§3789-D. Maine Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Advisory Council

1.  Duties.  The Maine Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Advisory Council, as established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 36-C, shall advise the commissioner or the commissioner's designee regarding education, training, job opportunities, quality employment and business ownership opportunities, the operation of any postsecondary education programs administered by the department and other matters affecting TANF recipients.

[PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

2.  Members.  The commissioner shall appoint the members of the council. Members must include at least the following:

A. Two recipients of benefits under the TANF program;   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

B. One representative of employers within the State;   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

C. One representative of organized labor;   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

D. One representative of women's interests;   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

E. One or more representatives of organizations or agencies that have experience in addressing the training, education and job needs of low-income women;   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

F. One representative of the one-stop delivery system established under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 United States Code, Section 3151; and   [PL 2017, c. 110, §7 (AMD).]

G. Two representatives of postsecondary education, one representing private institutions and one representing public institutions.   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

[PL 2017, c. 110, §7 (AMD).]

3.  Advice regarding postsecondary education programs.  The council shall establish a postsecondary education subcommittee, consisting of up to 15 members and nonmembers of the council. The subcommittee must include but is not limited to the following representatives:

A. A representative of the department, appointed by the commissioner;   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

B. A representative of the University of Maine System who represents the interests of women or nontraditional students at one of the campuses, appointed by the chancellor;   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

C. A representative of the Finance Authority of Maine appointed by the chief executive officer;   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

D. Representatives of the Maine Community College System, including a gender coordinator at one of the campuses, appointed by the president; and   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §2 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §4 (AFF).]

E. Representatives of the following groups, appointed by the council:

(1) Nonprofit service organizations that assist parents who are nontraditional students;

(2) TANF participants or participants of the Parents as Scholars Program established in chapter 1054-B who are enrolled in postsecondary education programs;

(3) Nonprofit organizations that prepare parents to be nontraditional postsecondary education students;

(4) Organizations that represent low-income parents and that have significant knowledge of public assistance programs;

(5) Organizations that advocate for the interests of women;

(6) The business community; and

(7) Private postsecondary educational institutions.   [PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW).]

By March 1, 1998, the subcommittee shall make recommendations to the council for improving the administration of the Parents as Scholars Program under section 3790, improving the program to make it more successful for participants and maximizing resources to meet the goals of the program. The council shall approve, disapprove or modify the recommendations of the subcommittee and report their recommendation to the commissioner.

[PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §30 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §2 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §4 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1997, c. 530, §A30 (NEW). PL 2001, c. 667, §C13 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 20, §OO2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 20, §OO4 (AFF). PL 2017, c. 110, §7 (AMD).