reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NE Code § 68-1602 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1602 - Legislative intent.

68-1602.  Legislative intent.It is the intent of the Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund Act to provide funds aimed at meeting the needs of homeless individuals and other individuals with locally identified and documented special housing needs.It is further the intent of the act that homeless individuals shall include persons who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and who are living in a publicly or privately subsidized hotel, motel, shelter, or other temporary living quarters or any place not designated for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations for human beings. The act is not intended to include those individuals in prison or detained pursuant to state or federal law.Source  Laws 1992, LB 1192, § 2.
NE Code § 68-1603 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1603 - Department, defined.

68-1603.  Department, defined.For purposes of the Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund Act, department shall mean the Department of Health and Human Services.Source   Laws 1992, LB 1192, § 3;  Laws 2001, LB 516, § 1.
NE Code § 68-1604 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1604 - Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund; created; use; investment.

68-1604.  Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund; created; use; investment.The Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund is hereby created. The fund shall include the proceeds raised from the documentary stamp tax and remitted for such fund pursuant to section 76-903 and transfers authorized by the Legislature. Money remitted to such fund shall be used by the department (1) for grants to eligible shelter providers as set out in section 68-1605 for the purpose of assisting in the alleviation of homelessness, to provide temporary and permanent shelters for homeless persons, to encourage the development of projects which link housing assistance to programs promoting the concept of self-sufficiency, and to address the needs of the migrant farmworker and (2) to aid in defraying the expenses of administering the Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund Act, which shall not exceed seventy-five thousand dollars in any fiscal year.Any money in the fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.Source   Laws 1992, LB 1192, § 4;   Laws 1994, LB 1066, § 62;  Laws 2001, LB 516, § 2;  Laws 2005, LB 301, § 8;  Laws 2013, LB199, § 28. Cross References   Nebraska Capital Expansion Act, see section 72-1269.  Nebraska State Funds Investment Act, see section 72-1260.
NE Code § 68-1605 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1605 - Department; grants; requirements; application; considerations.

68-1605.  Department; grants; requirements; application; considerations.(1) The department shall use the funds in the Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund to finance grants for projects or programs that provide for persons or families with special housing needs.(2) Projects and programs to which funds shall be provided include eligible community, neighborhood-based, housing-assistance organizations, institutions, associations, and societies or corporations that:(a) Are exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as defined in section 49-801.01;(b) Do not discriminate on the basis of age, religion, sex, race, color, or national origin;(c) Provide residential housing for at least eight hours of every twenty-four-hour period; and(d) Operate a drug-free premises.(3) The department shall establish an advisory committee consisting of individuals and groups involved with housing issues, in particular those pertaining to persons or families with special housing needs, to advise and assist the department in establishing criteria, priorities, and guidelines for eligibility requirements, application requirements and dates, public notification, and monitoring and shall assist the department in adopting and promulgating rules and regulations for providing grants from the fund.(4) An application submitted by an organization representing a number of eligible applicants may be considered even though the representing organization may itself not qualify under this section.(5) In making grants pursuant to the Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund Act, the department shall consider, but not be limited to, the following factors:(a) The number of night-lodging units provided by the applicant as measured by the number of persons housed per night;(b) Participation by the applicant in community planning processes and activities aimed at preventing and alleviating homelessness;(c) Other verifiable units of service provided by the applicant; and(d) The geographic distribution of funds.Source   Laws 1992, LB 1192, § 5;   Laws 1995, LB 574, § 59;  Laws 2001, LB 516, § 3.
NE Code § 68-1606 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1606 - Grant money; use.

68-1606.  Grant money; use.Grant money may be used by eligible recipients in meeting the special housing needs of individuals including meals, transportation, counseling, housekeeping, care management, and personal emergency response needs.Source  Laws 1992, LB 1192, § 6.
NE Code § 68-1607 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1607 - Recipients; requirements.

68-1607.  Recipients; requirements.Recipients of grant money shall, upon request, submit to the department records for verification of the information included on applications submitted for grants from the Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund.Source   Laws 1992, LB 1192, § 7;  Laws 2001, LB 516, § 4.
NE Code § 68-1608 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1608 - Rules and regulations.

68-1608.  Rules and regulations.The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the Homeless Shelter Assistance Trust Fund Act.Source  Laws 1992, LB 1192, § 8.
NE Code § 68-1708 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1708 - Act, how cited.

68-1708.  Act, how cited.Sections 68-1708 to 68-1735.03 shall be known and may be cited as the Welfare Reform Act.Source   Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 8;   Laws 1995, LB 455, § 8;   Laws 1996, LB 892, § 1;   Laws 1997, LB 864, § 11;  Laws 2000, LB 1352, § 2;  Laws 2012, LB507, § 1;  Laws 2016, LB1081, § 3.
NE Code § 68-1709 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1709 - Legislative findings and declarations.

68-1709.  Legislative findings and declarations.The Legislature finds and declares that the primary purpose of the welfare programs in this state is to provide temporary, transitional support for Nebraska families so that economic self-sufficiency is attained in as expeditious a manner as possible. The Legislature further finds and declares that this goal is to be accomplished through individualized assessments of the personal and economic resources of each applicant for public assistance and through the use of individualized self-sufficiency contracts.The Legislature further finds and declares that it is in the best interests of the state, its citizens, and especially those receiving public assistance through welfare programs in this state that the welfare system be reformed to support, stabilize, and enhance individual and family life in Nebraska by: (1) Pursuing efforts to help Nebraskans avoid poverty and prevent the need for welfare; (2) eliminating existing complex and conflicting welfare programs; (3) creating a simplified program in place of the existing complex and conflicting welfare programs; (4) removing disincentives to work and promoting economic self-sufficiency; (5) providing individuals and families the support needed to move from public assistance to economic self-sufficiency; (6) changing public assistance from entitlements to temporary, contract-based support; (7) removing barriers to public assistance for intact families; (8) basing the duration of public assistance upon the individual circumstances of each applicant within the time limits allowed under federal law; (9) providing continuing assistance and support for persons sixty-five years of age or over and for individuals and families with physical, mental, or intellectual limitations preventing total economic self-sufficiency; (10) supporting regular school attendance of children; and (11) promoting public sector, private sector, individual, and family responsibility.Source   Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 9;  Laws 2007, LB351, § 4.
NE Code § 68-1710 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1710 - Legislative intent.

68-1710.  Legislative intent.It is the intent of the Legislature that, with the passage of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193, the Department of Health and Human Services implement the Welfare Reform Act in a manner consistent with federal law.Source   Laws 1997, LB 864, § 12;  Laws 2007, LB351, § 5.
NE Code § 68-1711 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1711 - Assessment tool; state agencies; utilize.

68-1711.  Assessment tool; state agencies; utilize.State agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor, which assess training options, job readiness, adult basic skills, aptitudes, interests, workplace maturity, and career development of applicants for services shall utilize a common, comprehensive assessment tool.Source   Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 11;   Laws 1995, LB 455, § 9;   Laws 1996, LB 1044, § 356.
NE Code § 68-1715 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1715 - Rules and regulations.

68-1715.  Rules and regulations.The Department of Health and Human Services shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the Welfare Reform Act.Source   Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 15;   Laws 1995, LB 455, § 11;   Laws 1996, LB 1044, § 358.
NE Code § 68-1718 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1718 - Financial assistance; comprehensive assets assessment required; contents; periodic assessments.

68-1718.  Financial assistance; comprehensive assets assessment required; contents; periodic assessments.(1) At the time an individual or a family applies for financial assistance pursuant to section 43-512, an assessment shall be conducted. Eligibility determination shall begin with a comprehensive assets assessment, in which the applicant and case manager collaborate to identify the economic and personal resources available to the applicant. Each applicant shall work with only one case manager who shall facilitate all service provision.(2) Each applicant's personal resources shall be assessed in the comprehensive assets assessment. For purposes of this section, personal resources shall include education, vocational skills, employment history, health, life skills, personal strengths, and support from family and the community. This assessment shall also include a determination of the applicant's goals, employment background, educational background, housing needs, child care and transportation needs, health care needs, and other barriers to economic self-sufficiency.(3) The comprehensive assets assessment shall structure personal resources information and control subjectivity. The assessment shall be used:(a) To develop a self-sufficiency contract under section 68-1719 and promote services which specifically lead to self-sufficiency; and(b) To determine if the applicant should be referred to other community resources for assistance.(4) Periodic assessments, including an exit assessment prior to implementation of the time limit on cash assistance as provided in section 68-1724, shall be conducted with recipients to establish if the terms of the self-sufficiency contract have been met by the recipient family and by the state.Source   Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 18;   Laws 1997, LB 864, § 14;  Laws 2007, LB351, § 7.
NE Code § 68-1719 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1719 - Self-sufficiency contract; purpose.

68-1719.  Self-sufficiency contract; purpose.Based on the results of the comprehensive assets assessment under section 68-1718, the applicant and the case manager shall develop a self-sufficiency contract. The contract shall be built upon the premise of urgent action. To ensure that the applicant can make constant, measurable progress toward self-sufficiency, goals shall be set with timelines and benchmarks that facilitate forward momentum. In the case of an entire family applying for assistance, each family member shall have responsibilities within the self-sufficiency contract.Source  Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 19.Annotations  "Participation in the program," within the meaning of section 68-1724, refers to participation in a self-sufficiency contract as described in this section, and the family cap established by section 68-1724 does not apply to families who are not participating in a self-sufficiency contract. Mason v. State, 267 Neb. 44, 627 N.W.2d 28 (2003). The self-sufficiency contracts created under this section are creatures of statute, and not common law. The self-sufficiency contract serves as a means for the State and a recipient of public assistance to memorialize a specific plan of action by which a recipient can attain self-sufficiency, but is not given legal effect by the agreement of the parties and therefore is not a contract as that term is generally used in civil law. The enforceability of statutory requirements cannot be voided in the same manner as a civil contract that is created solely by agreement of the parties. Kosmicki v. State, 264 Neb. 887, 652 N.W.2d 883 (2002).
NE Code § 68-1720 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1720 - Self-sufficiency contract; contents.

68-1720.  Self-sufficiency contract; contents.The responsibilities, roles, and expectations of the applicant family, the case manager, and all other service providers shall be detailed in the self-sufficiency contract developed under section 68-1719. The contract shall be signed by the applicant and by the case manager representing the state. The state and the applicant shall fulfill their respective terms of the contract.Source  Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 20.
NE Code § 68-1721 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1721 - Principal wage earner and other nonexempt members of applicant family; duties.

68-1721.  Principal wage earner and other nonexempt members of applicant family; duties.(1) Under the self-sufficiency contract developed under section 68-1719, the principal wage earner and other nonexempt members of the applicant family shall be required to participate in one or more of the following approved activities, including, but not limited to, education, job skills training, work experience, job search, or employment.(2) Education shall consist of the general education development program, high school, Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, postsecondary education, or other education programs approved in the contract.(3) Job skills training shall include vocational training in technical job skills and equivalent knowledge. Activities shall consist of formalized, technical job skills training, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or training in the operation of a microbusiness enterprise. The types of training, apprenticeships, or training positions may include, but need not be limited to, the ability to provide services such as home repairs, automobile repairs, respite care, foster care, personal care, and child care. Job skills training shall be prioritized and approved for occupations that facilitate economic self-sufficiency.(4) The purpose of work experience shall be to improve the employability of applicants by providing work experience and training to assist them to move promptly into regular public or private employment. Work experience shall mean unpaid work in a public, private, for-profit, or nonprofit business or organization. Work experience placements shall take into account the individual's prior training, skills, and experience. A placement shall not exceed six months.(5) Job search shall assist adult members of recipient families in finding their own jobs. The emphasis shall be placed on teaching the individual to take responsibility for his or her own job development and placement.(6) Employment shall consist of work for pay. The employment may be full-time or part-time but shall be adequate to help the recipient family reach economic self-sufficiency.(7) For purposes of creating the self-sufficiency contract and meeting the applicant's work activity requirement, an applicant shall be allowed to engage in vocational training that leads to an associate degree, a diploma, or a certificate for a minimum of twenty hours per week for up to thirty-six months.Source   Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 21;   Laws 1995, LB 455, § 14;  Laws 2006, LB 994, § 78;  Laws 2007, LB351, § 8;  Laws 2009, LB458, § 1;  Laws 2012, LB842, § 1;  Laws 2016, LB1081, § 5.  Annotations The postsecondary education provision of this section was intended to permit a recipient of public assistance to complete a course of postsecondary education within the cash assistance limitation period of section 68-1724. Kosmicki v. State, 264 Neb. 887, 652 N.W.2d 883 (2002).
NE Code § 68-1722 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1722 - Legislative findings; case management practices and supportive services; department; powers and duties; extension of time limit on cash assistance; when.

68-1722.  Legislative findings; case management practices and supportive services; department; powers and duties; extension of time limit on cash assistance; when.The Legislature finds that the state has responsibilities to help ensure the success of the self-sufficiency contract for each recipient. The Department of Health and Human Services shall employ case management practices and supportive services to the extent necessary to facilitate movement toward self-sufficiency within the time limit on participation as provided in section 68-1724.The department may purchase case management services. It is the intent of the Legislature that any case management utilized by the department shall include standards which emphasize communication skills; appropriate interviewing techniques; and methods for positive feedback, support, encouragement, and counseling. The case management provided shall also include a recognition of family dynamics and emphasize working with all family members; shall respect diversity; shall empower individuals; and shall include recognizing, capitalizing, and building on a family's strengths and existing support network. It is the intent of the Legislature that generally a case manager would have a family caseload of no more than seventy cases.Supportive services shall include, but not be limited to, assistance with transportation expenses, participation and work expenses, parenting education, family planning, budgeting, and relocation to provide for specific needs critical to the recipient's or the recipient family's self-sufficiency contract. For purposes of this section, family planning shall not include abortion counseling, referral for abortion, or funding for abortion. If the state fails to meet the specific terms of the self-sufficiency contract, the time limit on cash assistance under section 68-1724 shall be extended.Source   Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 22;   Laws 1996, LB 1044, § 361;  Laws 2007, LB351, § 9.
NE Code § 68-1725 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1725 - Alternative payment systems authorized.

68-1725.  Alternative payment systems authorized.The Department of Health and Human Services may either develop an electronic benefit system for purposes of eliminating as much paper and coupon conveyance of public assistance as is practical or provide cash in lieu of coupons.Source   Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 25;   Laws 1996, LB 1044, § 362.
NE Code § 68-1726 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1726 - Assistance under act; eligibility factors.

68-1726.  Assistance under act; eligibility factors.Based on the comprehensive assets assessment, each individual and family receiving assistance under the Welfare Reform Act shall reach for his or her highest level of economic self-sufficiency or the family's highest level of economic self-sufficiency. The following eligibility factors shall apply:(1) Financial resources, excluding the primary home and furnishings and the primary automobile, shall not exceed four thousand dollars in value for a single individual and six thousand dollars in value for two or more individuals;(2) Available resources, including, but not limited to, savings accounts and real estate, shall be used in determining financial resources, except that income and assets described in sections 68-1201 and 68-1713 shall not be included in determination of available resources under this section;(3) Income received by family members, except income earned by children attending school and except as provided in section 68-1201, shall be considered in determining total family income. Income earned by an individual or a family by working shall be treated differently than unearned income in determining the amount of cash assistance as follows:(a) Earned income shall be counted in determining the level of cash assistance after disregarding an amount of earned income as follows:(i) Twenty percent of gross earned income shall be disregarded to test for eligibility during the application process for aid to dependent children assistance; and(ii) For aid to dependent children program participants and for applicants after eligibility has been established, fifty percent of the gross earned income shall be disregarded;(b) Financial assistance provided by other programs that support the transition to economic self-sufficiency shall be considered to the extent the payments are intended to provide for life's necessities; and(c) Financial assistance or those portions of it intended for books, tuition, or other self-sufficiency-related expenses shall not be counted in determining financial resources. Such assistance shall include, but not be limited to, school grants, scholarships, vocational rehabilitation payments, Job Training Partnership Act payments, income or assets described in section 68-1201, and education-related loans or other loans that are expected to be repaid; and(4) Individuals and families shall pursue potential sources of economic support, including, but not limited to, unemployment compensation and child support.Source   Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 26;   Laws 1997, LB 864, § 15;  Laws 2014, LB359, § 5;  Laws 2015, LB607, § 3;  Laws 2016, LB1081, § 6.
NE Code § 68-1727 (2021)
2021 Nebraska Revised Statutes|Chapter 68 - Public Assistance|68-1727 - Family resource centers; legislative intent.

68-1727.  Family resource centers; legislative intent.It is the intent of the Legislature that family resource centers be considered a priority in the utilization of the federal funding allocated to Nebraska through Family Preservation and Support Services, as provided by Public Law 103-66, 1993.Source  Laws 1994, LB 1224, § 27.