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Wednesday, October 29, 1997
State meets deadline
By RENAE MERLE / Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN (AP) -- Texas has met a federal deadline to get at least 25 percent
of welfare families participating in work-related programs, according to
testimony before a House subcommittee Tuesday.
However, the state still lags behind in meeting another federal mandate
to move 75 percent of two-parent families off welfare, said Hazel Baylor,
assistant division director for Texas Workforce Commission.
As of September, the number of families participating in work-related
programs has increased from 24.22 percent in July to 28.37 percent, surpassing
the federal requirement, said David Beshear, a spokesman for the Texas Workforce
Commission.
At the same time, the number of two-parent families meeting the federal
requirement increased from 30 percent in July to 47.22 percent, Beshear
said. He added that the two-parent families make up only 5 percent of the
state's total welfare caseload.
Texas was among the nearly one-third of states that didn't meet the requirement
in July for having 25 percent of all welfare families in some type of work
program, putting the state at risk for hefty federal sanctions.
Two-parent families must work or participate in work programs for at
least 37.5 hours a week. Single-parent families must participate in work
programs for 20 hours a week.
The U.S. Department of Human Services can levy a $25 million penalty
on states for not meeting the requirements. If the states don't replace
the penalty with state funds, the department could charge them another $25
million.
Michael Kharfen, spokesman for the federal department, said the agency
has not received official numbers, but expects most states to make the requirement
for all families.
There is some question about compliance for two-parent families, he said.
If states don't meet a requirement, they can appeal for a good cause
or corrective compliance exemption to avoid a penalty, he said.
"We don't know if there is going to be a penalty," said Beshear.
"We are between a rock and a hard place."
Rep. Dan Kubiak said the requirement is unrealistic.
"It is like telling me that we are going to fly a 747 to Mars,"
Kubiak, D-Rockdale, said.
By 2002, states must have 90 percent of two-parent families, and half
of all families, in work activities.
The House subcommittee on Welfare and Workforce Reform could propose
changes for lawmakers to consider in 1999.
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