This is not the official budget document.

General Appropriations Act FY2008

Department of Transitional Assistance
Data Current as of:  10/29/2007





FISCAL YEAR 2008 RESOURCE SUMMARY ($000)
ACCOUNT FY 2008
Conference
FY 2008
Vetoes
FY 2008
Overrides
FY 2008
GAA
4400-1000  Department of Transitional Assistance 68,058 0 0 68,058
4400-1001  Food Stamp Participation Rate Programs 2,631 0 0 2,631
4400-1025  Domestic Violence Specialists 692 0 0 692
4400-1100  Caseworker Salaries and Benefits 56,693 0 0 56,693
4401-1000  Employment Services Program 27,162 0 0 27,162
4403-2000  TAFDC Grant Payments 274,470 0 0 274,470
4403-2119  Teen Structured Settings Program 6,876 0 0 6,876
4403-2120  Emergency Assistance - Family Shelters and Services 83,122 -300 300 83,122
4405-2000  State Supplement to Supplemental Security Income 212,028 0 0 212,028
4406-3000  Homeless Individuals Assistance 35,940 0 0 35,940
4406-3010  Home and Healthy for Good 1,200 0 0 1,200
4408-1000  Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children 69,920 0 0 69,920
4401-1100  Employment Services Program Federal Food Stamp Reimbursement Retained Revenue 7,000 0 0 7,000
TOTAL    845,792 -300 300 845,792

Hide line item language

account description amount
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE 845,791,576
Budgetary Direct Appropriations  
Direct Appropriations
4400-1000 Department of Transitional Assistance
For the central administration of the department; provided, that during fiscal year 2008 the department shall maintain 2 transitional assistance offices in the city of Springfield; provided further, that all costs associated with verifying disability for all programs of the department shall be paid from this item; provided further, that the department shall submit on a monthly basis to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the secretary of administration and finance a status report on program expenditures, savings and revenues, error rate measurements, and public assistance caseloads and benefits; provided further, that the report shall comprehensively track statewide use of the emergency assistance program by eligibility category including, but not limited to, caseload, average length of use or stay and monthly expenditures; provided further, that the department shall collect all out-of-court settlement restitution payments; provided further, that the restitution payments shall include, but not be limited to, installment and lump sum payments; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, unless otherwise expressly provided, federal reimbursements received for the purposes of the department, including reimbursements for administrative, fringe and overhead costs, for the current fiscal year and prior fiscal years, shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that under 21 U.S.C. section 862a(d)(1), the department shall exempt individuals from the eligibility restrictions of 21 U.S.C. section 862a, except that individuals incarcerated for a conviction which would otherwise be disqualifying under 21 U.S.C. section 862a(a) shall not be eligible for cash assistance funded through item 4403-2000 during the first 12 months after release from a correctional institution unless the individual qualifies for an exemption under subsection (e) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, or any successor statute, or a domestic violence waiver; provided further, that an application for assistance under chapter 118 of the General Laws shall be deemed an application for assistance under chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided further, that if assistance under said chapter 118 is denied, the application shall be transmitted by the department to the executive office of health and human services for a determination of eligibility under said chapter 118E; provided further, that the department shall continue policies to increase participation in the food stamp program; provided further, that the department may allocate funds, not to exceed $2,500,000 from this item to item 4400-1100 for the costs of the department's caseworkers; provided further, that the department shall, to the extent feasible within the appropriation provided, provide for extended office hours; provided further, that the department shall accomplish the staffing of these extended office hours to the maximum extent possible through the use of flex-time that will allow workers to modify their working hours to accommodate their specific personal and family needs; provided further, that the department shall, to the extent feasible within the appropriation provided, continue and expand the program of placing workers at community and human service organizations for the purposes of facilitating food stamp applications and redeterminations; provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 15, 2007 on the extended office hours and placement of workers at community and human service organizations that the department has determined is feasible within the appropriation provided and that the department will provide in the current fiscal year; provided further, that not less than $900,000 shall be expended for the operation of the homeless management information system; provided further, that during fiscal year 2008 the department shall submit quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means a status report detailing the specific number of shelters participating by month, the types and descriptions of information reports able to be generated, and any other information that the department determines to be necessary in evaluating the full and complete implementation of the system; and provided further, that the report shall also detail all expenditures by subject classification
68,057,840
4400-1001 Food Stamp Participation Rate Programs
For programs to increase the commonwealth's participation rate in food stamps and other federal nutrition programs; provided, that not less than $1,500,000 shall be expended for a grant with Project Bread-The Walk for Hunger, Inc. which shall be solely responsible for administering a comprehensive, community-based program to alleviate and prevent hunger and to expand participation in federal nutrition programs; provided further, that Project Bread shall focus on communities in Massachusetts with the highest rates of hunger as defined by the United States Census Bureau; provided further, that Project Bread shall develop a strategic plan to alleviate hunger; provided further, that Project Bread shall support research relative to the prevention and effect of hunger; provided further, that Project Bread shall file a report with the clerk of the house of representatives, the clerk of the senate, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house, the chairpersons of the joint committee on education, the chairpersons of the joint committee on children and families, the chairpersons of the joint committee on public health, commissioner of the department of transitional assistance, and the chairpersons of the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than March 1, 2008 detailing hunger prevention strategies that have been developed and implemented, including, but not limited to, an evaluation of the strategies; provided further, that Project Bread shall file with the clerk of the house of representatives and the clerk of the senate an annual report on the status of hunger in the commonwealth not later than December 1, 2007; provided further, that the department shall fund a unit staffed by department employees to respond to food stamp inquiries, and arrange for and conduct telephone interviews for initial food stamp applications from this item; provided further, that the department shall fund a system to image and catalogue eligibility documents electronically from this item; provided further, that not less than $350,000 shall be expended for food stamp outreach; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for the Food Source Hotline; provided further, that the work of department employees paid for from this item shall be restricted to processing food stamp applications; provided further, that the department shall not require food stamp applicants to provide re-verification of eligibility factors previously verified and not subject to change; provided further, that, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department shall require only 1 signature from food stamp applicants; and provided further, that the department shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than December 1, 2007 on the status of these programs
2,631,112
4400-1025 Domestic Violence Specialists
For domestic violence specialists at local area offices
691,536
4400-1100 Caseworker Salaries and Benefits
For the payroll of the department's caseworkers; provided, that only employees of bargaining unit eight shall be paid from this item
56,693,172
4401-1000 Employment Services Program
For a program to provide employment and training services for recipients of benefits provided under the program of transitional aid to families with dependent children; provided, that certain parents who have not yet reached the age of 18, including those who are ineligible for transitional aid to families with dependent children and who would qualify for benefits under chapter 118 of the General Laws but for the deeming of the grandparents' income, shall be allowed to participate in the employment services program; provided further, that funds from this item may be expended on former recipients of the program for up to 1 year after termination of their benefits due to employment or subsection (f) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 or any successor statue; provided further, that funds from this item shall be expended for the purposes of the young parents program, transportation costs, pre-employment skills training and education programs, and structured subsidized employment services; provided further, that the department of transitional assistance may use funds from this item and shall collaborate with the department of workforce development to access funding through Title I of the federal Workforce Investment Act to ensure that sufficient resources are available to provide substantive, pre-employment skills training, including training that integrates basic education and English as a second language instruction, to recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children who are in need of such services; provided further, that funds from this item may also be expended for re-employment services, job search assistance, vocational training services, job retention services, adult basic education, graduate equivalency degree courses, English as a second language courses and training programs for persons with limited English proficiency, and emergency work-related expenses for recipients, including emergency transportation costs; provided further, that the department shall inform all recipients and applicants of the full range of programs and of skills training programs funded by Title I of the federal Workforce Investment Act accessible through the one-stop career centers and adult education programs funded by the department of education available under this program; provided further, that funds may be allocated from this item to other agencies for the purposes of this program; provided further, that within 90 days of a recipient without a high school degree or a graduate equivalency degree or proficiency in English who is subject to said subsection (f) of said section 110 of said chapter 5, or any successor statute, becoming eligible for benefits, the department shall offer to the recipient a skills assessment to identify barriers to employment; and provided further, that in the event of a deficiency, nothing in this item shall give rise to or shall be construed as giving rise to any enforceable right or entitlement to services in excess of the amounts appropriated by this item
27,162,289
4403-2000 TAFDC Grant Payments
For a program of transitional aid to families with dependent children; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, benefits under the program of transitional aid to families with dependent children shall be paid only to citizens of the United States and to non-citizens for whom federal funds may be used to provide benefits; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law, or any provisions of this act to the contrary, no benefits under this item shall be made available to illegal or undocumented aliens; provided further, that the need standard shall be equal to the standard in effect in fiscal year 2007; provided further, that the payment standard shall be equal to the need standard; provided further, that the payment standard for families who do not qualify for an exempt category of assistance under subsection (e) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, or any successor statute, shall be 2.75 per cent below the otherwise applicable payment standard, in fiscal year 2008, pursuant to the state plan required under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996; provided further, that the department shall notify parents under the age of 20 receiving benefits from the program of the requirements found in clause (2) of subsection (i) of said section 110 of said chapter 5, or any successor statute; provided further, that a $40 per month rent allowance shall be paid to all households incurring a rent or mortgage expense and not residing in public housing or subsidized housing; provided further, that a nonrecurring children's clothing allowance in the amount of $150 shall be provided to each child eligible under this program in September 2007; provided further, that the children's clothing allowance shall be included in the standard of need for the month of September 2007; provided further, that benefits under this program shall not be available to those families where a child has been removed from the household pursuant to a court order after a care and protection hearing under chapter 119 of the General Laws, nor 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 social services in accordance with 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 her 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 no funds from this item shall be expended by the department for child care or transportation services for the employment and training program; provided further, that no funds from this item shall be expended by the department for family reunification benefits or informal child care; provided further, that the department shall provide oral and written notification to all recipients of their child care benefits at the time of application and on a semi-annual basis; provided further, that the notification shall include the full range of child care options available, including center-based child care, family-based child care, and in-home relative child care; provided further, that the notification shall detail available child care benefits for current and former recipients, including employment and training benefits, transitional benefits and post-transitional benefits; provided further, that the department shall work with the department of early education and care to ensure that both recipients currently receiving benefits and former recipients during the 1 year period after termination of benefits are provided written and verbal information about child care services; provided further, that the notice shall further advise recipients of the availability of food stamps benefits; provided further, that all recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children shall be screened for food stamp eligibility at the time of application; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding its regulations with respect to eligibility for, or levels of benefits under the program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure by this item so as not to exceed the appropriation; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before promulgating any eligibility or benefit changes, the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives a detailed and comprehensive report setting forth the text of, basis, and reasons for the proposed changes; provided further, that the report shall state the department's most accurate assessment of the probable effects of benefit or eligibility changes upon recipient families; provided further, that not less than $418,074 shall be expended for the purposes of the operation of the Transportation Assistance Program operated by Traveler's Aid Family Services; and provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for the Lift Transportation program operated by Traveler's Aid Family Services
274,470,212
4403-2119 Teen Structured Settings Program
For the provision of structured settings as provided in subsection (i) of section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995, or any successor statute, for parents under the age of 20 who are receiving benefits under the transitional aid to families with dependent children program
6,876,067
4403-2120 Emergency Assistance - Family Shelters and Services
For certain expenses of the emergency assistance program as follows: (i) contracted family shelters; (ii) transitional housing programs; (iii) programs to reduce homelessness in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties; (iv) residential education centers for single mothers with children; (v) intake centers; and (vi) voucher shelters; provided, that eligibility shall be limited to families with income at or below 130 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided, however, that any family whose income exceeds 130 per cent of the federal poverty level while the family is receiving assistance funded by this item shall not become ineligible for assistance due to exceeding the income limit for a period of 6 months from the date that the 130 per cent level was exceeded; provided further, that the department shall establish reasonable requirements for such families to escrow some or all of the portion of their income which exceeds 130 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that any such escrowed funds shall be exempt from otherwise applicable asset limits; provided further that the family shall be allowed to withdraw the amount placed in escrow upon transition to permanent housing or losing eligibility for shelter services; provided further, that benefits under this item shall be provided only to residents who are citizens of the United States or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing under color of law in the United States; provided further, that the department shall take all steps necessary to enforce regulations to prevent abuse in the emergency assistance program; provided further, that no emergency assistance expenditures shall be paid from this item unless explicitly authorized; provided further, that eligible households shall be placed in shelters as close as possible to their home community unless a household requests otherwise; provided further, that if the closest available placement is not within 20 miles of the household's home community, the household shall be transferred to an appropriate shelter within 20 miles of its home community at the earliest possible date unless the household requests otherwise; provided further, that eligibility for shelter by an otherwise eligible family shall not be impaired by prior receipt of any non-shelter benefit; provided further, that the department shall make every effort to ensure that children receiving services from this item shall continue attending school in the community in which they lived prior to receiving services funded from this item; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for education, advocacy and case management services by Casa Latina, located in the City of Northampton; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for a contract with the St. Francis Samaritan House in Taunton; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for Playspace programs operated by Horizons for Homeless Children in family shelters; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended for Our Fathers House in Fitchburg; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Weymouth Youth and Family Services Teen Center to provide for advocacy, social service programs and to promote growth and social welfare; provided further, that notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, the department shall immediately provide shelter for up to 30 days to families who appear to be eligible for such shelter based on statements provided by the family and any other information in the possession of the department but who need additional time to obtain any third-party verifications reasonably required by the department; provided further, that shelter benefits received under the preceding proviso shall not render a family ineligible under any regulation providing that a family who previously received shelter is ineligible for shelter benefits for a period of 12 months; provided further, that families receiving such shelter benefits who are found not to be eligible for continuing shelter benefits shall be eligible for aid pending a timely appeal pursuant to section 16 of chapter 18 of the General Laws; provided further, that the department shall not impose unreasonable requirements for third-party verification and shall accept verifications from the family whenever reasonable; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding regulations with respect to eligibility or benefits under this program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure in this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated in this item; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before promulgating any such eligibility or benefit changes, the commissioner shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate a determination by the secretary of health and human services that available appropriations for the program will be insufficient to meet projected expenses and a report setting forth such proposed changes; provided further, that all of this item shall be subject to appropriation and, in the event of a deficiency, nothing in this item shall give rise to or shall be construed as giving rise to any enforceable right or entitlement to services in excess of the amounts appropriated by this item; provided further, that nothing in the preceding proviso shall authorize the department to alter eligibility criteria or benefit levels except to the extent that such changes are needed to avoid a deficiency in this item; provided further, that housing assistance programs that received funding in fiscal year 2007 shall receive funding in fiscal year 2008; provided further, that funds shall be expended for homelessness prevention services and screenings conducted at community health centers; provided further, that the department shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the emergency assistance family shelter program; provided further, that the report shall contain the same data required in this item in chapter 139 of the acts of 2006; and provided further, that not less than $179,381 shall be obligated for the Crossroads Family Shelter in East Boston
83,121,534
4405-2000 State Supplement to Supplemental Security Income
For the state supplement to the supplemental security income program for the aged and disabled, including a program for emergency needs for supplemental security income recipients; provided, that the expenses of special grants recipients residing in rest homes, as provided in section 7A of chapter 118A of the General Laws, may be paid from this item; provided further, that the department, in collaboration with the executive office of health and human services, may fund an optional supplemental living arrangement category under the supplemental security income program that makes payments to persons living in assisted living residences certified under chapter 19D of the General Laws who meet the income and clinical eligibility criteria established by the department and the office; provided further, that the optional category of payments shall only be administered in conjunction with the Medicaid group adult foster care benefit; and provided further, that reimbursements to providers for services rendered in prior fiscal years may be expended from this item
212,028,336
4406-3000 Homeless Individuals Assistance
For the homelessness program to assist individuals who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, including assistance to organizations which provide food, shelter, housing search and limited related services to the homeless and indigent; provided further, that no organization providing services to the homeless shall receive less than an average per bed/per night rate of $12.92; provided further, that the department may allocate funds to other agencies for the purposes of this program; provided further, that organizations which received funding in fiscal year 2007, including funds received in item 1599-1005 in chapter 42 of the acts of 2007, shall receive at least the same amount in fiscal year 2008, and that organizations which received funds through this item in fiscal year 2007 shall receive not less than that same percentage share of this appropriation in fiscal year 2008; provided further, that no funds may be expended for costs associated with the homeless management information system; and provided further, that funds appropriated to this item from item 1599-6901 shall be calculated and distributed separately from any additional rate increase provided
35,939,936
4406-3010 Home and Healthy for Good
For a grant to the Home and Healthy for Good pilot program operated by the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance for the purpose of reducing the incidence of chronic homelessness in the commonwealth; provided, that the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance shall be solely responsible for the administration of this program; provided further, that the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance shall file a report with the clerks of the house and senate, the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance, and the chairpersons of the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than March 1, 2008, detailing the implementation of this program; and provided further, that the report shall include information on the number of people served, the average cost per participant, the demographics of those served, whether participants have previously received government services and any projected cost-savings in other state-funded programs
1,200,000
4408-1000 Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children
For a program of cash assistance to certain residents of the commonwealth, entitled emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children found by the department to be eligible for the aid under chapter 117A of the General Laws and regulations promulgated by the department and subject to the limitations of appropriation therefore; provided, that benefits under this item shall only be provided to residents who are citizens of the United States or qualified aliens or non-citizens otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law and shall not be provided to illegal or undocumented aliens; provided further, that the individual shall not be a subject to sponsor income deeming or related restrictions; provided further, that the payment standard shall equal the payment standard in effect under the general relief program in fiscal year 1991; provided further, that the department may provide benefits to persons age 65 or older who have applied for benefits under chapter 118A of the General Laws, to persons suffering from a medically determinable impairment or combination of impairments which is expected to last for a period as determined by department regulations and which substantially reduces or eliminates the individual's capacity to support himself and which has been verified by a competent authority, to certain persons caring for a disabled person, to otherwise eligible participants in the vocational rehabilitation program of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission and to dependent children who are ineligible for benefits under both chapter 118 of the General Laws and the separate program created by section 210 of chapter 43 of the acts of 1997 and parents or other caretakers of dependent children who are ineligible under chapter 118 and under the separate program; provided further, that no ex-offender, person over age 45 without a prior work history or person in a residential treatment facility shall be eligible for benefits under this program unless the person otherwise meets the eligibility criteria described in this item and defined by regulations of the department; provided further, that no person incarcerated in a correctional institution shall be eligible for benefits under the program; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item for the payment of expenses associated with any medical review team, other disability screening process or costs associated with verifying disability for this program; provided further, that the department shall adopt emergency regulations under chapter 30A of the General Laws to implement the changes to this program required by this item promptly and within the appropriation; provided further, that in initially implementing the program for this fiscal year, the department shall include all eligibility categories permitted in this item at the payment standard in effect for the former general relief program in fiscal year 1991; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding its regulations with respect to eligibility or benefits, including the payment standard, medical benefits and any other benefits under this program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure by this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated in this item; provided further, that the department may promulgate emergency regulations under chapter 30A of the General Laws to implement these eligibility or benefit changes or both; provided further, that nothing in this item shall be construed as creating any right accruing to recipients of the former general relief program; provided further, that reimbursements collected from the Social Security Administration on behalf of former clients of the emergency aid to the elderly, disabled and children program or unprocessed payments from the program that are returned to the department shall be credited to the General Fund; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the funds made available in this item shall be the only funds available for the program, and the department shall not spend funds for the program in excess of the amount made available in this item; and provided further, that, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before implementing any eligibility or benefit changes, the commissioner shall file with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate a determination by the secretary of health and human services that available appropriations for the program will be insufficient to meet projected expenses and a report setting forth the proposed changes
69,919,542

account description amount
Retained Revenues
4401-1100 Employment Services Program Federal Food Stamp Reimbursement Retained Revenue
For the department of transitional assistance; provided, that the department may expend not more than $7,000,000 from federal bonuses and from reimbursements received from the United States Department of Agriculture for food stamp employment and training programs as provided in section 2A of chapter 18 of the General Laws; provided further, that up to $5,000,000 of revenue received for services provided by or under contract with state agencies or from bonuses shall be expended on additional services for recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children; and provided further, that up to $2,000,000 shall be expended for additional services provided by non-state agencies as identified in subsection (e) of said section 2A
7,000,000

account description amount
Federal Grant Spending 16,325,000
4400-0705 McKinney Emergency Shelter Grants Program
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Emergency Shelter Grants
2,900,000
4400-0707 Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care
6,000,000
4400-3066 Training for Food Stamp Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Training for Food Stamp ABAWDs
1,500,000
4400-3067 Food Stamp Employment and Training
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Food Stamp Employment and Training
2,500,000
4400-3069 Full Employment Program Food Stamp Cash Out
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Full Employment Food Stamp Cash-Out
25,000
4400-9404 McKinney Shelter Plus Care - Continuum of Care
For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, McKinney Shelter Plus Care
3,400,000