HAND UP Act

To authorize a State or a portion of a State to conduct a demonstration project designed to test methods of program integration and coordination of services with the goals of moving individuals and families towards self-sufficiency, reducing welfare dependence, and increasing work and earnings. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Help Americans in Need Develop their Ultimate Potential Act HAND UP Act 2. Program coordination demonstration projects (a) Purpose The purpose of this section is to establish a program of demonstration projects in a State or portion of a State to provide supports to individuals and families with the goal of moving them towards self-sufficiency, reducing welfare dependence, and increasing work and earnings by testing methods of program integration and coordination of services which will result in more effective service delivery and better outcomes for recipients. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Administering secretary The term administering Secretary (2) Qualified program The term qualified program (A) a program under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (B) the program under title XX of the Social Security Act; (C) activities funded under title I, II, or III of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq. (D) activities funded under the United States Housing Act of 1937 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1437e (E) the supplemental nutrition assistance program as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 7 U.S.C. 2012 (c) Application requirements The head of a State entity or of a sub-State entity administering 2 or more qualified programs proposed to be included in a demonstration project under this section shall (or, if the project is proposed to include qualified programs administered by 2 or more such entities, the heads of the administering entities (each of whom shall be considered an applicant for purposes of this section) shall jointly) submit to the administering Secretary an application that contains the following: (1) Programs included A statement identifying each qualified program to be included in the project, and describing how the purposes of each such program will be achieved by the project. (2) Population served A statement identifying the population to be served by the project and specifying the eligibility criteria to be used. (3) Description and justification A detailed description of the project, including— (A) a description of how the project is expected to improve or enhance achievement of the purposes of the programs to be included in the project, from the standpoint of quality, of cost-effectiveness, or of both; (B) a description of the performance objectives for the project, including any proposed modifications to the performance measures and reporting requirements used in the programs; (C) a description of how the project will achieve the goal of moving recipients to self-sufficiency; and (D) the length of time a project will last. (4) Waivers requested A description of the statutory and regulatory requirements with respect to which a waiver is requested in order to carry out the project, and a justification of the need for each such waiver. (5) Cost limitation Such information and assurances as necessary to establish to the satisfaction of the administering Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, that the proposed project is reasonably expected to meet the applicable cost limitation requirements of subsection (d)(4). (6) Use of certain savings (A) In general If the State or sub-State entity desires to use not more than ½ (B) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Savings The term savings (I) the total of the amount that would be payable by the Federal Government for the fiscal year with respect to the affected programs in the State in which the applicant is located, if the proposed project were not conducted, as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; exceeds (II) the total of the amounts that would be payable by the Federal Government for the fiscal year with respect to the programs if the proposed project were conducted (as so determined). (ii) Affected programs The term affected programs (7) Evaluation and reports An assurance that the applicant will— (A) obtain an evaluation by an independent contractor of the extent to which the project is meeting the purposes of this section, using an evaluation design that, to the maximum extent feasible, includes random assignment of clients (or entities serving clients) to service delivery and control groups; and (B) make an interim report and a final report to the administering Secretary, in such manner as the administering Secretary may require, and implement such data systems as are necessary for the reports to be so made. (8) Public housing agency plan In the case of an application proposing a demonstration project that includes activities referred to in subsection (b)(2)(D) of this section— (A) a certification that the applicable annual public housing agency plan of any agency affected by the project that is approved under section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937 42 U.S.C. 1437c–1 (B) any resident advisory board recommendations, and other information, relating to the project that, pursuant to section 5A(e)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 42 U.S.C. 1437c–1(e)(2) (9) Other information and assurances Such other information and assurances as the administering Secretary may require. (d) Approval of application (1) In general The administering Secretary with respect to a qualified program that is identified in an application submitted pursuant to subsection (c) shall approve the application and, except as provided in paragraph (2), waive any requirement applicable to the program, to the extent consistent with this section and necessary and appropriate for the conduct of the demonstration project proposed in the application if the administering Secretary determines that the project— (A) has a reasonable likelihood of achieving the objectives of the programs to be included in the project; (B) may reasonably be expected to meet the applicable cost limitation requirements of paragraph (4), as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and (C) includes the coordination of 2 or more qualified programs. (2) Provisions excluded from waiver authority A waiver shall not be granted under paragraph (1)— (A) with respect to any provision of law relating to— (i) civil rights or prohibition of discrimination; (ii) purposes or goals of any program; (iii) maintenance of effort requirements; (iv) health or safety; (v) wage and hour requirements under sections 6 and 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938; or (vi) environmental protection; (B) with respect to any work requirement imposed pursuant to section 407 of the Social Security Act; (C) with respect to section 241(a) of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act; (D) in the case of a program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 1437c–1 (E) in the case of a program under the Workforce Investment Act, with respect to any requirement the waiver of which would violate section 189(i)(4)(A)(i) of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 2939(i)(4)(A)(i) (F) in the case of the supplemental nutrition assistance program (as defined in section 3 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 7 U.S.C. 2012 (i) section 6 (if waiving a requirement under such section would have the effect of expanding eligibility for the program), 7(b) or 16(c) of such Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. (ii) title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. (G) with respect to any requirement that a State pass through to a sub-State entity part or all of an amount paid to the State; (H) if the waiver would waive any funding restriction or limitation provided in an appropriations Act, or would have the effect of transferring appropriated funds from 1 appropriations account to another; or (I) except as otherwise provided by statute, if the waiver would waive any funding restriction applicable to a program authorized under an Act which is not an appropriations Act (but not including program requirements such as application procedures, performance standards, reporting requirements, or eligibility standards), or would have the effect of transferring funds from a program for which there is direct spending (as defined in section 250(c)(8) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985) to another program. (3) Agreement of each administering Secretary required (A) In general An applicant may not conduct a demonstration project under this section unless each administering Secretary with respect to any program proposed to be included in the project has approved the application to conduct the project. (B) Agreement with respect to funding and implementation Before approving an application to conduct a demonstration project under this section, an administering Secretary shall have in place an agreement with the applicant with respect to the payment of funds and responsibilities of the administering Secretary with respect to the project. (4) Cost limitation requirement (A) General rule Notwithstanding any other provision of law (except subparagraph (B)), the total of the amounts that may be paid by the Federal Government for a fiscal year with respect to the programs in the State in which an entity conducting a demonstration project under this section is located that are affected by the project shall not exceed the estimated total amount that the Federal Government would have paid for the fiscal year with respect to the programs if the project had not been conducted, as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. (B) Special rule If an applicant submits to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a request to apply the rules of this subparagraph to the programs in the State in which the applicant is located that are affected by a demonstration project proposed in an application submitted by the applicant pursuant to this section, during such period of not more than 5 consecutive fiscal years in which the project is in effect, and the Director determines, on the basis of supporting information provided by the applicant, to grant the request, then, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the total of the amounts that may be paid by the Federal Government for the period with respect to the programs shall not exceed the estimated total amount that the Federal Government would have paid for the period with respect to the programs if the project had not been conducted. (5) 90 (A) In general If an administering Secretary receives an application to conduct a demonstration project under this section and does not disapprove the application within 90 days after the receipt, then— (i) the administering Secretary is deemed to have approved the application for such period as is requested in the application, except to the extent inconsistent with subsection (e); and (ii) any waiver requested in the application which applies to a qualified program that is identified in the application and is administered by the administering Secretary is deemed to be granted, except to the extent inconsistent with paragraph (2) or (4) of this subsection. (B) Deadline extended if additional information is sought (i) In general The 90-day period referred to in subparagraph (A) shall not include any period that begins with the date the administering Secretary requests the applicant to provide additional information with respect to the application and ends with the date the additional information is provided. (ii) Limitation on number of requests for additional information An administering Secretary may not make more than 1 request for additional information with respect to an application submitted pursuant to this section. (iii) 1 If 1 year has elapsed since the date an administering Secretary made a request to an applicant under this subparagraph with respect to an application, and the administering Secretary has not received from the applicant a response to the request, the administering Secretary shall immediately approve or disapprove the application. (6) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the payment of the minimum wage in effect under section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206 (7) Disapproval If an administering Secretary disapproves an application submitted pursuant to this section, the administering Secretary shall include with the notice of disapproval an explanation of the reasons for the disapproval with specific reference to the particular requirements of paragraph (1) not met by the application. (e) Duration of project A demonstration project under this section may be approved for a term of not more than 5 years. (f) Modification of project (1) Request for modification An entity conducting a demonstration project approved under this section may submit to each administering Secretary with respect to any program included in the project a request to modify the project. (2) Requirement An administering Secretary may not approve a request submitted under paragraph (1) with respect to a project, unless the administering Secretary determines that, if the request is not approved, the project will not achieve its performance objectives because economic conditions have changed since the project was approved. (3) 30 If an administering Secretary receives a request made under this subsection and does not disapprove the request within 30 days after the receipt, the administering Secretary is deemed to have approved the request, except to the extent inconsistent with subsection (d)(2), (d)(4), or (e). (4) Agreement of each administering Secretary required (A) In general The entity conducting a demonstration project approved under this section may not modify the project, except in accordance with a request approved under this subsection by each administering Secretary with respect to any program included in the project. (B) Agreement with respect to funding and implementation Before approving a request to modify a demonstration project approved under this section, an administering Secretary shall have in place an agreement with the requestor with respect to the payment of funds and responsibilities of the administering Secretary with respect to the modified project. (g) Early termination of project An administering Secretary with respect to a demonstration project conducted under this section may terminate the project if the administering Secretary— (1) determines that the entity conducting the project has violated the substantive terms or conditions of the project; (2) notifies the entity in writing with sufficient detail describing the violation; and (3) determines that the State has not taken action to correct the violation during the 90-day period beginning with the date the entity received the notice. (h) Reports to Congress (1) Report on disposition of applications Within 90 days after an administering Secretary receives an application submitted pursuant to this section, the administering Secretary shall submit to each Committee of the Congress which has jurisdiction over a qualified program identified in the application notice of the receipt, a description of the decision of the administering Secretary with respect to the application, and the reasons for approving or disapproving the application. (2) Reports on projects Each administering Secretary that has jurisdiction over a qualified program that is part of a demonstration project approved under this section shall provide annually to each Committee of the Congress that has jurisdiction over the program a report, which shall include— (A) the number of waivers granted for the project under this section, and the specific statutory provisions, if any, waived; (B) in the case of a project for which such a waiver is granted— (i) how well the project is improving or enhancing program achievement from the standpoint of quality, cost-effectiveness, or both; (ii) how well the project is meeting the performance objectives specified in subsection (c)(3)(B); and (iii) how the project is conforming with the cost limitation requirements of subsection (d)(4); (C) the number of individuals engaged in the program under the project; (D) the number of individuals so engaged who completed education or workforce development programs; (E) the number of individuals so engaged who reduced their dependence on government benefits as a result of self-sufficiency; (F) an explanation of the functions the State or sub-State project employed to help individuals achieve self sufficiency; (G) an up-to-date statement of the cost of the project, and of the expected future costs of continuing the project; (H) to the extent the administering Secretary deems appropriate, recommendations for modifying programs based on project outcomes; and (I) if the project has been carried out for at least 30 months, a statement as to whether the project is meeting the goals of the project and a determination as to whether the project will be continued for the remainder of the term for which the project was approved. (3) Funding Each administering Secretary that has jurisdiction over a qualified program that is part of a demonstration project approved under this section shall reserve an amount equal to not more than 1 percent of the amount to be provided for the conduct of the project, and use the amount so reserved to carry out this subsection with respect to the project. 3. Amendment to United States Housing Act of 1937 Section 5A(d) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 42 U.S.C. 1437c–1(d) (1) by redesignating paragraph (19) as paragraph (20); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (18) the following new paragraph: (19) Program coordination demonstration projects In the case of an agency that administers an activity referred to in section 2(b)(2)(D) of the HAND UP Act that, during such fiscal year, will be included in a demonstration project under section 2 of such Act, the information that is required to be included in the application for the project pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 2(c) of such Act. .

Summary: Help Americans in Need Develop Their Ultimate Potential Act or the HAND UP Act Establishes a framework for the head of a state entity or of a sub-state entity administering two or more qualified federal programs to participate in a demonstration project, approved by the administering Secretary, that supports individuals and families with the goal of moving them towards self-sufficiency, reducing welfare dependence, and increasing work and earnings. Authorizes the administering Secretary to waive program requirements for purposes of the demonstration. Specifies as qualified federal programs: (1) the TANF program under part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct), (2) the Block Grants to States for Social Services under SSAct title XX, (3) activities funded under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 or under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; (4) activities funded under the United States Housing Act of 1937, and (5) the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require an annual public housing agency plan for a public housing agency to contain certain demonstration project application information.