Sec. 6. Promoting accountability by measuring work outcomes
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Section 407(a) ( 42 U.S.C. 607(a) ) is amended to read as follows: The purpose of this subsection is to provide for the establishment of performance accountability measures to assess the effectiveness of States in increasing employment, retention, and advancement among families receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part. A State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year shall achieve the requisite level of performance on an indicator described in paragraph (3)(B) of this subsection for the fiscal year.
Each State, in consultation with the Secretary, shall collect and submit to the Secretary the information necessary to measure the level of performance of the State for each indicator described in subparagraph (B), for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter, and the Secretary shall use the information collected for fiscal year 2020 to establish the baseline level of performance for each State for each such indicator. The indicators described in this subparagraph, for a fiscal year, are the following:
The percentage calculated by dividing the number of individuals who were work-eligible individuals as of the time of exit from the program, who are in unsubsidized employment during the 2nd quarter after the exit by the total caseload in the month of their exit. The percentage calculated by dividing the number of individuals who were work-eligible individuals who were in unsubsidized employment in the 2nd quarter after the exit, who are also in unsubsidized employment during the 4th quarter after the exit by the total caseload in the month of their exit.
The median earnings of individuals who were work-eligible individuals as of the time of exit from the program, who are in unsubsidized employment during the 2nd quarter after the exit. The percentage of individuals who have not attained 24 years of age, are attending high school or enrolled in an equivalency program, and are work-eligible individuals or were work-eligible individuals as of the time of exit from the program, who obtain a high school degree or its recognized equivalent while receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part or within 1 year after the exit.
For each State submitting a State plan pursuant to section 402(a), there shall be established, in accordance with this subparagraph, levels of performance for each of the indicators described in subparagraph (B). The Secretary and the State shall negotiate the requisite level of performance for the State with respect to each indicator described in subparagraph (B), for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023, and in the case of each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023, shall do so before the beginning of the respective fiscal year.
In establishing the requisite levels of performance, the State and the Secretary shall— take into account how the levels involved compare with the levels established for other States; ensure the levels involved are adjusted, using the objective statistical model referred to in clause (iv), based on— the differences among States in economic conditions, including differences in unemployment rates or employment losses or gains in particular industries; and the characteristics of participants on entry into the program, including indicators of prior work history, educational or occupational skills attainment, or other factors that may affect employment and earnings; and take into account the extent to which the levels involved promote continuous improvement in performance by each State.
The Secretary shall, in accordance with the objective statistical model referred to in clause (iv), revise the requisite levels of performance for a State and a fiscal year to reflect the economic conditions and characteristics of the relevant individuals in the State during the fiscal year. The Secretary shall use an objective statistical model to make adjustments to the requisite levels of performance for the economic conditions and characteristics of the relevant individuals, and shall consult with the Secretary of Labor to develop a model that is the same as or similar to the model described in section 116(b)(3)(A)(viii) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(3)(A)(viii) ).
In this subsection, the term exit means, with respect to a State program funded under this part, ceases to a receive a TANF benefit under the program. In order to ensure nationwide comparability of data, the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Labor and with States, shall issue regulations governing the establishment of the performance accountability system under this subsection and a template for performance reports to be used by all States consistent with subsection (b). .
Section 407(b) ( 42 U.S.C. 607(b) ) is amended to read as follows: The Secretary shall, directly or through the use of grants or contracts, establish and operate an Internet website that is accessible to the public, with a dashboard that is regularly updated and provides easy-to-understand information on the performance of each State program funded under this part, including a profile for each such program, expressed by use of a template, which shall include— information on the indicators and requisite performance levels established for the State under subsection (a), including, with respect to each such level, whether the State achieves, exceeds, or fails to achieve the level on an ongoing basis, including— information on any adjustments made to the requisite levels using the statistical adjustment model described in subsection (a)(3)(C)(iv); and a grade based on the overall performance of the State, as determined by the Secretary and in consultation with the State, and the overall performance shall be graded based on the performance indicators and weights for each such indicator as described in subsection (a); information reported under section 411 on the characteristics and demographics of individuals receiving assistance under the State program, including— the number and percentage of child-only cases and reason why the cases are child-only; and the average weekly number of hours that each work-eligible individual in the State program participates in work activities, including a separate section showing the number and percentage of the work-eligible individuals with zero hours of participation and the reason for non-participation; information on the results of improper payments reviews; a link to the State plan approved under section 402; and information regarding any penalty imposed, or other corrective action taken, by the Secretary against a State for failing to achieve a requisite performance level or any other requirement imposed by or under this part. .
Section 407(c) ( 42 U.S.C. 607(c) ) is amended— in paragraph (1)— in subparagraph (A)— by striking For purposes of subsection (b)(1)(B)(i), a and inserting A ; and by striking , not fewer than and all that follows through this subsection ; and in subparagraph (B)— in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking For purposes of subsection (b)(2)(B), an and inserting An ; in clause (i), by striking , not fewer than and all that follows through this subsection ; and in clause (ii), by striking , not fewer than and all that follows through subsection
(d); and in paragraph (2)— by striking subparagraphs
(A)and (D); in each of subparagraphs
(B)and (C), by striking For purposes of determining monthly participation rates under subsection (b)(1)(B)(i), a and inserting A ; and by redesignating subparagraphs
(B)and
(C)as subparagraphs
(A)and (B), respectively. Section 407(d) ( 42 U.S.C. 607(d) ) is amended— in paragraph (5), by inserting , including apprenticeship before the semicolon; in paragraph (6), by inserting supervised before job search ; and in paragraph (8), by striking (not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual) and inserting , including career technical education . Section 419 ( 42 U.S.C. 619 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The term supervised job search means a job search program that has the following characteristics: The job search occurs at an official location where the presence and activity of the recipient can be directly observed, supervised, and monitored. The entry, time onsite, and exit of the recipient from the official job search location are recorded in a manner that prevents fraud. The recipient is expected to remain and undertake job search activities at the job search center. The quantity of time the recipient is observed and monitored engaging in job search at the official location is recorded for purposes of compliance with the work participation requirements of the State program funded under this part. . Section 407(c)(2) ( 42 U.S.C. 607(c)(2) ), as amended by subsection (c)(2) of this section, is amended by adding at the end the following: After a work-eligible individual has participated for 3 months in a fiscal year in an activity described in subsection (d)(6) of this section, the individual may, at State option, be considered to be engaged in work for additional months (not to exceed an additional 3 months with respect to the individual) by reason of participation in such an activity if the individual is participating in substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, or rehabilitation activities, the need for which has been determined to be necessary to prepare the individual for employment or to support the individual in employment and has been documented by a qualified medical, substance abuse, or mental health professional. . Section 407(e) ( 42 U.S.C. 607(e) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: For purposes of subparagraph
(A)in paragraph (1), the amount of a pro rata reduction in assistance shall be determined by multiplying the total amount of monthly assistance that would, in the absence of the application of this paragraph, be paid to the entire family, by the ratio of— the hours of required work activities as designated in subsection
(d)actually performed by the individual during the month; over the number of hours of work activities that the individual was required to perform during the month in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c). . Section 411(b)(1)(A) ( 42 U.S.C. 611(b)(1)(A) ) is amended by striking participation rates and inserting outcome measures .
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Sec. 6
Promoting accountability by measuring work outcomes
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