has been medically verified that the child is expected to be born within the month the payments are to be made or within the 3-month period after the month of payment and who, if the child had been born and was living with that parent in the month of payment, would be categorically and financially eligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children benefits; provided further, that certain families that suffer a reduction in benefits due to a loss of earned income and participation in retrospective budgeting may receive a supplemental benefit to compensate them for the loss; provided further, that the department shall, to the extent feasible within the existing appropriation and funding from other sources, review its disability standards to determine the extent to which such standards reflect the current medical and vocational criteria; provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities 75 days before any changes to the disability standards are proposed; provided further, that the department shall provide oral and written notification to all recipients of their childcare benefits at the time of application and on a semi-annual basis; provided further, that the notification shall include the full range of childcare options available, including center-based childcare, family-based childcare and in-home relative childcare; provided further, that the notification shall detail available childcare benefits for current and former recipients, including employment and training benefits and transitional benefits; provided further, that the notice shall also advise recipients of the availability of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding its regulations relative to eligibility for, or levels of, benefits under the program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure from this item so as not to exceed this appropriation; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for cash and transportation benefits for newly employed transitional aid to families with dependent children clients for a period not to exceed 12 months to assist them with short-term self-sufficiency; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of transitional assistance shall calculate benefits provided under this item in the same manner as the previous fiscal year; provided further, that the department's calculation of benefits shall not preclude the department from making eligibility or benefit changes that lead to an increase in eligibility or benefits; provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate 75 days before adopting eligibility or benefit changes; and provided further, that the report shall include the text of, basis and reasons for, the proposed changes

192,844,909 201,580,967

Veto Explanation:   I am vetoing language in this item because it is not consistent with my House 2 recommendation.