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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions related to poverty mitigation programs.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ defines terms;
13 ▸ establishes the County Poverty Mitigation Grant Program (grant program) for the
14 purpose of assisting counties that develop and administer certain county poverty
15 mitigation programs;
16 ▸ requires the Department of Workforce Services (department) to administer the grant
17 program and solicit noncompetitive grant proposals;
18 ▸ requires a county to enter into a contract with the department before receiving a
19 grant;
20 ▸ provides for a county's use of grant funds and the department's determination of
21 grant amounts; and
22 ▸ requires the department to report annually to the Legislature regarding the grant
23 program.
24 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
25 This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2024:
26 ▸ to Department of Workforce Services -- Operations and Policy, as a one-time
27 appropriation:
28 • from Federal Funds, $35,000,000.
29 Other Special Clauses:
30 None
31 Utah Code Sections Affected:
32 ENACTS:
33 35A-3-316, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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35 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
36 Section 1. Section 35A-3-316 is enacted to read:
37 35A-3-316. Creation of County Poverty Mitigation Grant Program --
38 Requirements.
39 (1) As used in this section:
40 (a) "Eligible county" means a county that develops and administers a qualified county
41 poverty mitigation program.
42 (b) "Eligible department" means a department of county government that is responsible
43 for oversight, improvement, and capacity building for the county's social services delivery
44 system, and is capable of developing and administering a qualified county poverty mitigation
45 program.
46 (c) "Grant program" means the County Poverty Mitigation Grant Program created in
47 Subsection (2).
48 (d) "Person-centered approach" means an approach by which customized care is
49 delivered to a family through partnership with a program mentor.
50 (e) "Qualified county poverty mitigation program" means a program administered by
51 an eligible department that:
52 (i) provides comprehensive and synchronized support services to needy families in the
53 county, using both public and private service providers, in accordance with an action plan that:
54 (A) is tailored to meet the specific needs of the family receiving assistance, with a
55 focus on children;
56 (B) utilizes a person-centered approach to build social capital and reduce bureaucratic
57 hurdles and inefficiencies;
58 (C) promotes the goal of attaining financial self-sufficiency;
59 (D) is designed in a manner that differentiates between outputs and outcomes; and
60 (E) is designed so that services are provided in a timely manner and for a duration that
61 is deemed appropriate to be effective;
62 (ii) maintains a database to document and report outcomes;
63 (iii) serves the purposes described in Section 35A-3-301;
64 (iv) aligns with community-based strategic plans approved by the county legislative
65 body for promoting the general welfare of the county's residents; and
66 (v) is consistent with the duties of the department under this chapter.
67 (f) "Social capital" means psychological, social, and economic resources acquired by a
68 family from networks and relationships with others.
69 (2) There is created the County Poverty Mitigation Grant Program, a noncompetitive
70 grant program administered by the department.
71 (3) Subject to availability of funds, the department shall solicit noncompetitive grant
72 proposals from eligible counties to fund qualified county poverty mitigation programs using
73 funds obtained by the department under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
74 Block Grant.
75 (4) (a) The department shall issue a public solicitation for grant proposals from eligible
76 counties.
77 (b) The public solicitation described in Subsection (4)(a) shall establish:
78 (i) criteria and procedures for eligible counties to apply for and receive grants under the
79 grant program; and
80 (ii) the method and formula for the department's determination of grant amounts,
81 subject to Subsection (5).
82 (5) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), the department shall determine grant
83 amounts by prorating available funds on a per capita basis by county.
84 (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (5)(a), the department shall ensure that an eligible
85 county with a total population that is equal to or less than 0.5% of the total population of the
86 state receives an amount of grant funds that is no less than 0.5% of the total amount of grant
87 funds available for distribution, as determined by:
88 (i) the most recent official census or census estimate of the United States Bureau of the
89 Census; or
90 (ii) if a population figure is not available under Subsection (5)(b)(i), the most recent
91 population estimate from the Utah Population Committee.
92 (6) Before receiving the grant under the grant program, an eligible county shall enter
93 into a written agreement with the department that specifies:
94 (a) the grant amount;
95 (b) the time period for distribution of the grant, not to exceed a period of three years;
96 (c) the terms and conditions that the county shall meet to receive the grant, including:
97 (i) program eligibility requirements; and
98 (ii) reporting requirements; and
99 (d) the expenses for which the county may use grant funds.
100 (7) The department may award grants under the grant program to fund qualified county
101 poverty mitigation programs serving two or more counties.
102 (8) An eligible county that receives a grant may only use grant funds for costs
103 associated with implementing a qualified county poverty mitigation program.
104 (9) The department shall include in the annual written report described in Section
105 35A-1-109, a report on the grant program that provides:
106 (a) a complete accounting of the funds expended by the department during the
107 reporting year on grants under the grant program;
108 (b) the grant amount provided to each eligible county that received a grant during the
109 reporting year; and
110 (c) information regarding the qualified county poverty mitigation programs funded by
111 grants during the reporting year, including the outcomes and effectiveness of each qualified
112 county poverty mitigation program.
113 Section 2. Appropriation.
114 The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
115 2023, and ending June 30, 2024. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
116 fiscal year 2024. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
117 Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
118 indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
119 ITEM 1
120 To Department of Workforce Services -- Operations and Policy
121 From Federal Funds, One-time
35,000,000
122 Schedule of Programs:
123 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 35,000,000
124 The Legislature intends that:
125 (1) the Department of Workforce Services use appropriations under this item to
126 provide grants to counties under Section 35A-3-316;
127 (2) the use of appropriations under this item is dependent upon the availability of
128 TANF federal funds and the qualification of the program to receive TANF federal funds; and
129 (3) under Section 63J-1-603, appropriations under this item not lapse at the close of
130 fiscal year 2024.