§ 40-5.2-38. Application and effect of this chapter on applicants and recipients. (a) All provisions of this chapter with the exception of paragraph (b) below shall be effective and apply to all applicants and recipients on or after July 1, 2008.

(b) For all current recipients as of July 1, 2008 who have received cash assistance, either state or federally funded, since May 1, 1997 under Rhode Island's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV A of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), formerly entitled the Family Independence Program, or received cash assistance from another state, either state or federally funded, since May 1, 1997 under that state's similar Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV A of the Federal Society Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), prior to October 1, 2008, application and implementation of the time limits described in subsection 40-5.2-10(h) will occur on and after July 1, 2009.

(c) All cash assistance received, either state or federally funded, since May 1, 1997 under Rhode Island's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV A of the Federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.) formerly entitled the Family Independence Program, or in another state under that state's similar Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV A of the Federal Social Security Act 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.) prior to July 1, 2009 shall be counted toward the time limits of cash assistance described in subsection 40-5.1-10(h).

(d) The department will not close families who previously received cash assistance, either state or federally funded, since May 1, 1997 under Rhode Island's Temporary Assistance for Needy Program (federal TANF described at Title IV A of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), formerly entitled the Family Independence Program, or in another state under that state's similar Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV A of the Federal Society Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.) prior to the effective date of the Rhode Island Works Program due to the time limit outlined in subsection 40-5.2-10(h) of this chapter until July 1, 2009. Except, however, all those families who previously received Family Independence Program cash assistance, either state or federally funded or in another state, as described above, and who will reach the Family Independence Program sixty (60) month lifetime time limit in accordance with prior Rhode Island General Law, subsection 40-5.1-8(d), prior to July 1, 2009 shall be closed at the time they would have reached the sixty (60) month time limit in accordance with prior Rhode Island General Law, subsection 40-5.1-8(d). Nothing in this section shall be deemed to mean that any recipient of cash assistance, either state or federally funded, through the prior Family Independence Program shall receive more than the time limit of sixty (60) months of cash assistance which had been permissible under prior Rhode Island General Law, subsection 40-5.1-8(d).

(e) Those families or assistance units receiving cash assistance shall be notified in writing as to the time limits imposed on the receipt of cash assistance in accordance with the Rhode Island Works Program under this chapter, as well as all the other program requirements.

History of Section. (P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 16, § 1.)