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An Act To Reduce Child Poverty by Leveraging Investments in Families for Tomorrow
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA c. 1054-C  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 1054-C
HIGHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
§ 3790-A. Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program
 
1.  Program established.     The department shall establish a student financial aid program based on need to be known as the Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program, referred to in this chapter as "the program," for a parent or caretaker relative of a minor child who is qualified to receive federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds but does not receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance pursuant to chapter 1053-B and is matriculating in an education or training program, or is enrolled in a program providing remedial services necessary for the parent or caretaker relative to matriculate, that results in a high-value, industry-recognized certificate or similar credential, a postsecondary undergraduate 2-year degree or a postsecondary undergraduate 4-year degree in a health care, technology or engineering field. The department shall specify the health care, technology and engineering fields for the postsecondary undergraduate 4-year degree in department rules.
 
Enrollment in the program may not exceed 500 participants. To administer the program, the department may not divert funding from assistance and support services to families under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program pursuant to chapter 1053-B or from the operation of the Additional Support for People in Retraining and Employment - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program pursuant to chapter 1054-A. If the commissioner reasonably anticipates that available funds will not support continued operation of the program, the commissioner shall limit or suspend enrollment or program services to the extent necessary to avoid negative effects to services provided under chapters 1053-B and 1054-A.
 
The program must be supported with funds provided under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant that are available under Title IV-A of the United States Social Security Act or funds transferred from that block grant to the social services block grant authorized under Title XX of the United States Social Security Act or the child care and development block grant authorized under the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 and Section 418 of the United States Social Security Act. The department may not expend federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds for services that meet the definition of "assistance" under regulations promulgated pursuant to the United States Social Security Act. To the extent allowable under federal law and subject to federal approval procedures associated with such funds, the program may also be supported with other federal funds, including, but not limited to, employment and training funds from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
 
2.  Eligibility criteria.     To the extent that enrollment limits under subsection 1 permit, enrollment or continued participation in the program must be granted if the applicant or participant:
 
A.  Does not already have a marketable bachelor's degree;
 
B.  Has the aptitude to successfully complete the proposed education or training program;
 
C.  Is pursuing a postsecondary undergraduate degree, industry-recognized certificate or similar credential in a field or occupation that has at least an average job outlook as identified by the Center for Workforce Research and Information within the Department of Labor. For fields or occupations for which the job outlook is lower than average, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee must approve the applicant's or participant's education plan. If the applicant or participant is pursuing a postsecondary undergraduate 4-year degree, it must be in a health care, technology or engineering field as specified in department rules;
 
D.  Is making satisfactory progress in the education or training program;
 
E.  Has income that is equal to or below 185% of the nonfarm income official poverty line for a family of the size involved as defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget and revised annually in accordance with the United States Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Section 673, Subsection 2; and
 
F.  Has countable assets as described in department rules in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program pursuant to chapter 1053-B that are equal to or below $10,000.
 
3.  Program assistance.     A program participant must be provided with a package of student aid that includes all support services necessary for participation in the program that are at least equivalent to those provided under chapter 1054-A.
 
4.  Campus-based student support and navigation.     The department shall provide annually up to $1,000,000 in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds described in subsection 1 to educational institutions to establish or supplement personalized professional guidance, support and navigation services provided directly to program participants to promote program completion and student success.
 
5.  Protection from loss of income.     To the extent permitted by federal law, aid received under this section must be disregarded as income and excluded as a resource or asset for the purposes of any state, federal, tribal or municipal assistance program.
 
6.  Rules.     The department shall adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138
 
Initiative: Provides an allocation for campus-based student support and navigation services in the Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program.

FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$0	$420,000	
			
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL	$0	$420,000	

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138
 
Initiative: Provides allocations for the Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program available to persons with minor children who do not receive cash assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, who have incomes at or below 185% of the federal poverty level and who are pursuing a postsecondary degree, industry-recognized certificate or similar credential.

FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$0	$1,461,136	
			
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL	$0	$1,461,136	

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138
 
Initiative: Provides an allocation for one Family Independence Program Manager for the Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program.

FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.000	1.000	
Personal Services	$0	$98,635	
All Other	$0	$6,286	
			
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL	$0	$104,921	

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 0138
 
Initiative: Provides allocations for 2 Senior Planner positions for the Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment Program.

FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT	0.000	2.000	
Personal Services	$0	$167,953	
All Other	$0	$12,572	
			
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL	$0	$180,525	

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2017-18	2018-19	
			
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND	$0	$2,166,582	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$0	$2,166,582	

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 128th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.