1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; creating an exception to 
  1.3             the 60-month lifetime limit on MFIP benefits for 
  1.4             families with incapacitated members; establishing a 
  1.5             program to support MFIP participants who are meeting 
  1.6             federal work participation requirements; appropriating 
  1.7             money; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 
  1.8             256J.42, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for 
  1.9             new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J. 
  1.10  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.11     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 256J.42, is 
  1.12  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.13     Subd. 6.  [FAMILIES WITH INCAPACITATED MEMBERS.] Any cash 
  1.14  assistance received by an assistance unit does not count toward 
  1.15  the 60-month limit on assistance during a month in which a 
  1.16  caregiver qualifies for an exemption from MFIP-S work 
  1.17  requirements because both caregivers in a two-parent family or a 
  1.18  caregiver in a single-parent family: 
  1.19     (1) is suffering from a professionally certified permanent 
  1.20  or temporary illness, injury, or incapacity which is expected to 
  1.21  continue for more than 30 days and which prevents the person 
  1.22  from obtaining or retaining employment; or 
  1.23     (2) is required to care for another member in the household 
  1.24  and who has a professionally certified illness or incapacity 
  1.25  that is expected to last for more than 30 days and the 
  1.26  caregiver's presence replaces other specialized care 
  1.27  arrangements. 
  2.1      Sec. 2.  [256J.58] [SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES.] 
  2.2      Subdivision 1.  [WORK REQUIRED.] To reward and support 
  2.3   caregivers who are earning income and working the number of 
  2.4   hours required under the Personal Responsibility and Work 
  2.5   Opportunity Reconciliation Act, months in which the caregiver 
  2.6   has reported weekly hours of employment equal to or greater than 
  2.7   the work requirement will not count toward the 60-month lifetime 
  2.8   limit on assistance. 
  2.9      Subd. 2.  [MONTHS COUNTED.] Count each month of MFIP cash 
  2.10  benefits received in this state for purposes of the 60-month 
  2.11  lifetime limit, except as follows: 
  2.12     (1) from July 1, 1999, to September 30, 1999, do not count 
  2.13  a month in which a single-parent caregiver has earnings that 
  2.14  average 25 hours or more per week; 
  2.15     (2) beginning July 1, 1999, do not count a month in which a 
  2.16  two-parent family has earnings that average 35 hours or more per 
  2.17  week; and 
  2.18     (3) beginning October 1, 1999, do not count a month in 
  2.19  which a single-parent caregiver has earnings that average 30 
  2.20  hours or more per week. 
  2.21     Sec. 3.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.22     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.23  commissioner of human services for the biennium beginning July 
  2.24  1, 1999, for purposes of section 2.