II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2286 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 14, 2006 Mr. Obama (for himself and Mr. Bayh) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to eliminate the separate work participation rate for 2-parent families under the temporary assistance for needy families program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Equality for Two-Parent Families Act of 2006.

2.

Elimination of separate work participation rate for 2-PARENT families

(a)

In General

Section 407 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 607) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)— (A)beginning in the heading, by striking Participation Rate Requirements and all that follows through A State in paragraph (1) and inserting Participation Rate Requirements.—A State; and (B)by striking paragraph (2); (2)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (1)(A), by striking subsection (a)(1) and inserting subsection (a); (B)by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2)

Family with a disabled parent not treated as a 2-parent family

A family that includes a disabled parent shall not be considered a 2-parent family for purposes of this section. ; (C)in paragraph (4), by striking paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B) and inserting determining monthly participation rates under paragraph (1)(B); and (D)in paragraph (5), by striking rates and inserting rate; and (3)in subsection (c)— (A)in paragraph (1)(B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking subsection (b)(2)(B) and inserting subsection (b)(1)(B)(i); and (B)in paragraph (2)(D)— (i)by striking paragraphs (1)(B)(i) and (2)(B) of subsection (b) and inserting subsection (b)(1)(B)(i); and (ii)by striking and in 2-parent families, respectively,. (b)

Effective Date

(1)

In general

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act and shall apply to the determination of minimum participation rates for months beginning on or after that date. (2)

Limitation on penalty imposition

Notwithstanding section 409(a)(3) of the Social Security Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not impose a penalty against a State under that section on the basis of the State's failure to satisfy the participation rate required for fiscal year 2006 if the State demonstrates that the State would have met such requirement if, with respect to those months of fiscal year 2006 that began prior to or on the date of enactment of this Act, the State were permitted to count 2-parent families that met the requirements of section 407(c)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 607(c)(1)(A)) in the determination of monthly participation rates under section 407(b)(1)(B)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 607(b)(1)(B)(i)).