A. The Department of Human Services shall, as appropriate, provide literacy remediation, English as a second language, work activities, training, and other services to recipients pursuant to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through contracts. In contracting for English as a second language, work activities, training, or other services, the following terms and conditions shall apply:
1. A contract shall be performance based. Whenever possible, payment shall be based on performance outcomes that include, but are not limited to, such factors as job entry, job entry at a target wage, and job retention. Payment shall not be based on completion of training, education, or any other phase of the program participation process;
2. A contract may include performance-based incentive payments that may vary according to the extent to which a recipient is more difficult to place. Contract payments may be weighted proportionally to reflect the extent to which a recipient has limitations associated with the long-term receipt of welfare and difficulty in maintaining employment. The factors may include the extent of a recipient's prior receipt of welfare, lack of employment experience, poor literacy skills, lack of education, lack of job skills, and any other factors determined appropriate by the Department; and
3. The Department is hereby authorized to contract with commercial, charitable, religious or faith-based organizations to provide the necessary services pursuant to the TANF program as provided in this section.
B. Subject to the availability of funds, the Department shall explore and recommend technological enhancements and funding necessary to support the work activities, training and other services provided to recipients as described in subsection A of this section. The enhancements may include creation of an online self-service portal allowing recipients to retain responsibility for periodically reporting on their employment, education, training and job activities.
Added by Laws 1997, c. 414, § 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 2002, c. 123, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2018, c. 121, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2018.