JET PROGRAM: COMMUNITY SERVICE S.B. 276:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 276 (as introduced 3-19-13)
Committee: Families, Seniors and Human Services
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Social Welfare Act to include community service within JET program activities.
The Act requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish and administer the Family Independence Program (FIP) to provide temporary assistance to family who are making efforts to achieve independence. The Jobs, Education, and Training (JET) program is a work participation program for applicants and recipients of FIP assistance.
Generally, at the time the DHS determines an individual is eligible to receive FIP assistance, it must determine whether that individual is eligible to participate or exempt from participating in the JET program. An individual is exempt from participating if he or she meets certain criteria based on age, medical condition, and related factors.
The DHS must develop, and set forth in a recipient's family self-sufficiency plan, the particular activities the recipient is required or authorized to participate in, the number of hours of work required for, and other details of, the JET program. The bill would include community service as an activity.
MCL 400.57f Legislative Analyst: Glenn Steffens
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State. Based on Federal regulations and current DHS policy, community service can be included as a component of work participation requirements and a family self-sufficiency plan. Sanctions are in place for families that do not comply with their work participation requirements. As the Act allows the DHS some flexibility in determining which clients are exempt from JET program participation, the number or portion of additional families that would be required to participate in community service is not known.
The bill would have no fiscal impact on local units of government.
Fiscal Analyst: Frances Carley
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.