(1) (a) Effective July 1, 1997, the Colorado works program is implemented pursuant to the personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act and is intended to comply with the express requirements for participation in the TANF block grant program.
(b) Effective January 1, 2009, the Colorado works program is amended to ensure implementation in compliance with the deficit reduction omnibus reconciliation act.
(2) The purposes of the works program are to:
Assist participants to terminate their dependence on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;
Provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their homesor in the homes of family members;
Prevent and reduce the incidence of pregnancies of unmarried individuals and toestablish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidences of these pregnancies;
Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families;
Develop strategies and policies that focus on ensuring that participants are in workactivities as soon as possible so that the state is able to meet or exceed work participation rates specified in the federal law; and
Allow the counties increased responsibility for the administration of the works program.
(3) Nothing in this part 7 is intended to prevent a county or municipality from implementing a public assistance or general assistance program with local funds.
Source: L. 97: Entire part added, p. 1198, § 1, effective June 3. L. 2008: (1) and (2) amended, p. 1953, § 3, effective January 1, 2009. L. 2018: (2)(c) amended, (SB 18-095), ch. 96, p. 756, § 16, effective August 8.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 18-095, see section 1 of chapter 96, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.