39-12-103. (Temporary) Montana HELP Act workforce development -- participation -- report. (1) The department shall provide individuals receiving assistance for health care services pursuant to Title 53, chapter 6, part 13, with the option of participating in an employment or reemployment assessment and in the workforce development program provided for in 39-12-101. The assessment must identify any probable barriers to employment that exist for the member.

(2) The department shall contact each program participant subject to the community engagement requirements of 53-6-1308 and assist the participant with completion of an employment or reemployment assessment. Based on the results of the assessment, the department shall identify services to help the individual address barriers to employment.

(3) (a) The department shall notify the department of public health and human services when a participant has received all services and assistance under subsection (1) that can reasonably be provided to the individual.

(b) The department is not required to provide further services under this section after it has provided the notification provided for in subsection (3)(a).

(c) A participant who is no longer receiving services under this section does not meet the criteria of 53-6-1307(6)(c) for the exemption granted under 53-6-1307(6).

(4) [The department shall report the following information to the] legislative finance committee and the children, families, health, and human services interim committee:

(a) [the activities undertaken to establish] the employer grant program provided for in 39-12-106;

(b) the number of employers receiving grant awards and the number and types of activities, training, or jobs the employers provided; and

(c) the total cost of providing workforce development services under this chapter, including related administrative costs.

(5) To the extent possible, the department of public health and human services shall offset the cost of workforce development activities provided under this section by using temporary assistance for needy families reserve funds.

(6) The department shall reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in determining and reviewing eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits by enhancing technology system support to provide knowledge-based authentication for verifying the identity and employment status of individuals seeking benefits, including the use of public records to confirm identity and to flag changes in demographics. (Terminates June 30, 2025--secs. 38, 48, Ch. 415, L. 2019.)

History: En. Sec. 16, Ch. 368, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 21, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 415, L. 2019.