[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4978 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4978

To require States to take certain steps to address domestic and sexual 
 violence among individuals receiving assistance under the program of 
  block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 2010

   Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself and Mr. Stark) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require States to take certain steps to address domestic and sexual 
 violence among individuals receiving assistance under the program of 
  block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. REQUIREMENT THAT STATES ADOPT STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES TO 
              ADDRESS DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AMONG TANF 
              RECIPIENTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 402(a)(7) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 602(a)(7)) is amended--
            (1) by striking the paragraph heading and inserting 
        ``Certification of standards and procedures regarding domestic 
        and sexual violence'';
            (2) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(A) In general.--A certification by the chief 
                executive officer of the State that the State has 
                established and is enforcing standards and procedures 
                to ensure the right and entitlement of victims of 
                domestic or sexual violence (notwithstanding section 
                401(b)) seeking or receiving assistance under the State 
                program funded under this part--
                            ``(i) to be screened and identified while 
                        maintaining the confidentiality of the victims;
                            ``(ii) to be referred to counseling and 
                        supportive services;
                            ``(iii) to be granted a waiver, pursuant to 
                        a determination of good cause, of program 
                        requirements such as time limits (for so long 
                        as necessary), residency requirements, child 
                        support cooperation requirements, and family 
                        cap provisions, in cases where compliance with 
                        the requirements would make it more difficult 
                        for the victims to escape domestic or sexual 
                        violence or unfairly penalize the victims or 
                        individuals who are at risk of further domestic 
                        or sexual violence;
                            ``(iv) to apply to participate in the 
                        program on the same day that they contact a 
                        program office in person during office hours;
                            ``(v) to have an application that contains 
                        their name, address, and signature considered 
                        to be filed on the date it is submitted;
                            ``(vi) to receive at the time of 
                        application a clear, written statement 
                        explaining what acts they must perform to 
                        cooperate in obtaining verification and 
                        otherwise completing the application process; 
                        and
                            ``(vii) if they have completed the 
                        application process, to have their eligibility 
                        determined promptly, and to be provided 
                        assistance retroactive to the application date 
                        if determined eligible within 30 days after the 
                        application date.''; and
            (3) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) in the subparagraph heading, by inserting ``or 
                sexual'' after ``Domestic''; and
                    (B) in the text, by inserting ``or sexual'' after 
                ``domestic''.
    (b) Report to the Congress on Best Practices of States.--Section 
413 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 613) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(k) Report to Congress on Best Practices of States in Addressing 
Domestic and Sexual Violence Suffered by TANF Recipients.--Every 4 
years, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Congress a report 
which examines the practices of States in implementing section 
402(a)(7), and identifies the best practices used to do so.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2012.
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