179 
409(a)(7)(B)(i)) of the suspension of any durational 
limit on assistance under the program.’’. 
(2) PENALTY.—Section 409(a) (42 U.S.C. 
609(a)), as amended by sections 903(c)(2)(A), 
905(d)(1), and 906(b)(2), is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(20) FAILURE TO CONDUCT OUTREACH TO IN-
FORM POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS OF AS-
SISTANCE OF SUSPENSION OF DURATIONAL LIMIT 
ON ASSISTANCE.—If the Secretary determines that a 
State to which a grant is made under section 403 
in a fiscal year has violated section 408(a)(16) dur-
ing the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce the 
grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) 
for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by an 
amount equal to 5 percent of the State family assist-
ance grant.’’. 
(c) STATE PLAN REQUIRED TO INCLUDE DESCRIP-
TION OF HOW POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS WILL 
BE INFORMED OF SUSPENSION OF TIME LIMITS DURING 
RECESSION.—Section 
402(a)(1)(B) 
(42 
U.S.C. 
602(a)(1)(B)), as amended by section 906(c) of this title, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(vii) The document shall describe 
how the State intends to inform potentially 
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eligible recipients of assistance under the 
program of the suspension of durational 
limits on the assistance during a high un-
employment period with respect to the 
State.’’. 
(d) HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT PERIOD DEFINED.—Sec-
tion 419 (42 U.S.C. 619) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(6) 
HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT
PERIOD
DE-
FINED.—The term ‘high unemployment period’ 
means, with respect to a State, a period of 1 or 
more consecutive months if the average rate of total 
unemployment in the State (seasonally adjusted) for 
the period consisting of the then most recent 3 
months for which data for all States are published 
equals or exceeds 6.5 percent.’’. 
SEC. 908. REQUIREMENT THAT STATES USE MERIT-BASED 
SYSTEM IN ADMINISTRATION OF TANF PRO-
GRAMS. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIREMENT.—Section 408(a) (42 
U.S.C. 608(a)), as amended by sections 905(d)(1), 
906(b)(1), and 907(b)(1) of this title, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(17) REQUIREMENT
TO
USE
MERIT-BASED 
SYSTEM IN ADMINISTERING PROGRAM.—A State to 
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181 
which a grant is made under section 403 shall estab-
lish and maintain personnel standards through a 
merit-based system, in administering the State pro-
gram funded under this part and any other State 
program funded by qualified State expenditures (as 
defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)).’’. 
(b) PENALTY.—Section 409(a) (42 U.S.C. 609), as 
amended by sections 903(c)(2)(A), 905(d)(1), 906(b)(2), 
and 907(b)(2) of this title, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(21) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO USE MERIT- 
BASED
SYSTEM
IN
ADMINISTERING
PROGRAM.—If 
the Secretary determines that a State to which a 
grant is made under section 403 in a fiscal year has 
violated section 408(a)(17) during the fiscal year, 
the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the 
State under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately 
succeeding fiscal year by an amount equal to 5 per-
cent of the State family assistance grant.’’. 
SEC. 909. BAN ON USING FEDERAL TANF FUNDS TO RE-
PLACE STATE AND LOCAL SPENDING THAT 
DOES NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF QUALI-
FIED STATE EXPENDITURES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Section 408(a) (42 U.S.C. 
608(a)), as amended by sections 905(d)(1), 906(b)(1), 
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907(b)(1), and 908(a) of this title, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(18) BAN ON USING FEDERAL TANF FUNDS 
TO REPLACE STATE OR LOCAL SPENDING THAT IS 
NOT A QUALIFIED STATE EXPENDITURE.—A State 
to which a grant is made under section 403, and a 
sub-State entity that receives funds from such a 
grant, shall not expend any part of the grant funds 
to supplant State or local spending for benefits or 
services which are not qualified State expenditures 
(within the meaning of section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)).’’. 
(b) PENALTY.—Section 409(a) (42 U.S.C. 609), as 
amended by sections 903(c)(2)(A), 905(d)(1), 906(b)(2), 
907(b)(2), and 908(b) of this title, is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(22) USE OF FEDERAL TANF FUNDS TO RE-
PLACE STATE OR LOCAL SPENDING THAT IS NOT A 
QUALIFIED STATE EXPENDITURE.—If the Secretary 
determines that a State to which a grant is made 
under section 403 in a fiscal year has violated sec-
tion 408(a)(18) during the fiscal year, the Secretary 
shall reduce the grant payable to the State under 
section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fis-
cal year by an amount equal to 5 percent of the 
State family assistance grant.’’. 
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SEC. 910. TANF ASSISTANCE TO MEET BASIC FAMILY ECO-
NOMIC NEEDS. 
(a) 
STATE
PLAN
REQUIREMENT.—Section 
402(a)(1)(B) (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(B)), as amended by 
sections 906(c) and 907(d) of this title, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(viii) 
FAMILY
BUDGET
PROVI-
SIONS.—The document shall set forth a 
family budget of a dollar amount sufficient 
to meet the basic economic needs (includ-
ing food, clothing, shelter, utilities, house-
hold goods, personal care items, and gen-
eral incidental expenses) of a family, how 
the family budget is adjusted for family 
size, the method used to estimate the fam-
ily budget (including a statement of the re-
lationship between shelter and utility costs 
and the fair market rents in localities in 
the State), and the relationship between 
the amount of assistance provided to each 
family under the program and the amount 
of the family budget for the family.’’. 
(b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENT.—Section 408(a) (42 
U.S.C. 608(a)), as amended by sections 905(d)(1), 
906(b)(1), 907(b)(1), 908(a), and 909(a) of this title, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(19) REQUIREMENT THAT AMOUNT OF ASSIST-
ANCE MEET BASIC ECONOMIC NEEDS.—A State to 
which a grant is made under section 403 shall en-
sure that the total amount of assistance provided to 
a family under the State program funded under this 
part and all programs funded with qualified State 
expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) 
for which the family is eligible is sufficient to meet 
the basic economic needs of the family, taking into 
account all earned and unearned income of the fam-
ily and an amount not to exceed the value of the 
supplemental nutrition assistance benefits provided 
to the family under the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008.’’. 
(c) PENALTY.—Section 409(a) (42 U.S.C. 609), as 
amended by sections 903(c)(2)(A), 905(d)(1), 906(b)(2), 
907(b)(2), 908(b), and 909(b) of this title, is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(23) PENALTY FOR FAILURE OF STATE TANF 
ASSISTANCE TO MEET BASIC ECONOMIC NEEDS OF A 
RECIPIENT
FAMILY.—If the Secretary determines 
that a State to which a grant is made under section 
403 in a fiscal year has violated section 408(a)(19) 
during the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce the 
grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) 
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185 
for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by an 
amount equal to 5 percent of the State family assist-
ance grant.’’. 
SEC. 911. STATE PLANS AND REPORTS ON CHILD POVERTY. 
(a) CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION AS A PURPOSE OF 
THE TANF PROGRAM.—Section 401(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 
601(a)(1)) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (1) 
through (4) as paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively, 
and by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) 
the following: 
‘‘(1) reduce poverty among children;’’. 
(b) STATE PLAN PROVISIONS.— 
(1) MATTERS REQUIRED TO BE ADDRESSED.— 
Section 402(a)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(A)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ix) GOALS AND METHODS FOR RE-
DUCING
CHILD
POVERTY.—Reduce child 
poverty using Federal funds provided 
under this part and State funds, including 
establishing numerical goals for reducing 
child poverty. 
‘‘(x) GOALS AND TRACKING OF WORK 
OUTCOMES.—Track work-related outcomes 
for recipients of assistance under the pro-
gram, such as employment entries, wages, 
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and job retention, including establishing 
numerical goals for work-related outcomes 
for recipients. 
‘‘(xi) PROVIDE PREVENTATIVE SERV-
ICES TO FAMILIES AT-RISK OF ABUSE OR 
NEGLECT.—Provide benefits and services 
to families at-risk of having their children 
removed from the home because of abuse 
and neglect, using Federal funds provided 
under this part and State funds. 
‘‘(xii) HOW NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS 
WILL
BE
SERVED.—Serve noncustodial 
parents, using Federal funds provided 
under this part and State funds.’’. 
(2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—Section 402(c) (42 
U.S.C. 602(c)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The State shall make avail-
able to the public, including by posting on a public 
website of the State or another appropriate 
website— 
‘‘(A) each draft of any plan or plan 
amendment to be submitted by the State under 
this section, for at least 45 days before the sub-
mission; and 
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‘‘(B) any such plan or amendment certified 
by the Secretary to be complete. 
‘‘(2) PROCEDURES.—The State shall establish 
procedures to receive and respond to comments from 
the public, private sector organizations, and local 
governments on any draft referred to in paragraph 
(1).’’. 
(c) ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT.—Section 411 
(42 U.S.C. 611) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT BY STATES.— 
Not later than December 31 of each year, each eligible 
State shall submit to the Secretary (in accordance with 
such form and content rules as the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the National Governor’s Association, National 
Association of State Legislatures, and the American Pub-
lic Human Services Association, develops) a report on the 
following aspects of the State program funded under this 
part in the preceding fiscal year: 
‘‘(1) Whether the State met the child poverty 
reduction goals set forth in the State plan. This part 
of the report shall include a discussion of the fac-
tors, including benefits, services, and activities fund-
ed with Federal funds provided under this part or 
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State funds, which contributed to the meeting of, or 
the failure to meet, the goals. 
‘‘(2) Whether the work programs of the State 
were effective in meeting the objectives and numer-
ical goals of the State plan. This part of the report 
shall include a discussion of data derived from the 
tracking of recipients, including— 
‘‘(A) the number of families that left the 
State program funded under this part; 
‘‘(B) the employment rate for those who 
left the program in each calendar quarter; 
‘‘(C) the wage rates of those who left the 
program, including the percentage of leavers 
who, in each calendar quarter, earned an 
amount equal to at least 50 percent of the aver-
age wage then paid in the State; and 
‘‘(D) the employment outcomes of those 
who left the program because of a durational 
limit on assistance, reported at 6 months, 12 
months, 24 months, and 36 months after leav-
ing the program. 
The Secretary shall provide States with technical as-
sistance in preparing this part of the report, includ-
ing by providing States with data from the National 
Directory of New Hires. 
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189 
‘‘(3) Whether the State has been effective in 
providing benefits and services under the program to 
persons with disabilities. This part of the report 
shall include a report on recipients of assistance 
under the State program funded under this part who 
participated in work activities (as defined in section 
407(d)) pursuant to a modified employability plan 
due to disability, including the following: 
‘‘(A) The aggregate number of recipients 
with modified employability plans due to a dis-
ability. 
‘‘(B) The percentage of all recipients with 
modified employability plans who substantially 
complied with activities set forth in the plans 
each month of the fiscal year. 
‘‘(C) Information regarding the most prev-
alent types of physical and mental impairments 
that provided the basis for the disability deter-
minations. 
‘‘(D) The percentage of cases with a modi-
fied employability plan in which the recipient 
had a disability, was caring for a child with a 
disability, or was caring for another family 
member with a disability. 
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191 
‘‘(6) How funds provided to the State under 
this part, with a separate accounting for funds pro-
vided under section 403(a)(3) and funds provided 
under section 403(b), were used to serve areas of the 
State with the greatest need (as referred to in sec-
tion 402(a)(1)(A)(i)). This part of the report shall 
include supporting data.’’. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ON THE EF-
FORTS OF STATE PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT 
EMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.— 
Section 411 (42 U.S.C. 611), as amended by subsection 
(c) of this section, is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(f) REPORT BY SECRETARY.—Not later than July 
31 of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress a report, entitled ‘Efforts in State TANF Pro-
grams to Promote and Support Employment for Individ-
uals with Disabilities’, that includes information on State 
efforts to engage individuals with disabilities in work ac-
tivities during the preceding fiscal year. The report shall 
include the following information: 
‘‘(1) For each State, the number of individuals 
for whom the State has developed a modified em-
ployability plan. 
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‘‘(2) The types of physical and mental impair-
ments that provided the basis for the disability de-
termination, and whether the individual with the dis-
ability was an adult recipient or minor child head of 
household, a child, or a non-recipient family mem-
ber. 
‘‘(3) The types of modifications that States 
have included in modified employability plans. 
‘‘(4) The extent to which individuals with a 
modified employability plan are participating in work 
activities. 
‘‘(5) For each State, an analysis of the extent 
to which the option to establish modified employ-
ability plans was a factor in the State achieving or 
not achieving the minimum participation rate re-
quired by section 407(a).’’. 
(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS ON LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS 
TO REWARD STATES WITH HIGH EMPLOYMENT RATES 
AND HIGH RATES OF EMPLOYMENT AT GOOD WAGES.— 
Within 4 years after the effective date of this section, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to 
the Congress a report that sets forth options for the enact-
ment of legislation to provide financial or other rewards 
to States that have high rates of employment and high 
rates of employment at good wages. 
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193 
SEC. 912. REQUIREMENT THAT STATES ADOPT STANDARDS 
AND PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC 
AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AMONG TANF RE-
CIPIENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 402(a)(7) (42 U.S.C. 
602(a)(7)) is amended— 
(1) by striking the paragraph heading and in-
serting ‘‘CERTIFICATION OF STANDARDS AND PRO-
CEDURES REGARDING DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIO-
LENCE’’; 
(2) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A certification by the 
chief executive officer of the State that the 
State has established and is enforcing stand-
ards and procedures to ensure the right and en-
titlement of victims of domestic or sexual vio-
lence (notwithstanding section 401(b)) seeking 
or receiving assistance under the State program 
funded under this part or any other State pro-
gram funded by qualified State expenditures (as 
defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i))— 
‘‘(i) to be screened and identified 
while maintaining the confidentiality of the 
victims; 
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194 
‘‘(ii) to be referred to counseling and 
supportive services; 
‘‘(iii) to be granted a waiver, pursuant 
to a determination of good cause, of pro-
gram requirements such as time limits (for 
so long as necessary), residency require-
ments, child support cooperation require-
ments, and family cap provisions, in cases 
where compliance with the requirements 
would make it more difficult for the vic-
tims to escape domestic or sexual violence 
or unfairly penalize the victims or other in-
dividuals who are at risk of further domes-
tic or sexual violence; 
‘‘(iv) to apply to participate in the 
program on the same day the victim ap-
pears in person in a program office during 
office hours; 
‘‘(v) to have an application that con-
tains the name, address, and signature of 
the victim considered to be filed on the 
date the application is submitted; 
‘‘(vi) to receive at the time of applica-
tion a clear, written statement explaining 
what the victim must do to cooperate in 
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195 
obtaining verification and otherwise com-
pleting the application process; and 
‘‘(vii) if the victim has completed the 
application process, to have the eligibility 
of the victim for assistance determined 
promptly, and to be provided assistance 
retroactive to the application date if deter-
mined eligible within 30 days after the ap-
plication date.’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) in the subparagraph heading, by in-
serting ‘‘OR SEXUAL’’ after ‘‘DOMESTIC’’; and 
(B) in the text, by inserting ‘‘or sexual’’ 
after ‘‘domestic’’. 
(b) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS ON BEST PRACTICES 
OF STATES.—Section 413 (42 U.S.C. 613) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) REPORT TO CONGRESS ON BEST PRACTICES OF 
STATES IN ADDRESSING DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIO-
LENCE SUFFERED
BY TANF RECIPIENTS.—Every 4 
years, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Con-
gress a report which examines the practices of States in 
implementing section 402(a)(7), and identifies the best 
practices used to do so.’’. 
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(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2015. 
SEC. 913. CHILD CARE ENTITLEMENT. 
(a) REPLACEMENT OF REQUIREMENT THAT POR-
TION OF FUNDS BE USED FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS 
WITH CHILD CARE GUARANTEE.—Section 418(b)(2) (42 
U.S.C. 618(b)(2)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) CHILD
CARE
TO
BE
GUARANTEED
FOR 
CERTAIN POPULATIONS.—As a condition of receiving 
funds under this section, a State shall guarantee the 
provision of child care services to— 
‘‘(A) each recipient of assistance under the 
State program funded under this part or under 
a State program funded with qualified State ex-
penditures 
(as 
defined 
in 
section 
409(a)(7)(B)(i)) of this Act, and to each work- 
eligible 
individual 
(as 
defined 
in 
section 
407(a)(2) of this Act), for any period in which 
the recipient or individual is— 
‘‘(i) participating in a work activity 
(as defined in section 407(d) of this Act); 
‘‘(ii) employed, and in a family the 
total income of which does not exceed 250 
percent of the poverty line (within the 
meaning of section 673(2) of the Omnibus 
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197 
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, includ-
ing any revision required by such section 
applicable to a family of the size involved); 
or 
‘‘(iii) engaged in employment sub-
sidized by the State; or 
‘‘(B) each individual who is a former re-
cipient of assistance under such a program or 
a former work-eligible individual, for any por-
tion of the 24-month period, beginning with the 
date the individual left the program involved, in 
which the individual is employed and in a fam-
ily that meets the income requirement of sub-
paragraph (A)(ii).’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION OF STATE CAPS.—Section 418(a) 
(42 U.S.C. 618(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking subparagraphs (B) and (D) 
and redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (B); and 
(B) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesig-
nated), by striking ‘‘the lesser of the State’s al-
lotment under subparagraph (B) or’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘(2)(C)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(2)(B)’’. 
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(c) OPEN-ENDED ENTITLEMENT.—Section 418(a) 
(42 U.S.C. 618(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Subject to 
the amount appropriated under paragraph (3), 
each’’ and inserting ‘‘Each’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘appro-
priated—’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘appro-
priated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
section for each fiscal year.’’. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHILD 
CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ACT OF 1990 
EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY CHILD CARE GUARANTEE.— 
Section 418(c) (42 U.S.C. 618(c)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘except to the extent that such a requirement or limitation 
would interfere with the provision of child care services 
required by subsection (b)(2)’’ before the period. 
SEC. 914. CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) ELIMINATION OF BAN ON PROVIDING ASSIST-
ANCE TO FAMILIES NOT ASSIGNING CERTAIN SUPPORT 
RIGHTS TO THE STATE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 408(a) (42 U.S.C. 
608(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (3). 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—The 
fol-
lowing provisions are each amended by inserting 
after ‘‘section 408(a)(3)’’ the following: ‘‘(as in ef-
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199 
fect before the effective date of the amendments 
made by title IX of the Pathways Out of Poverty 
Act of 2015 took effect)’’: 
(A) Section 452(a)(10)(C) (42 U.S.C. 
652(a)(10)(C)). 
(B) Section 452(h) (42 U.S.C. 652(h)). 
(C) 
Section 
454(5)(A) 
(42 
U.S.C. 
654(5)(A)). 
(D) 
Section 
456(a)(1) 
(42 
U.S.C. 
656(a)(1)). 
(E) Section 457(a)(2)(B)(i) (42 U.S.C. 
657(a)(2)(B)(i)). 
(F) Section 457(a)(3)(A) (42 U.S.C. 
657(a)(3)(A)). 
(G) Section 457(a)(3)(B) (42 U.S.C. 
657(a)(3)(B)). 
(H) 
Section 
464(a)(1) 
(42 
U.S.C. 
664(a)(1)). 
(I) 
Section 
466(a)(3)(B) 
(42 
U.S.C. 
666(a)(3)(B)). 
(b) REQUIREMENT THAT ALL CHILD SUPPORT COL-
LECTED ON BEHALF OF A CHILD IN A FAMILY RECEIVING 
TANF BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE FAMILY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 457 (42 U.S.C. 657) 
is amended— 
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200 
(A) in subsection (c)(1), by striking 
‘‘means—’’ and all that follows through ‘‘(B) 
foster’’ and inserting ‘‘means foster’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this 
section, all amounts collected by a State as child support 
on behalf of a child in a family that is receiving assistance 
under the State program funded under part A or under 
the State plan approved under part A of this title (as in 
effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the 
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconcili-
ation Act of 1996) shall be distributed to the family.’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
458(b)(5)(C)(i)(I) (42 U.S.C. 658(b)(5)(C)(i)(I)) is 
amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘is collected on behalf of 
a child described in section 457(f) or’’ after 
‘‘involved’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘A or’’. 
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201 
SEC. 915. STATE OPTION TO EXTEND ELIGIBILITY FOR AS-
SISTANCE TO CHILDREN THROUGH AGE 21; 
PROHIBITION ON CONSIDERING FINANCIAL 
AID TIED TO EDUCATION OF CHILD IN DE-
TERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR, OR AMOUNT 
OF ASSISTANCE; PROHIBITION ON IMPOSING 
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS BASED ON EDU-
CATIONAL ENROLLMENT OF CHILD. 
(a) STATE OPTION TO EXTEND TANF TO CHIL-
DREN UNDER AGE 22.—Section 419(2) (42 U.S.C. 
619(2)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subparagraph 
(A); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) at the option of the State, has not at-
tained 22 years of age.’’. 
(b) BAN ON CONSIDERING FINANCIAL AID TIED TO 
EDUCATION
OF CHILD
IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY 
FOR, OR AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE; BAN ON IMPOSING AD-
DITIONAL REQUIREMENTS BASED ON EDUCATIONAL EN-
ROLLMENT OF CHILD.— 
(1) PROHIBITIONS.—Section 408(a) (42 U.S.C. 
608(a)), as amended by sections 903(c)(2)(A), 
905(d)(1), 906(b)(1), 907(b)(1), 908(a), 909(a), and 
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202 
910(b) of this title, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(20) BAN
ON
CONSIDERING
FINANCIAL
AID 
TIED
TO
EDUCATION
OF
CHILD
IN
DETERMINING 
ELIGIBILITY FOR, OR AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE; BAN 
ON
IMPOSING
ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
BASED 
ON
EDUCATIONAL
ENROLLMENT
OF
CHILD.—A 
State to which a grant is made under section 403 
for a fiscal year shall not— 
‘‘(A) consider financial aid tied to the 
training, school attendance, or postsecondary 
school attendance of a minor child in deter-
mining that the eligibility of the family of the 
child for, or the amount of assistance to be pro-
vided to the family, under the State program 
funded under this part or any other State pro-
gram funded by qualified State expenditures (as 
defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)); or 
‘‘(B) impose additional requirements on a 
family solely because the family includes a 
minor child who is enrolled in a training pro-
gram, school, or post-secondary educational in-
stitution.’’. 
(2) PENALTY.—Section 409(a) (42 U.S.C. 
609), 
as 
amended 
by 
sections 
903(c)(2)(A), 
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203 
905(d)(1), 906(b)(2), 907(b)(2), 908(b), 909(b), 
and 910(c) of this title, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(24) CONSIDERING
EDUCATIONAL
ENROLL-
MENT OF CHILD OR OF FINANCIAL AID TIED TO 
EDUCATION OF CHILD.—If the Secretary determines 
that a State to which a grant is made under section 
403 in a fiscal year has violated section 408(a)(20) 
during the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce the 
grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) 
for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by an 
amount equal to 5 percent of the State family assist-
ance grant.’’. 
SEC. 916. ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN OTHER BARS TO TANF 
ASSISTANCE. 
(a) BAR ON ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS CONVICTED 
OF DRUG FELONIES.—Section 115 of the Personal Re-
sponsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 
1996 (21 U.S.C. 862a) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading by striking ‘‘ASSIST-
ANCE AND’’ and inserting ‘‘SUPPLEMENTAL NU-
TRITION ASSISTANCE’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘for—’’ and 
all that follows through ‘‘(2) benefits’’ and inserting 
‘‘for benefits’’; 
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204 
(3) in subsection (b), by striking all through 
‘‘The amount of benefits’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) EFFECTS ON BENEFITS FOR OTHERS.—The 
amount of benefits’’; 
(4) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘assistance 
or’’; and 
(5) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘it—’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘in section 3(s)’’ and inserting 
‘‘it in section 3(s)’’. 
(b) BAR ON ASSISTANCE FOR UNWED TEEN PAR-
ENTS NOT
IN SCHOOL.—Section 408(a) (42 U.S.C. 
608(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (4). 
(c) BAR ON ASSISTANCE FOR TEENS NOT IN AN 
ADULT-SUPERVISED
LIVING
ARRANGEMENT.—Section 
408(a) (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by striking para-
graph (5). 
(d) REDESIGNATION OF PROVISIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 408(a) (42 U.S.C. 
608(a)), as amended by the preceding provisions of 
this title, is amended by redesignating paragraphs 
(6) through (20) as paragraphs (3) through (17), re-
spectively. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
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205 
(A) Section 402(a)(7)(B) (42 U.S.C. 
602(a)(7)(B)) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘408(a)(7)(C)(iii)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘408(a)(4)(C)(iii)’’. 
(B) Section 403(a)(5)(C)(ii)(II) (42 U.S.C. 
603(a)(5)(C)(ii)(II)) is amended by striking 
‘‘408(a)(7)(C)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(4)(C)’’. 
(C) Section 403(a)(5)(C)(v) (42 U.S.C. 
603(a)(5)(C)(v)) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘408(a)(7)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(4)’’. 
(D) 
Section 
409(a)(7)(B)(i)(IV) 
(42 
U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B)(i)(IV)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘408(a)(7)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(4)’’. 
(E) 
Section 
409(a)(9) 
(42 
U.S.C. 
609(a)(9)) is amended by striking ‘‘408(a)(7)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘408(a)(4)’’. 
(F) Section 409(a)(17), as added by sec-
tion 905(d)(1)(A)(ii) of this title, is amended by 
striking 
‘‘408(a)(13)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘408(a)(10)’’. 
(G) Section 409(a)(18), as added by sec-
tion 905(d)(1)(A)(ii) of this title, is amended by 
striking 
‘‘408(a)(14)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘408(a)(11)’’. 
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206 
(H) Section 409(a)(19), as added by sec-
tion 906(b)(2) of this title, is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘408(a)(15)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(12)’’. 
(I) Section 409(a)(20), as added by section 
907(b)(2) of this title, is amended by striking 
‘‘408(a)(16)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(13)’’. 
(J) Section 409(a)(21), as added by sec-
tion 908(b) of this title, is amended by striking 
‘‘408(a)(17)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(14)’’. 
(K) Section 409(a)(22), as added by sec-
tion 909(b) of this title, is amended by striking 
‘‘408(a)(18)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(15)’’. 
(L) Section 409(a)(23), as added by sec-
tion 910(c) of this title, is amended by striking 
‘‘408(a)(19)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(16)’’. 
(M) Section 409(a)(24), as added by sec-
tion 915(b)(2) of this title, is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘408(a)(20)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(17)’’. 
(N) Section 411(a)(1)(A)(xvi) (42 U.S.C. 
611(a)(1)(A)(xvi)) is amended by striking 
‘‘408(a)(7)’’ and inserting ‘‘408(a)(7)(A)’’. 
SEC. 917. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in 
this title, this title and the amendments made by this title 
shall take effect on October 1, 2015, and shall apply to 
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207 
payments under title IV of the Social Security Act for cal-
endar quarters beginning on or after such date, without 
regard to whether regulations to implement the amend-
ments are promulgated by such date. 
(b) DELAY PERMITTED IF STATE LEGISLATION RE-
QUIRED.—If the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
determines that State legislation (other than legislation 
appropriating funds) is required in order for a State plan 
under part A or E of title IV of the Social Security Act 
to meet the additional requirements imposed by the 
amendments made by this title, the plan shall not be re-
garded as failing to meet any of the additional require-
ments before the first day of the first calendar quarter 
beginning after the close of the first regular session of the 
State legislature that begins after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. If the State has a 2-year legislative ses-
sion, each year of the session is deemed to be a separate 
regular session of the State legislature. 
TITLE 
X—EMPLOYMENT 
AD-
VANCEMENT, 
RETENTION, 
AND NAVIGATION ACT 
SEC. 1011. FOCUS ON EMPLOYMENT. 
(a) PURPOSE.—Section 401(a) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 601(a)) is amended— 
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208 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) promote employment advancement among 
needy families.’’. 
(b) 
STATE
PLAN
REQUIREMENT.—Section 
402(a)(1)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(A)) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating clauses (vii) and (viii) as 
clauses (viii) and (ix), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: 
‘‘(vii) Establish numeric goals for in-
creasing job entry, employment retention, 
and earnings gains for current and recent 
recipients of assistance under the program, 
and provide the Secretary with a narrative 
description of the activities and programs 
the State will implement to attain these 
goals.’’. 
SEC. 1012. MODIFICATION RELATING TO THE CONTIN-
GENCY FUND. 
(a) LIMITATION ON USE OF CONTINGENCY FUND 
GRANTS.—Section 403(b)(3) of the Social Security Act 
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209 
(42 U.S.C. 603(b)(3)) is amended by inserting at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(D) LIMITATION
ON
USE
OF
FUNDS.— 
Funds received by a State under this paragraph 
shall be used solely to support training pro-
grams leading to a credential that is directly 
linked to the employment opportunities in the 
local area or region involved in order to pro-
mote the employment of current or recent re-
cipients of assistance under the State program 
funded under this Part (including non-custodial 
parents of such recipients).’’. 
(b) ELIMINATION OF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT RE-
QUIREMENT FOR CONTINGENCY FUND.—Section 409(a) 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 609(a)) is amended by striking 
paragraph (10). 
(c) MODIFICATION OF ANNUAL RECONCILIATION RE-
QUIREMENT
FOR
CONTINGENCY
FUND.—Section 
403(b)(6)(B)(i)(II) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
603(b)(6)(B)(i)(II)) is amended by inserting before ‘‘his-
toric’’ the following: ‘‘the applicable percentage (as defined 
in section 409(a)(7)(B)(ii)) of’’. 
SEC. 1013. TRAINING FOR IN-DEMAND JOBS. 
(a) VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR EM-
PLOYMENT
IN
AN IN-DEMAND OCCUPATION.—Section 
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210 
407(d)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
607(d)(8)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(8) vocational educational training not to ex-
ceed 12 months for any individual, or not to exceed 
24 months for any individual participating in a 
training program leading to a credential that is di-
rectly linked to the employment opportunities in the 
individual’s local area or region;’’. 
(b) TREATMENT OF STUDENTS UNDER 20 YEARS OF 
AGE AS ENGAGED IN WORK.—Section 407(c)(2)(D) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 607(c)(2)(D)) is amended by striking 
‘‘, or (if the month is in fiscal year 2000 or thereafter) 
deemed to be engaged in work for the month by reason 
of subparagraph (C) of this paragraph’’. 
SEC. 1014. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this title shall take effect 
on the date of the enactment of this title. 
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211 
TITLE XI—RESTORING SUPPLE-
MENTAL NUTRITION ASSIST-
ANCE 
PROGRAMS 
FUNDING 
CUTS INSTITUTED IN FARM 
BILL (HEAT-AND-EAT) 
SEC. 1101. RESTORATION OF STANDARD UTILITY ALLOW-
ANCES BASED ON THE RECEIPT OF ENERGY 
ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS. 
(a) STANDARD UTILITY ALLOWANCES IN THE SUP-
PLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—Section 
5(e)(6)(C) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(C)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (i) by striking ‘‘, subject to clause 
(iv)’’, and 
(2) in clause (iv) by striking subclause (I) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to 
subclause (II), if a State agency elects 
to use a standard utility allowance 
that reflects heating or cooling costs, 
the standard utility allowance shall be 
made available to households receiving 
a payment, or on behalf of which a 
payment is made, under the Low-In-
come Home Energy Assistance Act of 
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212 
1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.) or 
other similar energy assistance pro-
gram, if the household still incurs out- 
of-pocket heating or cooling expenses 
in excess of any assistance paid on be-
half of the household to an energy 
provider.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
2605(f)(2)(A) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assist-
ance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624(f)(2)(A)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘, except that, for purposes of the supple-
mental nutrition assistance program established under the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), 
such payments or allowances were greater than $20 annu-
ally, consistent with section 5(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I) of that Act 
(7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)(C)(iv)(I)), as determined by the Sec-
retary of Agriculture’’. 
TITLE XII—HELPING HUNGRY 
STUDENTS LEARN 
SEC. 1201. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) In 2012, nearly one in five children in 
America lived in a household that lacked access to 
nutritious food on a regular basis. That is 15.9 mil-
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213 
lion American children who struggled with hunger at 
some time during the year. 
(2) Children who experience hunger are more 
likely to get sick and are more likely to be obese 
than those who do not. Children facing chronic hun-
ger also find it more difficult to concentrate in 
school and tend to exhibit higher levels of behavioral, 
emotional, and academic problems. 
(3) Federal programs play an important role in 
addressing childhood hunger. In 2013, 21 million 
students participated in the free or reduced-price 
lunch program. Eleven million students participated 
in the free or reduced-price breakfast program. 
Three million low-income children received free 
meals during the summer months. Forty-seven per-
cent of participants in the supplemental nutrition as-
sistance program are under the age of 18. 
(4) On average, students who eat school break-
fast achieve 17.5 percent higher scores on standard-
ized math tests, and attend 1.5 more days of school 
each year than those who do not. Students who at-
tend class more regularly are 20 percent more likely 
to graduate from high school. Participation in the 
school breakfast program is associated with children 
having a lower Body Mass Index. 
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214 
SEC. 1202. SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM. 
Section 9(b) of the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting after the 
third sentence the following: ‘‘Notwithstanding any 
other provision of this Act and the Child Nutrition 
Act of 1966, for each school year beginning on or 
after the July 1 of the year following the year of en-
actment of the Pathways Out of Poverty Act of 
2015, the income guidelines for determining eligi-
bility for free lunches shall be 185 percent of the ap-
plicable family size income levels contained in the 
nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed by the 
Office of Management and Budget, as adjusted an-
nually in accordance with subparagraph (B)’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (9)(B), by inserting at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(iii) TERMINATION
OF
REDUCED- 
PRICE
CATEGORY.—Beginning with the 
school year beginning July 1 of the year 
following the year of enactment of the 
Pathways Out of Poverty Act of 2015, no 
child shall be determined eligible for a re-
duced price lunch.’’. 
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215 
SEC. 1203. SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM. 
(a) UNIVERSAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM.— 
Section 4(a) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1773(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a) There’’ and inserting: 
‘‘(a)(1) There’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL
BREAKFAST
PRO-
GRAM.—For each school year beginning on or after 
the July 1 of the year following the year of enact-
ment of the Pathways Out of Poverty Act of 2015, 
each school participating in the school breakfast pro-
gram under this section shall provide breakfast 
under the program to each student that desires such 
a breakfast at no cost to the student.’’. 
(b) NATIONAL AVERAGE PAYMENT RATE.—Section 
4(b)(1)(B) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
1773(b)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act 
or the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, for 
each school year beginning on or after the July 1 of the 
year following the year of enactment of the Pathways Out 
of Poverty Act of 2015, the national average payment for 
each breakfast served to any child shall be equal to the 
national average payment for each free breakfast served 
during the school year beginning July 1 of the year of 
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216 
enactment of the Pathways Out of Poverty Act of 2015 
(which shall be adjusted pursuant to section 11(a) of the 
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act).’’. 
(c) SEVERE NEED ASSISTANCE.—Section 4(d)(1) of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1773(d)(1)) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(A) during’’ and inserting: 
‘‘(A)(i) during’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘(B) in’’ and inserting ‘‘(ii) in’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘clause (i)’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘met.’’ and inserting ‘‘met; 
and’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) for each school year beginning on or 
after the July 1 of the year following the year 
of enactment of the Pathways Out of Poverty 
Act of 2015, there is an alternative breakfast 
serving model to increase participation in the 
school breakfast program, such as by serving 
breakfast in the classroom or having a school 
breakfast cart.’’. 
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217 
SEC. 1204. SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER 
FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM. 
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 30. SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER FOR 
CHILDREN PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—From the amount appropriated 
to carry out this section, the Secretary shall carry out a 
summer electronic benefits transfer for children program 
by awarding grants to States that desire to participate in 
such program to assist such States with the initial admin-
istrative costs of such participation. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The summer elec-
tronic benefits transfer for children program carried out 
under this section shall have the same terms and condi-
tions as the summer electronic benefits transfer for chil-
dren demonstration project carried out under section 
749(g) of the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food 
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appro-
priations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111–80; 123 Stat. 2131), 
except that the Secretary shall prescribe an annual adjust-
ment for the monthly benefit of $60 per child that is ad-
justed at the time that the annual adjustments are made 
for the national average payment rates for breakfasts and 
lunches (pursuant to section 11(a) of this Act).’’. 
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218 
SEC. 1205. WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS WITHOUT HUNGER. 
Section 18 of the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1769) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(l) WEEKENDS
AND HOLIDAYS WITHOUT HUN-
GER.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) AT-RISK SCHOOL CHILD.—The term 
‘at-risk school child’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 17(r)(1). 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘eligible 
institution’ means a public or private non-
profit institution that is determined by the 
Secretary to be able to meet safe food stor-
age, handling, and delivery standards es-
tablished by the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘eligible 
institution’ includes— 
‘‘(I) an elementary or secondary 
school or school food service authority; 
‘‘(II) a food bank or food pantry; 
‘‘(III) a homeless shelter; and 
‘‘(IV) such other type of emer-
gency feeding agency as is approved 
by the Secretary. 
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219 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations provided in advance in an 
appropriations Act specifically for the purpose of 
carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall es-
tablish a program under which the Secretary shall 
provide commodities, on a competitive basis, to State 
agencies for the purposes of enabling eligible institu-
tions to carry out projects to provide nutritious food 
to at-risk children on weekends and during extended 
school holidays during the school year. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.—To participate in the pro-
gram under this subsection, a State agency shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBILITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to re-
ceive commodities under this subsection, an eli-
gible institution shall submit an application to 
the State agency involved at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the 
State agency may require. 
‘‘(B) PLAN.—An application under sub-
paragraph (A) shall include the plan of the eli-
gible institution for the distribution of nutri-
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220 
tious foods to at-risk school children under the 
project to be carried out under this subsection, 
including— 
‘‘(i) methods of food service delivery 
to at-risk school children; 
‘‘(ii) assurances that children receiv-
ing foods under the project will not be pub-
licly separated or overtly identified; 
‘‘(iii) lists of the types of food to be 
provided under the project and provisions 
to ensure food quality and safety; 
‘‘(iv) information on the number of 
at-risk school children to be served and the 
per-child cost of providing the children 
with food; and 
‘‘(v) such other information as the 
Secretary determines to be necessary to as-
sist the Secretary in evaluating projects 
that receive commodities under this sub-
section. 
‘‘(5) PRIORITY.—In selecting applications under 
this subsection, a State agency shall give priority to 
eligible institutions that— 
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221 
‘‘(A) have on-going programs and experi-
ence serving populations with significant pro-
portions of at-risk school children; 
‘‘(B) have a good record of experience in 
food delivery and food safety systems; 
‘‘(C) maintain high-quality control, ac-
countability, and recordkeeping standards; 
‘‘(D) 
provide 
children 
with 
readily 
consumable food of high nutrient content and 
quality; 
‘‘(E) demonstrate cost efficiencies and the 
potential for obtaining supplemental funding 
from non-Federal sources to carry out projects; 
and 
‘‘(F) demonstrate the ability to continue 
projects for the full approved term of the pilot 
project period. 
‘‘(6) GUIDELINES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
issue guidelines containing the criteria for eligi-
ble institutions to receive commodities under 
this section from State agencies. 
‘‘(B) INCLUSIONS.—The guidelines shall, 
to the maximum extent practicable within the 
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222 
funds available and applications submitted, take 
into account— 
‘‘(i) geographical variations in project 
locations that will be carried out by eligible 
institutions to include qualifying projects 
in rural, urban, and suburban areas with 
high proportions of families with at-risk 
school children; 
‘‘(ii) different types of projects that 
offer nutritious foods on weekends and 
during school holidays to at-risk school 
children; and 
‘‘(iii) institutional capacity to collect, 
maintain, and provide statistically valid in-
formation necessary for the Secretary— 
‘‘(I) to analyze and evaluate the 
results of the pilot project; and 
‘‘(II) to make recommendations 
to Congress. 
‘‘(7) EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(A) INTERIM
EVALUATION.—Not later 
than November 30, 2016, the Secretary shall 
complete an interim evaluation of the pilot pro-
gram carried out under this subsection. 
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223 
‘‘(B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than De-
cember 31, 2018, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a final report that contains— 
‘‘(i) an evaluation of the pilot pro-
gram carried out under this subsection; 
and 
‘‘(ii) any recommendations of the Sec-
retary for legislative action. 
‘‘(8) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(A) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this subsection such sums as are 
necessary, to remain available until expended. 
‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Not more 
than 3 percent of the funds made available 
under subparagraph (A) may be used by the 
Secretary for expenses associated with review of 
the operations and evaluation of the projects 
carried out under this subsection.’’. 
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224 
TITLE XIII—FOOD ASSISTANCE 
TO 
IMPROVE 
REINTEGRA-
TION ACT 
SEC. 1301. REPEAL OF DENIAL OF BENEFITS. 
Section 115 of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (21 U.S.C. 862a) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking paragraph (2); 
(2) in subsection (b) by striking paragraph (2); 
and 
(3) in subsection (e) by striking paragraph (2). 
DIVISION D—LABOR/JOB 
TRAINING 
TITLE 
XIV—ASSISTANCE 
FOR 
THE 
UNEMPLOYED 
AND 
PATHWAYS BACK TO WORK 
Subtitle A—Supporting 
Unemployed Workers 
SEC. 1401. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Supporting Unem-
ployed Workers Act of 2015’’. 
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225 
PART I—EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOY-
MENT COMPENSATION AND CERTAIN EX-
TENDED BENEFITS PROVISIONS, AND ESTAB-
LISHMENT OF SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM 
SEC. 1411. EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT 
COMPENSATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4007 of the Supplemental 
Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110–252; 26 
U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by striking ‘‘January 1, 
2014’’ and inserting ‘‘January 1, 2016’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—Section 4004(e)(1) of the Supple-
mental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110–252; 
26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (J), by inserting ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(K) the amendments made by section 
1411(a) of the Supporting Unemployed Work-
ers Act of 2015; and’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect as if included in the enact-
ment of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reau-
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226 
thorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (Public Law 
111–312; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note). 
SEC. 1412. TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF EXTENDED BENEFIT 
PROVISIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2005 of the Assistance for 
Unemployed Workers and Struggling Families Act, as 
contained in Public Law 111–5 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note), 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘December 31, 2013’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘December 31, 
2015’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘June 30, 
2014’’ and inserting ‘‘June 30, 2016’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF MATCHING FOR STATES WITH 
NO WAITING WEEK.—Section 5 of the Unemployment 
Compensation Extension Act of 2008 (Public Law 110– 
449; 26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by striking ‘‘June 
30, 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘June 30, 2016’’. 
(c) EXTENSION OF MODIFICATION OF INDICATORS 
UNDER THE EXTENDED BENEFIT PROGRAM.—Section 
203 of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Com-
pensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘December 
31, 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2015’’; and 
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290 
(c), the Governor of the State shall submit to the 
Secretary of Labor a modification to a State plan 
approved under section 102 of the Workforce Inno-
vation and Opportunity Act (as in effect on the day 
before the date of enactment of the Workforce Inno-
vation and Opportunity Act), or other request for 
funds described in guidance in subsection (b), in 
such form and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require. At a minimum, such plan 
modification or request shall include— 
(A) a description of the strategies and ac-
tivities to be carried out to provide summer em-
ployment opportunities and year-round employ-
ment opportunities, including the linkages to 
educational activities, consistent with subsection 
(f); 
(B) a description of the requirements the 
States will apply relating to the eligibility of 
low-income 
youth, 
consistent 
with 
section 
1468(4), for summer employment opportunities 
and 
year-round 
employment 
opportunities, 
which may include criteria to target assistance 
to particular categories of such low-income 
youth, such as youth with disabilities, con-
sistent with subsection (f); 
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