(a)
(1) In accordance with their personal responsibility agreement, low-income entrepreneurs may escrow profits from their business enterprises which are not reinvested into their businesses into an account which will be placed in a micro-lending program and not be counted against their public assistance benefits until they accumulate an amount to be determined by the Department of Human Services for the period that they are eligible for the Transitional Employment Assistance Program. Under this section, participating low-income entrepreneurs who are otherwise eligible for transitional employment assistance shall not have their benefits reduced and shall not lose any transitional or extended support services available to them as program recipients for the life of the escrow account.
(2) The department will make available a micro-lending program to low-income entrepreneurs. For the purpose of this section, a “low-income entrepreneur” is one who is starting or expanding a business and who meets the eligibility criteria established by the department for the micro-lending program. A “micro-lending program” is one which provides training, technical assistance, and loan funds to low-income entrepreneurs to start or expand a business venture.
(3) Under this section, self-employment shall be considered an allowable work activity. To receive the self-employment exemption outlined in this section, low-income entrepreneurs shall be enrolled in the program and shall be enrolled in a micro-lending program providing entrepeneurship training, technical assistance, and peer support.
(b) The department shall establish an individual development account demonstration project.
(c) Federal funds received by the state pursuant to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program shall be available for programs under this section.