I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1482
To reauthorize the Welfare-To-Work program to provide additional resources
and flexibility to improve the administration of the program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 20, 1999
Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. STARK, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. COYNE, Mr. JEFFER-
SON, and Mr. LEVIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To reauthorize the Welfare-To-Work program to provide ad-
ditional resources and flexibility to improve the adminis-
tration of the program.
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 ‘‘Welfare-to-Work
Amendments of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 403(a)(5)(I)(i) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(I)(i)) is amended
by inserting ‘‘, and $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2000,’’
after ‘‘1999’’.
(b) COMPETITIVE GRANTS.—Section 403(a)(5)(B)(i)
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(B)(i)) is amended by
striking ‘‘and 1999’’ and inserting ‘‘, 1999, and 2000’’.
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES.
(a) HARD-TO-EMPLOY LONG-TERM RECIPIENTS.—
Section 403(a)(5)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(C)(ii)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘REQUIRED BENEFICIARIES.—’’
and inserting ‘‘HARD-TO-EMPLOY RECIPIENTS.—’’;
(2) in the matter preceding subclause (I)—
(A) by striking ‘‘shall expend at least 70
percent of all’’ and inserting ‘‘may expend’’;
and
(B) by striking ‘‘, or for the benefit of non-
custodial parents,’’;
(3) in the matter preceding item (aa) of sub-
clause (I)—
(A) by striking ‘‘At least 2’’ and inserting
‘‘Any’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘apply’’ and inserting ‘‘ap-
plies’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘or the noncustodial par-
ent’’;
(4) in item (aa) of subclause (I), by striking ‘‘,
and has low skills in reading or mathematics’’;
(5) by adding at the end of subclause (I) the
following:
‘‘(dd) The individual has
English reading, writing, or com-
puting skills at or below the 8th
grade level.
‘‘(ee) 
The 
individual 
is
homeless.
‘‘(ff) The individual has a
disability.
‘‘(gg) The individual has
been a victim of domestic vio-
lence.’’; and
(6) in the matter preceding item (aa) of sub-
clause (II), by striking ‘‘or the minor children of the
non-custodial parent’’.
(b) 
NONCUSTODIAL
PARENTS.—Section
403(a)(5)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(C)) is
amended—
(1) by redesignating clauses (iii) through (viii)
as clauses (iv) through (ix), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after clause (ii) the following:
‘‘(iii) NONCUSTODIAL
PARENTS.—An
entity that operates a project with funds
provided under this paragraph may use the
funds to provide services in a form de-
scribed in clause (i) to noncustodial par-
ents with respect to whom the require-
ments of the following subclauses are met:
‘‘(I) The noncustodial parent is
unemployed, underemployed, or hav-
ing difficulty in paying child support
obligations.
‘‘(II) At least 1 of the following
applies to a minor child of the non-
custodial parent (with preference in
the determination of the noncustodial
parents to be provided services under
this paragraph to be provided by the
entity to those noncustodial parents
with minor children who meet, or who
have custodial parents who meet, the
requirements of item (aa)):
‘‘(aa) The minor child or the
custodial parent of the minor
child meets the requirements of
clause (ii)(II).
‘‘(bb) The minor child is eli-
gible for, or is receiving, benefits
under the program funded under
this part.
‘‘(cc) The minor child re-
ceived benefits under the pro-
gram funded under this part in
the 12-month period preceding
the date of the determination but
no longer receives such benefits.
‘‘(dd) The minor child is eli-
gible for, or is receiving, assist-
ance under the Food Stamp Act
of 1977, benefits under the sup-
plemental security income pro-
gram under title XVI of this Act,
medical assistance under title
XIX of this Act, or child health
assistance under title XXI of this
Act.
‘‘(III) The noncustodial parent is
in compliance with the terms of a per-
sonal responsibility contract entered
into among the noncustodial parent,
the entity, and the agency responsible
for administering the State plan
under part D, which was developed
taking into account the employment
and child support status of the non-
custodial parent, which was entered
into not later than 30 (or, at the op-
tion of the entity, not later than 90)
days after the noncustodial parent
was enrolled in the project and which,
at a minimum, includes the following:
‘‘(aa) A commitment by the
noncustodial parent to cooperate,
at the earliest opportunity, in the
establishment of the paternity of
the minor child, through vol-
untary acknowledgement or other
procedures, and in the establish-
ment of a child support order.
‘‘(bb) A commitment by the
noncustodial parent to cooperate
in the payment of child support
for the minor child, which may
include a modification of an ex-
isting support order to take into
account the ability of the non-
custodial parent to pay such sup-
port and the participation of such
parent in the project.
‘‘(cc) A commitment by the
noncustodial parent to participate
in employment that will enable
the noncustodial parent to make
regular child support payments,
which may include temporary em-
ployment in community service or
work experience provided under
this paragraph to assist in prepa-
ration for unsubsidized employ-
ment, and for such parents who
have not attained 20 years of
age, may include completion of
high school, a general equivalency
degree, or other education di-
rectly related to employment.
‘‘(dd) A description of the
services to be provided under this
paragraph, and a commitment by
the noncustodial parent to par-
ticipate in such services, that are
designated to assist the noncusto-
dial parent obtain and retain em-
ployment, increase earnings, and
enhance the financial and emo-
tional contributions to the well-
being of the minor child.
In order to protect custodial parents
and children who may be at risk of
domestic violence, the preceding provi-
sions of this subclause shall not be
construed to affect any other provi-
sion of law requiring a custodial par-
ent to cooperate in establishing the
paternity of a child or establishing or
enforcing a support order with respect
to a child, or entitling a custodial par-
ent to refuse, for good cause, to pro-
vide such cooperation as a condition
of assistance or benefit under any
program, shall not be construed to re-
quire such cooperation by the custo-
dial parent as a condition of participa-
tion of either parent in the program
authorized under this paragraph, and
shall not be construed to require a
custodial parent to cooperate with or
participate in any activity under this
clause. The entity operating a project
under this clause with funds provided
under this paragraph shall consult
with domestic violence prevention and
intervention organizations in the de-
velopment of the project.’’.
(c) RECIPIENTS WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF LONG-
TERM DEPENDENCY; CHILDREN AGING OUT OF FOSTER
CARE.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subclause (II) of section
403(a)(5)(C)(iv) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(C)(iv)(II)), as so redesignated by sub-
section (b)(1) of this section, is amended to read as
follows:
‘‘(II) to children—
‘‘(aa) who have attained 18
years of age but not 25 years of
age; and
‘‘(bb) who, on the day before
attaining 18 years of age were
recipients of foster care mainte-
nance payments (as defined in
section 475(4)) under part E or
were in foster care under the re-
sponsibility of a State.’’.
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section
403(a)(5)(C)(iv) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(C)(iv)), as so redesignated by subsection
(b)(1) of this section, is amended—
(A) in the heading by inserting ‘‘HARD TO
EMPLOY’’ before ‘‘INDIVIDUALS’’; and
(B) in the last sentence by striking ‘‘clause
(ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘clauses (ii) and (iii)’’.
SEC. 4. EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENT FOR SERVICES TO
NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS.
(a) 20 PERCENT MINIMUM.—Section 403(a)(5)(A) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(A)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(x) EXPENDITURES FOR NONCUSTO-
DIAL PARENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2000.—
‘‘(I) 20 PERCENT
MINIMUM.—
Subject to subclause (II) of this
clause, a State shall expend not less
than 20 percent of the funds allotted
to the State under this subparagraph
in fiscal year 2000 (including the
funds allocated to service delivery
areas pursuant to clause (vi)(I) of this
subparagraph) to provide services to
noncustodial parents meeting the re-
quirements of subparagraph (C)(iii).
‘‘(II) 
WAIVER
OF
REQUIRE-
MENT.—The Governor of a State may
submit to the Secretary of Labor a re-
quest to waive the requirements of
subclause (I), which may include a re-
quest to reduce or eliminate the min-
imum percentage of expenditures re-
quired under such subclause. If the
Secretary of Labor determines there
is sufficient justification for the re-
quest, the Secretary of Labor may
grant the waiver.’’.
(b) 
STATE
PLAN
ELEMENT.—Section
403(a)(5)(A)(ii)(I) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(ii)(I)) is amended—
(1) in item (dd), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the
semicolon;
(2) in item (ee), by striking the period and in-
serting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(ff) 
contains 
assurances
that the State will meet the ex-
penditure requirements for serv-
ices 
to 
noncustodial 
parents
under clause (x) with respect to
the funds allotted under this sub-
paragraph in fiscal year 2000,
and describes how the State will
meet such requirements and co-
ordinate projects carried out with
funds allocated to the service de-
livery areas in the State under
clause (vi)(I) and projects carried
out with funds reserved by the
Governor under clause (vi)(III)
to ensure the required expendi-
ture level will be met; and’’.
SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL STATE PLAN ELEMENTS.
(a) INTEGRATION WITH WIA STATE PLAN.—Section
403(a)(5)(A)(ii)(I) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(A)(ii)(I)) is amended in the matter preceding
item (aa) by inserting ‘‘and, for fiscal year 2000, in addi-
tion to the addendum as part of the strategic State plan
submitted under section 112 of the Workforce Investment
Act of 1998’’ after ‘‘section 402’’.
(b) COORDINATION WITH CHILD SUPPORT EN-
FORCEMENT AGENCIES.—Section 403(a)(5)(A)(ii)(I) of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(A)(ii)(I)), as amended by
section 4(b) of this Act, is further amended by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘(gg) contains assurances
that the State agencies admin-
istering the programs under this
part and part D have been con-
sulted in the development of the
plan under this subclause, and a
certification by the head of the
State agency administering the
program under part D that the
agency will participate in the
planning and coordination of
services to noncustodial parents
described 
in 
subparagraph
(C)(iii), including the use of the
procedures of the agency to de-
termine appropriate levels of
child support for such noncusto-
dial parents and to take appro-
priate actions, such as a review
and adjustment or suspension of
child support orders, if the non-
custodial parent participating in
activities under this paragraph
does not have the ability to pay
the required amounts.’’.
SEC. 6. TRANSFER OF UNALLOTTED FORMULA FUNDS TO
COMPETITIVE GRANTS.
(a) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—Section 403(a)(5)(A)(ix)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(A)(ix))
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(ix) TRANSFER
OF
UNALLOTTED
FORMULA FUNDS.—If at the end of fiscal
year 1999 or 2000 funds available under
this subparagraph remain unallotted, the
Secretary shall use such funds in fiscal
year 2000 or 2001 to award competitive
grants in accordance with subparagraph
(B)(vi).’’.
(b) USE OF TRANSFERRED FORMULA FUNDS.—Sec-
tion 403(a)(5)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(B))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(vi) USE
OF
TRANSFERRED
FOR-
MULA
FUNDS.—The Secretary shall use
any funds available from fiscal year 1999
or 2000 pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ix)
to award competitive grants in fiscal year
2000 or 2001 in accordance with the re-
quirements of clauses (i) through (iv) of
this subparagraph, except that in awarding
such grants the Secretary shall give a pref-
erence to applicants, including Indian
tribes, located in States that were not al-
lotted funds under subparagraph (A) in
the fiscal year from which the transfer
under subparagraph (A)(ix) is made.’’.
SEC. 7. ELIGIBLE SERVICE PROVIDERS.
Section 403(a)(5)(C) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(C)), as amended by section 3(b)(1) of
this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(x) 
ELIGIBLE
SERVICE
PRO-
VIDERS.—The States and private industry
councils (or, if applicable, workforce invest-
ment boards) or alternate administering
entities allocated formula funds under sub-
paragraph (A), and the entities awarded
competitive grants under subparagraph
(B), may enter into agreements and con-
tracts with, and award subgrants to, other
public and private entities, such as child
support enforcement agencies and commu-
nity-based organizations, for the provision
of services through projects funded under
this paragraph.’’.
SEC. 8. PERFORMANCE BONUSES.
Section 403(a)(5)(E) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(E)) is amended—
(1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘year 2000’’ and
inserting ‘‘years 2000 and 2001’’;
(2) in clause (iv)(I)(aa), by inserting ‘‘for pur-
poses of the bonus grants awarded in fiscal year
2000, and to each State that is a welfare-to-work
State for fiscal year 2000 for purposes of the bonus
grants awarded in fiscal year 2001’’ before the semi-
colon;
(3) in clause (iv)(I)(bb), by inserting ‘‘in fiscal
year 2000, and an amount equal to 7 percent of the
amount specified in subparagraph (I) for fiscal year
2000 in fiscal year 2001’’ before the period; and
(4) in clause (vi), by inserting ‘‘in fiscal year
2000. 7 percent of the amount specified in subpara-
graph (I) for fiscal year 2000 shall be reserved for
grants under this subparagraph in fiscal year 2001’’
before the period.
SEC. 9. GRANTS TO INDIAN TRIBES.
(a) INCREASE IN RESERVE.—Section 403(a)(5)(F) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(F)) is
amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘3 percent
of the amount specified in subparagraph (I) for fiscal year
2000 shall be reserved for such grants to Indian tribes.’’.
(b) ELIGIBILITY FOR COMPETITIVE GRANTS.—Sec-
tion 
403(a)(5)(B)(ii) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(B)(ii)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, or an Indian
tribe that submits a proposal’’ before the period.
(c) REPEAL OF RECAPTURE REQUIREMENTS.—
(1) 
FORMULA
GRANTS.—Section
403(a)(5)(A)(iv)(I) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(A)(iv)(I)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(I) 75 percent of the sum of the
amount specified in subparagraph (I)
for the fiscal year, minus the total of
the amounts reserved pursuant to
subparagraphs (E), (F), (G), and (H)
for the fiscal year; and’’.
(2) 
COMPETITIVE
GRANTS.—Section
403(a)(5)(B)(v)(I) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(B)(v)(I)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(I) 25 percent of the sum of the
amount specified in subparagraph (I)
for the fiscal year, minus the total of
the amounts reserved pursuant to
subparagraphs (E), (F), (G), and (H)
for the fiscal year; and’’.
(3) 
PRESERVATION
OF
AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Section 403(a)(5)(F) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(F)) is amended by adding at the
end the following: ‘‘Amounts so reserved shall re-
main available for obligation for 2 years.’’.
SEC. 10. FUNDING FOR EVALUATIONS.
(a) 
WELFARE-TO-WORK
EVALUATION.—Section
403(a)(5)(G) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(G)) is amended by striking ‘‘amount so speci-
fied for fiscal year 1999’’ and inserting ‘‘amounts so speci-
fied for each of fiscal years 1999 and 2000’’.
(b) ABSTINENCE EDUCATION EVALUATION.—Section
403(a)(5)(H)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(H)(i))
is amended by inserting ‘‘, and 0.1 percent of the amount
so specified for fiscal year 2000,’’ after ‘‘1999’’.
SEC. 11. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) 
ESTABLISHMENT
OF
RESERVE.—Section
403(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(K) FUNDING FOR TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE.—1 percent of the amount speci-
fied in subparagraph (I) for fiscal year
2000 shall be reserved by the Secretary of
Labor for technical assistance to States,
localities, Indian tribes, and other entities
carrying out projects under this paragraph.
Such technical assistance shall include the
dissemination of information regarding in-
novative and promising practices and ap-
proaches relating to welfare-to-work activi-
ties, including strategies for effectively
serving noncustodial parents. The Sec-
retary of Labor, in consultation with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services,
shall develop a technical assistance strat-
egy for carrying out this subparagraph
that ensures coordination and promotes
partnerships among States and local agen-
cies carrying out activities under this para-
graph and under this part, child support
agencies, and community-based organiza-
tions serving noncustodial parents.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) 
FORMULA
GRANTS.—Section
403(a)(5)(A)(iv)(I) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(A)(iv)(I)), as amended by section 9(c)(1)
of this Act, is amended by striking ‘‘and (H)’’ and
inserting ‘‘(H), and (K)’’.
(2) 
COMPETITIVE
GRANTS.—Section
403(a)(5)(B)(v)(I) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C.
603(a)(5)(B)(v)(I)), as amended by section 9(c)(2)
of this Act, is amended by striking ‘‘and (H)’’ and
inserting ‘‘(H), and (K)’’.
SEC. 12. SIMPLIFICATION AND COORDINATION OF REPORT-
ING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) ELIMINATION OF CURRENT REQUIREMENTS.—
Section 411(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
611(a)(1)(A)) is amended—
(1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by insert-
ing ‘‘(except for information relating to activities
carried out under section 403(a)(5))’’ after ‘‘part’’;
and
(2) by striking clause (xviii).
(b) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
REPORTING
REQUIRE-
MENT.—Section 403(a)(5)(C) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(C)), as amended by sections 3(b)(1)
and 7 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(xi) REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.—
The Secretary of Labor shall establish re-
quirements for the collection and mainte-
nance of financial and participant informa-
tion and the reporting of such information
by entities carrying out activities under
this paragraph.’’.
SEC. 13. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Section 413(j)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 613(j)(2)(C)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘FINAL REPORT.—’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘SUBSEQUENT REPORTS.—’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘(or’’ and inserting ‘‘and Janu-
ary 1, 2002, respectively, (or, in either case,’’; and
(3) by striking ‘‘a final report’’ and inserting
‘‘reports’’.
SEC. 
14. 
JOB 
SKILLS 
TRAINING, 
VOCATIONAL 
EDU-
CATIONAL TRAINING, AND BASIC EDUCATION
INCLUDED AS ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES.
Section 403(a)(5)(C)(i) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(C)(i)) is amended by inserting after sub-
clause (VI) the following:
‘‘(VII) Job skills training, voca-
tional educational training, and (in
the case of recipients who have not
completed secondary school or re-
ceived a certificate of general equiva-
lency) basic education.’’.
SEC. 15. EFFECTIVE DATES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection
(b), the amendments made by this Act shall take effect
on October 1, 1999.
(b) TRANSFER OF FORMULA FUNDS.—The amend-
ments made by section 6 shall apply with respect to funds
appropriated to carry out section 403(a)(5) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)) for fiscal years 1999
and 2000.
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