I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 624
To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to include efforts 
to address barriers to employment as a work activity under the temporary 
assistance to needy families program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 5, 2003
Mr. STARK (for himself, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. BACA, Mr. 
BECERRA, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. 
DELAURO, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. JEFFERSON, Ms. EDDIE 
BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. HONDA, Ms. LEE, Mr. 
MARKEY, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. NADLER, 
Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. WAT-
SON, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. WEXLER, and Ms. WOOLSEY) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act 
to include efforts to address barriers to employment as 
a work activity under the temporary assistance to needy 
families program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Chance to Succeed Act 
of 2003’’.
SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF EFFORTS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO 
EMPLOYMENT AS A WORK ACTIVITY UNDER 
TANF. 
Section 407 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
607) is amended—
(1) in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection 
(c), by striking ‘‘or (12)’’ each place it appears and 
inserting ‘‘(12), or (13)’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)—
(A) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (12), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(13) subject to subsection (j), 6 months of sat-
isfactory participation (as determined by the State) 
in services to address barriers that are designed to 
improve future employment opportunities, including 
substance abuse treatment, physical rehabilitation, 
and mental health, mental retardation and develop-
mental disabilities services.’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) STATE OPTION TO EXTEND PERIOD FOR PAR-
TICIPATION IN SERVICES TO ADDRESS BARRIERS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to an indi-
vidual, a State may extend the 6-month period re-
ferred to in subsection (d)(13) for an additional pe-
riod determined by the State, so long as the State 
periodically reassesses the appropriateness of the ac-
tivities referred to in such subsection for the indi-
vidual. 
‘‘(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
paragraph (1) or subsection (d)(13) shall be con-
strued to limit the amount of time an individual may 
require, or a State may provide, services to address 
barriers that are designed to improve future employ-
ment opportunities.’’. 
SEC. 3. CREATION OF A SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, AND 
SERVICES PROCESS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS 
TO EMPLOYMENT. 
(a) ASSESSMENTS.—Section 408(b) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 608(b)) is amended—
(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) ASSESSMENT PROVIDED FOR EACH INDI-
VIDUAL WHO RECEIVES ASSISTANCE.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The State agency re-
sponsible for administering the State program 
funded under this part shall make an initial as-
sessment of each adult individual who receives 
assistance under the program (and, in the case
of a State program that requires an individual 
who is a caretaker for an individual who re-
ceives such assistance to engage in work, an ini-
tial assessment of the caretaker individual) to 
determine whether the individual has any bar-
riers to employment or program compliance. 
‘‘(B) 2-PART
PROCESS.—The assessment 
under subparagraph (A) shall consist of the fol-
lowing 2 parts: 
‘‘(i) INITIAL SCREENING.—
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—An initial 
screening which shall evaluate an indi-
vidual’s employability, educational ca-
pacity, 
and 
other 
related 
cir-
cumstances, such as the child support 
status, housing needs, and transpor-
tation needs of the individual and the 
individual’s family. 
‘‘(II) REQUIRED FACTORS TO BE 
ASSESSED.—A 
trained 
caseworker 
shall screen the individual for condi-
tions such as physical or mental im-
pairments, substance abuse, domestic 
or sexual violence, learning disabil-
ities, limited English proficiency, lim-
ited literacy in a primary language, 
and need to care for a child with a 
disability or health condition which 
may interfere with work or other pro-
gram requirements. 
‘‘(III) OPTIONAL
ASSESSMENT 
OF CHILD CARE NEEDS.—At the op-
tion of the individual, the State shall, 
before assigning the individual to a 
work activity under the State program 
funded under this part, perform an 
assessment of the individual’s child 
care needs, and guarantee safe, appro-
priate, affordable quality child care to 
any such individual who needs child 
care. 
‘‘(IV) OPTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF 
JOB PREPARATION.—At the option of 
the individual, the State shall, before 
assigning the individual to a work ac-
tivity under the State program funded 
under this part, perform an individual 
assessment for the preparation that is 
needed for the individual to obtain 
and maintain a job at a monthly wage
that is at least 200 percent of the 
poverty line applicable to the family of 
the individual. 
‘‘(ii) 
COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESS-
MENT.—If an initial screening under 
clause (i) suggests the existence of poten-
tial barriers to work or program compli-
ance, the individual may elect to partici-
pate in a comprehensive assessment con-
ducted by a qualified professional to con-
firm the existence of the barriers, deter-
mine the extent of the barriers, and de-
velop recommendations about appropriate 
services and activities for the individual. 
‘‘(C) FAMILY MEMBERS.—At the discretion 
of an individual who receives assistance under 
the State program funded under this part, a 
member of the individual’s family also may be 
afforded an assessment in accordance with this 
paragraph. 
‘‘(D) NOT CONSIDERED A PROGRAM RE-
QUIREMENT.—Participation by an individual or 
by a member of the individual’s family in an as-
sessment under this paragraph shall not be con-
sidered a program requirement for the indi-
vidual or the individual’s family. 
‘‘(E) INCLUSION
OF
CASEWORKERS.—
Nothing in subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be con-
strued as prohibiting a caseworker from being 
a qualified professional for purposes of that 
subparagraph if the caseworker satisfies the re-
quirements for being considered a qualified pro-
fessional.’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (4). 
(b) REVIEW AND CONCILIATION PROCESS.—Section 
408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(12) REVIEW AND CONCILIATION PROCESS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A State to which a 
grant is made under section 403 shall not im-
pose a sanction against an individual or family 
under the State program funded under this 
part on the basis of noncompliance by an indi-
vidual or family with a program requirement, 
unless the State satisfies the following require-
ments: 
‘‘(i) NOTICE.—The State has at-
tempted, at least twice (using at least 2 
different communication methods, 1 of
which shall be in writing) to notify the in-
dividual or family, in the individual’s or 
family’s native language, of—
‘‘(I) the impending imposition of 
the sanction; 
‘‘(II) the reason for the proposed 
sanction; 
‘‘(III) the amount of the sanc-
tion; 
‘‘(IV) the length of time during 
which the proposed sanction would be 
in effect; and 
‘‘(V) the steps required to come 
into compliance or to show good cause 
for noncompliance. 
‘‘(ii) REVIEW.—The State has af-
forded the individual or family an oppor-
tunity to meet with personnel outside the 
agency that administers the State program 
funded under this part who the State has 
contracted with to make a determination 
regarding why the individual or family did 
not comply with the program requirement, 
that is to be the basis on which the sanc-
tion is to be imposed, and that includes—
‘‘(I) consideration of whether cer-
tain barriers to compliance exist that 
contributed to the noncompliance of 
the individual or family, such as a 
physical or mental impairment, in-
cluding a mental health or substance 
abuse disorder or mental retardation, 
a learning disability, domestic or sex-
ual violence, limited proficiency in 
English, limited literacy, or the need 
to care for a child with a disability or 
health condition; 
‘‘(II) consideration of whether 
the individual or family has good 
cause for failing to meet program re-
quirements; 
‘‘(III) consideration of whether 
an additional assessment would assist 
in identifying reasons for noncompli-
ance; 
‘‘(IV) consideration of whether 
support services or changes to the 
program requirements or activities to 
which the individual or family has 
been assigned are necessary in order
for the individual or family to comply 
with program requirements; and 
‘‘(V) ensuring that the State’s 
sanction policies have been applied 
properly. 
‘‘(B) SANCTION LIMITATIONS.—
‘‘(i) BAN
ON
IMPOSITION
OF
SANC-
TION
IF
NEEDED
SCREENING, ASSESS-
MENT, 
OR
SERVICES
WERE
UNAVAIL-
ABLE.—A State may not impose a sanction 
against an individual or family under the 
State program funded under this part on 
the basis of noncompliance by an indi-
vidual or family with a program require-
ment if the individual whose conduct is the 
basis of the sanction is in the process of 
being screened or assessed for a mental 
health problem, disability, substance abuse 
problem, or sexual or domestic violence sit-
uation but the screening or assessment has 
not been completed, or if services outlined 
in the service plan developed for the indi-
vidual or family were not offered, available, 
and accessible to the individual or family 
at the time of the noncompliance.
‘‘(ii) NO BAN ON SANCTION IF INDI-
VIDUAL OR FAMILY FAILS TO TAKE ADVAN-
TAGE OF ASSESSMENT OR SERVICES AND 
DOES NOT COMPLY WITH WORK REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Nothing in this paragraph shall 
be construed as prohibiting a State that 
has complied with the requirements of this 
paragraph and section 408(b)(1) from im-
posing a sanction for noncompliance with 
work requirements against an individual or 
family who opts to not take full advantage 
of the opportunity for assessment or the 
services and supports made available to en-
sure that the individual or family can com-
ply with program requirements if such an 
individual or family is not complying with 
the State’s work requirements. 
‘‘(C) SANCTION
FOLLOW-UP
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—If a State imposes 
a sanction on an individual or family for 
failing to comply with program require-
ments, the State shall—
‘‘(I) provide, at the time the 
sanction is imposed and periodically
thereafter for at least 6 months, no-
tice (in at least 2 different forms) to 
the individual or family of the reason 
for the sanction and the steps the in-
dividual or family must take to end 
the sanction; 
‘‘(II) reinstate the individual’s or 
family’s full benefits if the individual 
or family member who failed to meet 
the program requirements that led to 
the sanction complies with program 
requirements for a reasonable period 
of time and the individual or family is 
otherwise eligible; and 
‘‘(III) if the sanction is time-lim-
ited, notify the individual or family at 
least 10 days before the expiration of 
the sanction of the date when the in-
dividual or family will no longer be in 
sanction status and inform the indi-
vidual or family how assistance will be 
reinstated. 
‘‘(ii) OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS AND 
FAMILIES
SANCTIONED
WHO
HAVE
NOT 
RESUMED RECEIVING CASH ASSISTANCE.—
If, during the 5-year period that ended on 
the date of enactment of the Chance to 
Succeed Act of 2003, a State imposed a 
sanction against an individual or family 
that resulted in the individual or family 
losing all cash assistance under the State 
program funded under this part, and the 
individual or family did not resume receiv-
ing cash assistance at the end of the sanc-
tion period, the State shall make reason-
able efforts to identify such individuals and 
families and notify them, using at least 2 
methods of communication, 1 of which is 
written, of the assistance, services, and 
support they may be eligible to receive. 
‘‘(D) CONFIDENTIALITY.—The State, and 
any individuals or entities acting as agents of 
the State, shall not disclose any identifying in-
formation obtained through any process or pro-
cedure instituted pursuant to this paragraph 
unless required or permitted to do so by law. 
‘‘(E) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS, PRO-
CEDURES, TRAINING, AND SCREENING TOOLS.—
States and local governments shall, in consulta-
tion with Federal, State, tribal, or local experts
in the different barriers to employment, develop 
standards, procedures, training, and screening 
tools for use in carrying out this paragraph.’’. 
(c) PLAN REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUAL RESPON-
SIBILITY PLANS.—Section 408(b)(2)(A) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 608(b)(2)(A)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENTS.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—From the assess-
ment described in paragraph (1), the 
State, in consultation with the individual 
who is the subject of the assessment, shall 
develop a personal responsibility plan, 
that—
‘‘(I) sets forth an employment 
goal to move the individual into stable 
employment; 
‘‘(II) sets forth the obligations of 
the individual that will help the indi-
vidual become and remain employed 
in the private sector; 
‘‘(III) describes the individual’s 
long-term career goals and the specific 
work experience, education, or train-
ing needed to reach them; and
‘‘(IV) identifies the services the 
State will offer the individual’s family 
based upon the assessment and eval-
uation described in this section. 
‘‘(ii) MODIFICATION.—If the State is 
unable to provide needed services to the in-
dividual or the individual’s family, the 
State shall modify the personal responsi-
bility plan to be consistent with the needs 
of the individual, the family, and the ca-
pacity of the State.’’. 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
coordinate with Federal, State, and tribal experts and 
qualified professionals to determine, develop, and dissemi-
nate to States, and provide technical assistance with re-
spect to, model practices, standards, and procedures for 
screening, assessment, addressing barriers, including mul-
tiple barriers, in a comprehensive manner, and moving in-
dividuals and families with barriers into employment, as 
well as model training materials for caseworkers. 
(e) 
STATE
PLAN
REQUIREMENT.—Section 
402(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
602(a)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(vii) Identify and serve individuals 
and families with barriers to employment 
as described in section 408(b)(1).’’. 
(f) COORDINATING EXEMPTIONS FROM WORK RE-
QUIREMENTS.—Section 408(a)(7)(C) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(7)(C)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(iv) 
FAMILIES
EXEMPTED
FROM 
WORK REQUIREMENTS BY REASON OF BAR-
RIER TO WORK BY FAMILY MEMBER.—The 
State shall exempt a family from the appli-
cation of subparagraph (A) of this para-
graph if the State permits a member of the 
family (or, in the case of a State that re-
quires a caretaker for an individual who 
receives assistance to engage in work, a 
caretaker) to engage in activities to ad-
dress 
barriers, 
pursuant 
to 
section 
407(d)(13), so long as the State deter-
mines that the individual is satisfactorily 
participating in such activities.’’. 
(g) ADVISORY PANEL TO IMPROVE STATE POLICIES 
AND PROCEDURES
FOR ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS
AND 
FAMILIES WITH BARRIERS TO WORK.—
(1) MEMBERSHIP; CHAIR.—
(A) MEMBERSHIP.—Each State that re-
ceives a State family assistance grant under 
section 403(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 603(a)(1)) shall establish an advisory 
panel consisting of representatives of the fol-
lowing: 
(i) The State agency responsible for 
administering the temporary assistance to 
needy families program established under 
part A of title IV of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) (in this sub-
section referred to as the ‘‘TANF pro-
gram’’). 
(ii) Professionals from other State 
agencies with expertise in barriers that 
interfere with an individual’s or family’s 
ability to work, such as physical or mental 
impairments, substance abuse, domestic or 
sexual violence, learning disabilities, lim-
ited English proficiency, limited literacy in 
a primary language, and need to care for 
a child with a disability or health condi-
tion. 
(iii) Organizations representing indi-
viduals and families with such barriers.
(iv) Professionals with expertise in de-
signing and implementing policies and pro-
grams to successfully serve individuals and 
families with such barriers. 
(v) Individuals and families with such 
barriers who are recipients of cash assist-
ance or support services under the TANF 
program. 
(B) CHAIR.—The chief executive officer of 
the State shall appoint an individual who is not 
a State employee to serve as chair of the advi-
sory panel. 
(2) DUTIES.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The advisory panel 
shall review the efficacy of each program de-
scribed in subparagraph (B) to determine—
(i) the amount of funds spent on serv-
ices under the program; 
(ii) the referral process for participa-
tion in the program, including whether in-
dividuals and families received referrals 
and services; 
(iii) the effect services provided under 
the program had on an individual’s and 
family’s economic status; and
(iv) ways in which the State can im-
prove the effectiveness of its policies and 
procedures to serve individuals and fami-
lies with barriers to work or program com-
pliance. 
(B) PROGRAMS
DESCRIBED.—For pur-
poses of subparagraph (A), a program described 
in this subparagraph, is a program that— 
(i) is funded under the TANF pro-
gram; 
(ii) receives funding from amounts 
made available under the State family as-
sistance 
grant 
made 
under 
section 
403(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 603(a)(1)); or 
(iii) is funded with qualified State ex-
penditures 
(as 
defined 
in 
section 
409(a)(7)(B)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
609(a)(7)(B)(i))). 
(C) DEVELOPMENT
OF
MECHANISM
FOR 
REVIEW
AND
REPORTS
BY
LOCAL
UNITS
OF 
GOVERNMENT.—In the case of a State in which 
significant policy or spending decisions are 
made in the State with respect to a program 
described in subparagraph (B) at the county or
other local unit of government, then the advi-
sory panel shall develop a mechanism that re-
quires each county or other local unit of govern-
ment to—
(i) review its policies and procedures 
with respect to that program and file a 
written report with the advisory panel re-
garding how the policies and procedures 
for the program are designed to assist in-
dividuals and families with barriers to 
work; and 
(ii) respond to any other requests for 
information from the advisory panel re-
garding the TANF program. 
(D) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY.—In order to 
carry out the duties described in this para-
graph, the advisory panel may hold such meet-
ings (in addition to the regular meetings re-
quired under paragraph (3)(C)) and such public 
hearings, hire such staff, enter into the contract 
required under paragraph (4)(B), and travel to 
such locations of programs described in sub-
paragraph (B), as the panel determines to be 
appropriate. 
(3) DURATION; MEETINGS.—
(A) DURATION.—An advisory panel estab-
lished in accordance with this subsection shall 
remain in effect for at least 3 years from the 
date of the initial meeting of the panel. 
(B) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL MEETING.—
Not later than the end of the first Federal fis-
cal year quarter that begins on or after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the advisory panel 
shall meet for its initial meeting. 
(C) REGULAR
MEETINGS.—The advisory 
panel shall meet on a regular basis. 
(4) REPORTS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each advisory panel es-
tablished in accordance with this subsection 
shall file the following reports with the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services: 
(i) Not later than 12 months after the 
initial meeting of the advisory panel, an in-
terim report identifying areas where im-
provement is needed with respect to State 
policies and procedures to serve individuals 
with barriers to work and the steps the 
State is taking or plans to take to make 
those improvements.
subsection, $1,500,000, for the period of fiscal years 
2003 through 2005. 
(7) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
paragraph shall be construed as authorizing an advi-
sory review panel established under this paragraph 
to resolve complaints filed by individuals or entities 
related to possible violations of laws protecting civil 
rights. 
(8) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services to carry out 
this subsection, such sums as are necessary for each 
of fiscal years 2003 through 2006.
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