September 20, 2006, Introduced by Reps. Kolb, Kooiman, Stahl and Pastor and referred to the Committee on Family and Children Services.
A bill to amend 1939 PA 280, entitled
"The social welfare act,"
(MCL 400.1 to 400.119b) by adding section 57n.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 57n. (1) A work first participant may meet the work first
participation requirement by participating in a comprehensive basic
education or job skills program for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Participation in a program under this subsection shall not exceed a
period longer than 180 days.
(2) A work first participant who has not earned a high school
diploma or successfully completed a general education development
(GED) test shall enroll in a general education development (GED)
preparation course and may count up to 10 hours each week in
attendance at the general education development (GED) preparation
course toward his or her work first participation requirement for a
period not longer than 180 days.
(3) A work first participant who has a reading proficiency at
the eighth grade level or lower shall participate in a fast track
literacy program for a period not to exceed 180 days. Participation
in a fast-track literacy program required under this subsection
shall count toward the participant's work first work requirement.
(4) Upon approval of the director of the work first program,
an individual who is accepted into a 2-year postsecondary education
program or who has completed 2 years of a 4-year postsecondary
education program may attend a community college or 4-year
university for a period not to exceed 24 months. An individual
under this subsection shall maintain a 2.5 grade point average or
higher and shall maintain a 90% attendance record in classroom
activity. An individual under this subsection shall work 20 hours
each week while attending a program described under this subsection
to meet the work first participation requirement.
(5) Each local work first program shall provide a report to
the legislature that includes, at a minimum, all of the following:
(a) The number and percentage of work first participants
achieving personal work plan goals.
(b) The number and percentage of work first participants
placed in unsubsidized employment.
(c) The number and percentage of work first participants
placed in employment who remain employed for a period of 180 days
or more.
(d) The number and percentage of work first participants whose
cases are closed due to self-sufficiency.
(e) The number and percentage of work first participants
enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year educational program with information
on the degree programs enrolled in and the local work first
program's participants' graduation rate.
(f) The number and percentage of work first participants
participating in a fast track literacy program and the local work
first program's participants' success rate in this program.
(g) The number and percentage of work first participants
participating in a high school completion program or a general
education development (GED) program and the local work first
program's participants' graduation rate.
(6) Funding provided to work first programs or providers
contracted to administer work first programs shall be based on the
success rate in the following areas:
(a) The number and percentage of work first participants
achieving the goals stated in their personal development plans.
(b) The number and percentage of work first participants
placed in employment and maintaining employment for a period of 180
days or more.
(c) The number and percentage of work first cases closed by
each local Michigan works agency due to self-sufficiency.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect
unless all of the following bills of the 93rd Legislature are
enacted into law:
(a) Senate Bill No._____ or House Bill No. 6580(request no.
05677'06).
(b) Senate Bill No._____ or House Bill No. 6581(request no.
05678'06).
(c) Senate Bill No._____ or House Bill No. 6583(request no.
05679'06).
(d) Senate Bill No._____ or House Bill No. 6584(request no.
05680'06).
(e) Senate Bill No._____ or House Bill No. 6586(request no.
05682'06).
(f) Senate Bill No._____ or House Bill No. 6585(request no.
05683'06).