Senator Luz Escamilla proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CHANGES

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Luz Escamilla

5     
House Sponsor: Edward H. Redd

6     

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 reimbursements to the Department of Workforce Services for
14     General Assistance paid to a recipient while the recipient is awaiting the
15     determination of federal Supplemental Security Income may be used by the
16     department for the General Assistance program;
17          ▸     makes funding for General Assistance nonlapsing; and
18          ▸     makes technical changes.
19     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20          None
21     Other Special Clauses:
22          None
23     Utah Code Sections Affected:
24     AMENDS:
25          35A-3-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 29
26          63J-1-602.2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 338
27     

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