1     
GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CHANGES

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2015 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Luz Escamilla

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House Sponsor: Edward H. Redd

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions related to the Department of Workforce Services' General
10     Assistance program.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     establishes that the first $250,000 of reimbursements to the Department of
14     Workforce Services collected in a fiscal year for General Assistance paid to a
15     recipient while the recipient is awaiting the determination of federal Supplemental
16     Security Income may be used by the department for the General Assistance
17     program;
18          ▸     makes funding for General Assistance nonlapsing; and
19          ▸     makes technical changes.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          None
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          35A-3-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 29
27          63J-1-602.2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 338
28     

29     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30          Section 1. Section 35A-3-401 is amended to read:
31          35A-3-401. General Assistance.
32          (1) (a) The department may provide General Assistance [may be provided] to
33     individuals who are:
34          (i) not receiving cash assistance under Part 3, Family Employment Program, or
35     Supplemental Security Income[,]; and [who are]
36          (ii) unemployable according to standards established by the department.
37          (b) (i) General Assistance [may be provided by] described in Subsection (1)(a) may
38     include payment in cash or in kind.
39          (ii) The [office] department may provide General Assistance up to an amount [less]
40     that is no more than the existing payment level for an otherwise similarly situated [client of]
41     recipient receiving cash assistance under Part 3, Family Employment Program.
42          (iii) Funding for General Assistance is nonlapsing.
43          (c) The [office] department shall establish asset limitations for a General Assistance
44     [clients] applicant.
45          (d) (i) General Assistance may be granted to meet special nonrecurrent needs of an
46     applicant for the federal Supplemental Security Income [program] for the Aged, Blind, and
47     Disabled program provided under 20 C.F.R. Sec. 416, if the applicant agrees to reimburse the
48     [division] department for assistance advanced to the applicant while awaiting the determination
49     of eligibility by the Social Security Administration.
50          (ii) (A) Reimbursements to the department described in Subsection (1)(d)(i) up to and
51     including $250,000 collected in a fiscal year shall be used by the department to administer the
52     General Assistance program and provide General Assistance to eligible applicants.
53          (B) Reimbursements to the department described in Subsection (1)(d)(i) over $250,000
54     collected in a fiscal year shall be deposited into the General Fund.
55          [(ii)] (iii) General Assistance payments may not be made to a [current client of]
56     recipient currently receiving:
57          (A) cash assistance; or
58          (B) Supplemental Security Income.
59          (e) (i) General Assistance may be used for the reasonable cost of burial for a [client,]
60     recipient if heirs or relatives are not financially able to assume this expense.
61          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(e)(i), if the body of a person is unclaimed, Section
62     53B-17-301 applies.
63          (iii) The department shall fix the cost of a reasonable burial and conditions under
64     which burial expenditures may be made.
65          (2) The [division] department may cooperate with any governmental unit or agency, or
66     any private nonprofit agency, in establishing work projects to provide employment for
67     employable persons.
68          Section 2. Section 63J-1-602.2 is amended to read:
69          63J-1-602.2. List of nonlapsing funds and accounts -- Title 31 through Title 45.
70          (1) Appropriations from the Technology Development Restricted Account created in
71     Section 31A-3-104.
72          (2) Appropriations from the Criminal Background Check Restricted Account created in
73     Section 31A-3-105.
74          (3) Appropriations from the Captive Insurance Restricted Account created in Section
75     31A-3-304, except to the extent that Section 31A-3-304 makes the money received under that
76     section free revenue.
77          (4) Appropriations from the Title Licensee Enforcement Restricted Account created in
78     Section 31A-23a-415.
79          (5) Appropriations from the Health Insurance Actuarial Review Restricted Account
80     created in Section 31A-30-115.
81          (6) Appropriations from the Insurance Fraud Investigation Restricted Account created
82     in Section 31A-31-108.
83          (7) Appropriations from the Underage Drinking Prevention Media and Education
84     Campaign Restricted Account created in Section 32B-2-306.
85          (8) Funding for the General Assistance program administered by the Department of
86     Workforce Services, as provided in Section 35A-3-401.
87          [(8)] (9) The Youth Development Organization Restricted Account created in Section
88     35A-8-1903.
89          [(9)] (10) The Youth Character Organization Restricted Account created in Section
90     35A-8-2003.
91          [(10)] (11) Funding for a new program or agency that is designated as nonlapsing under
92     Section 36-24-101.
93          [(11)] (12) Appropriations from the Oil and Gas Conservation Account created in
94     Section 40-6-14.5.
95          [(12)] (13) Appropriations from the Electronic Payment Fee Restricted Account
96     created by Section 41-1a-121 to the Motor Vehicle Division.
97          [(13)] (14) Funds available to the Tax Commission under Section 41-1a-1201 for the:
98          (a) purchase and distribution of license plates and decals; and
99          (b) administration and enforcement of motor vehicle registration requirements.