(a) The Commissioner of Social Services and the Labor Commissioner shall, within available appropriations, implement a pilot program that serves not more than one hundred persons who are receiving benefits under the temporary family assistance program and participating in the Jobs First employment services program. The pilot program shall provide to participants: (1) Intensive case management services to identify participants' (A) employment goals, (B) support service needs, and (C) training, education and work experience needs; (2) assistance in accessing needed support services, training, education and work experience; or (3) funding to facilitate participation in necessary adult basic education, skills training, postsecondary education or subsidized employment.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (c) of section 17b-112, the Commissioner of Social Services shall, within available appropriations, grant a six-month extension of time-limited cash assistance benefits to any person who (1) has made a good-faith effort to comply with the requirements of the pilot program, (2) has not exceeded the sixty-month limit, described in subsection (c) of section 17b-112, and (3) has not been granted more than two extensions.

(c) The Commissioner of Social Services and the Labor Commissioner shall jointly submit annual reports, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, not later than October 1, 2012, and October 1, 2013, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies concerning the pilot program. Such reports shall include, but shall not be limited to: (1) The number of persons participating in the pilot program for the preceding fiscal year; (2) the education, training and work experience activities of the participants; (3) the support services identified as needed by program participants through the provision of case management services by the Department of Social Services and the Labor Department and the support services actually received by each program participant; (4) the educational degrees and certificates obtained by participants; and (5) descriptions of the employment obtained by participants as a result of the pilot program.

(P.A. 11-44, S. 165; 11-61, S. 155; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 25.)

History: P.A. 11-44 effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-61 amended Subsec. (b) by adding “within available appropriations” and replacing “extensions” with “a six-month extension”, effective July 1, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting “or (3)” for “and (3)” and amended Subsec. (c) by adding provisions re annual reports to be submitted not later than October 1, 2012, and October 1, 2013, by adding “for the preceding fiscal year” in Subdiv. (1) and by making technical changes, effective June 15, 2012.