Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-100

Date: 02/05/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-100

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 09-100 to the Committee of the W	PASS

03:41 PM -- Senate Bill 09-100

Senator Newell introduced Senate Bill 09-100. The bill amends the definition of a "noncustodial parent" for purposes of employment assistance provided through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. The bill's change will permit a noncustodial parent to receive employment assistance under the Colorado Works Program even though his or her child is not receiving assistance under the Colorado Works Program. She emphasized that the bill only applies to job training and placement services, and will not permit the parent to receive cash assistance. She stated that the bill will help assist parents who wish to pay their child support, but who have barriers to employment. The services will be paid for out of county TANF reserves.

03:45 PM -- Susan Beckman, chair of the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners, stated that child support helps families become self-sufficient. She stated the bill will allow the parents to pay their child support, and it will help prevent the family from ending up on the TANF program. She responded to questions from Senator Boyd regarding any possible unintended consequences for other aspects of the TANF program as a result of the bill. Ms. Beckman noted that the bill will not take any services or funding away from the custodial parent.

03:50 PM -- Cheryl Ternes, Arapahoe County, described the county's Parents to Work Program. She distributed letters of support for the program and a pamphlet describing the program (Attachments D and E). She stated the program has also helped to decrease custody issues and increase payment of child support. She stated that the program benefits children and parents.

03:54 PM -- Pauline Burton, Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill. She stated that providing individuals the necessary employment support to allow them to pay child support leads to good outcomes for families. She stated that the bill is good public policy. She responded to questions from Senator Boyd about possible ramifications of the bill on other portions of the TANF program.

03:56 PM -- Pat Ratliff, Colorado Counties Inc., testified that employment program is currently only available to families whose children are enrolled in TANF, and that the bill will allow counties to serve parents who are at risk of needing TANF services. She stated that the bill is permissive for counties, and has no fiscal impact. Senator Schultheis asked what the current level of El Paso county's reserves is, and Ms. Ratliff responded that the reserves only accrue if the county is able to come up with an appropriate matching amount. She stated that El Paso is having trouble paying their match. She further responded to a question from Senator Schultheis regarding county TANF reserves, noting that legislation passed in the previous session recoups some of counties' unspent reserves. Various members of the committee commented on the TANF program.

04:07 PM

Senator Newell gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


BILL:	SB09-100
TIME:	04:09:47 PM
MOVED:	Newell
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-100 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 7-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Lundberg	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Schultheis	No
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Boyd	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:11 PM

The committee recessed.