2007 Minnesota Statutes

256D.051 FOOD STAMP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM.
    Subdivision 1. Food stamp employment and training program. The commissioner
shall implement a food stamp employment and training program in order to meet the food
stamp employment and training participation requirements of the United States Department of
Agriculture. Unless exempt under subdivision 3a, each adult recipient in the unit must participate
in the food stamp employment and training program each month that the person is eligible for
food stamps. The person's participation in food stamp employment and training services must
begin no later than the first day of the calendar month following the determination of eligibility
for food stamps. With the county agency's consent, and to the extent of available resources, the
person may voluntarily continue to participate in food stamp employment and training services
for up to three additional consecutive months immediately following termination of food stamp
benefits in order to complete the provisions of the person's employability development plan.
    Subd. 1a. Notices and sanctions. (a) At the time the county agency notifies the household
that it is eligible for food stamps, the county agency must inform all mandatory employment and
training services participants as identified in subdivision 1 in the household that they must comply
with all food stamp employment and training program requirements each month, including the
requirement to attend an initial orientation to the food stamp employment and training program
and that food stamp eligibility will end unless the participants comply with the requirements
specified in the notice.
(b) A participant who fails without good cause to comply with food stamp employment
and training program requirements of this section, including attendance at orientation, will lose
food stamp eligibility for the following periods:
(1) for the first occurrence, for one month or until the person complies with the requirements
not previously complied with, whichever is longer;
(2) for the second occurrence, for three months or until the person complies with the
requirements not previously complied with, whichever is longer; or
(3) for the third and any subsequent occurrence, for six months or until the person complies
with the requirements not previously complied with, whichever is longer.
If the participant is not the food stamp head of household, the person shall be considered an
ineligible household member for food stamp purposes. If the participant is the food stamp head
of household, the entire household is ineligible for food stamps as provided in Code of Federal
Regulations, title 7, section 273.7(g). "Good cause" means circumstances beyond the control of
the participant, such as illness or injury, illness or injury of another household member requiring
the participant's presence, a household emergency, or the inability to obtain child care for children
between the ages of six and 12 or to obtain transportation needed in order for the participant to
meet the food stamp employment and training program participation requirements.
(c) The county agency shall mail or hand deliver a notice to the participant not later than five
days after determining that the participant has failed without good cause to comply with food
stamp employment and training program requirements which specifies the requirements that
were not complied with, the factual basis for the determination of noncompliance, and the right
to reinstate eligibility upon a showing of good cause for failure to meet the requirements. The
notice must ask the reason for the noncompliance and identify the participant's appeal rights. The
notice must request that the participant inform the county agency if the participant believes that
good cause existed for the failure to comply and must state that the county agency intends to
terminate eligibility for food stamp benefits due to failure to comply with food stamp employment
and training program requirements.
(d) If the county agency determines that the participant did not comply during the month
with all food stamp employment and training program requirements that were in effect, and if the
county agency determines that good cause was not present, the county must provide a ten-day
notice of termination of food stamp benefits. The amount of food stamps that are withheld from
the household and determination of the impact of the sanction on other household members is
governed by Code of Federal Regulations, title 7, section 273.7.
(e) The participant may appeal the termination of food stamp benefits under the provisions
of section 256.045.
    Subd. 1b.[Repealed, 1991 c 292 art 5 s 82]
    Subd. 2. County agency duties. (a) The county agency shall provide to food stamp recipients
a food stamp employment and training program. The program must include:
(1) orientation to the food stamp employment and training program;
(2) an individualized employability assessment and an individualized employability
development plan that includes assessment of literacy, ability to communicate in the English
language, educational and employment history, and that estimates the length of time it will take
the participant to obtain employment. The employability assessment and development plan must
be completed in consultation with the participant, must assess the participant's assets, barriers,
and strengths, and must identify steps necessary to overcome barriers to employment. A copy of
the employability development plan must be provided to the registrant;
(3) referral to available accredited remedial or skills training programs designed to address
participant's barriers to employment;
(4) referral to available programs that provide subsidized or unsubsidized employment as
necessary;
(5) a job search program, including job seeking skills training; and
(6) other activities, to the extent of available resources designed by the county agency to
prepare the participant for permanent employment.
In order to allow time for job search, the county agency may not require an individual to
participate in the food stamp employment and training program for more than 32 hours a week.
The county agency shall require an individual to spend at least eight hours a week in job search or
other food stamp employment and training program activities.
(b) The county agency shall prepare an annual plan for the operation of its food stamp
employment and training program. The plan must be submitted to and approved by the
commissioner of employment and economic development. The plan must include:
(1) a description of the services to be offered by the county agency;
(2) a plan to coordinate the activities of all public entities providing employment-related
services in order to avoid duplication of effort and to provide services more efficiently;
(3) a description of the factors that will be taken into account when determining a client's
employability development plan; and
(4) provisions to ensure that the county agency's employment and training service provider
provides each recipient with an orientation, employability assessment, and employability
development plan as specified in paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), within 30 days of the
recipient's eligibility for assistance.
    Subd. 2a. Duties of commissioner. In addition to any other duties imposed by law, the
commissioner shall:
(1) based on this section and section 256D.052 and Code of Federal Regulations, title 7,
section 273.7, supervise the administration of food stamp employment and training services
to county agencies;
(2) disburse money appropriated for food stamp employment and training services to county
agencies based upon the county's costs as specified in section 256D.051, subdivision 6c;
(3) accept and supervise the disbursement of any funds that may be provided by the federal
government or from other sources for use in this state for food stamp employment and training
services;
(4) cooperate with other agencies including any agency of the United States or of another
state in all matters concerning the powers and duties of the commissioner under this section
and section 256D.052; and
(5) in cooperation with the commissioner of employment and economic development, ensure
that each component of an employment and training program carried out under this section
is delivered through a statewide workforce development system, unless the component is not
available locally through such a system.
    Subd. 3. Participant duties. In order to receive food stamp assistance, a registrant shall:
(1) cooperate with the county agency in all aspects of the food stamp employment and training
program; (2) accept any suitable employment, including employment offered through the Job
Training Partnership Act, and other employment and training options; and (3) participate in food
stamp employment and training activities assigned by the county agency. The county agency may
terminate assistance to a registrant who fails to cooperate in the food stamp employment and
training program, as provided in subdivision 1a.
    Subd. 3a. Requirement to register work. (a) To the extent required under Code of Federal
Regulations, title 7, section 273.7(a), each applicant for and recipient of food stamps is required to
register for work as a condition of eligibility for food stamp benefits. Applicants and recipients
are registered by signing an application or annual reapplication for food stamps, and must be
informed that they are registering for work by signing the form.
(b) The commissioner shall determine, within federal requirements, persons required to
participate in the food stamp employment and training (FSET) program.
(c) The following food stamp recipients are exempt from mandatory participation in food
stamp employment and training services:
(1) recipients of benefits under the Minnesota family investment program, Minnesota
supplemental aid program, or the general assistance program;
(2) a child;
(3) a recipient over age 55;
(4) a recipient who has a mental or physical illness, injury, or incapacity which is expected
to continue for at least 30 days and which impairs the recipient's ability to obtain or retain
employment as evidenced by professional certification or the receipt of temporary or permanent
disability benefits issued by a private or government source;
(5) a parent or other household member responsible for the care of either a dependent child
in the household who is under age six or a person in the household who is professionally certified
as having a physical or mental illness, injury, or incapacity. Only one parent or other household
member may claim exemption under this provision;
(6) a recipient receiving unemployment insurance or who has applied for unemployment
insurance and has been required to register for work with the Department of Employment and
Economic Development as part of the unemployment insurance application process;
(7) a recipient participating each week in a drug addiction or alcohol abuse treatment and
rehabilitation program, provided the operators of the treatment and rehabilitation program, in
consultation with the county agency, recommend that the recipient not participate in the food
stamp employment and training program;
(8) a recipient employed or self-employed for 30 or more hours per week at employment
paying at least minimum wage, or who earns wages from employment equal to or exceeding 30
hours multiplied by the federal minimum wage; or
(9) a student enrolled at least half time in any school, training program, or institution of
higher education. When determining if a student meets this criteria, the school's, program's or
institution's criteria for being enrolled half time shall be used.
    Subd. 3b. Orientation. The county agency or its employment and training service provider
must provide an orientation to food stamp employment and training services to each nonexempt
food stamp recipient within 30 days of the date that food stamp eligibility is determined. The
orientation must inform the participant of the requirement to participate in services, the date,
time, and address to report to for services, the name and telephone number of the food stamp
employment and training service provider, the consequences for failure without good cause to
comply, the services and support services available through food stamp employment and training
services and other providers of similar services, and must encourage the participant to view the
food stamp program as a temporary means of supplementing the family's food needs until the
family achieves self-sufficiency through employment. The orientation may be provided through
audio-visual methods, but the participant must have the opportunity for face-to-face interaction
with county agency staff.
    Subd. 3c.[Repealed, 1991 c 292 art 5 s 82]
    Subd. 4.[Repealed, 1987 c 403 art 2 s 164]
    Subd. 5.[Repealed, 1987 c 403 art 2 s 164]
    Subd. 6.[Repealed, 1999 c 245 art 6 s 89]
    Subd. 6a.[Repealed, 1Sp1989 c 1 art 16 s 20 subd 3]
    Subd. 6b. Federal reimbursement. Federal financial participation from the United States
Department of Agriculture for food stamp employment and training expenditures that are eligible
for reimbursement through the food stamp employment and training program are dedicated funds
and are annually appropriated to the commissioner of human services for the operation of the
food stamp employment and training program. Federal financial participation for the nonstate
portion of food stamp employment and training costs must be paid to the county agency that
incurred the costs.
    Subd. 6c. Program funding. Within the limits of available resources, the commissioner shall
reimburse the actual costs of county agencies and their employment and training service providers
for the provision of food stamp employment and training services, including participant support
services, direct program services, and program administrative activities. The cost of services for
each county's food stamp employment and training program shall not exceed the annual allocated
amount. No more than 15 percent of program funds may be used for administrative activities.
The county agency may expend county funds in excess of the limits of this subdivision without
state reimbursement.
Program funds shall be allocated based on the county's average number of food stamp cases
as compared to the statewide total number of such cases. The average number of cases shall be
based on counts of cases as of March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of the previous
calendar year. The commissioner may reallocate unexpended money appropriated under this
section to those county agencies that demonstrate a need for additional funds.
    Subd. 7. Registrant status. A registrant under this section is not an employee for the
purposes of workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, retirement, or civil service laws, and
shall not perform work ordinarily performed by a regular public employee.
    Subd. 8. Voluntary quit. A person who is required to participate in food stamp employment
and training services is not eligible for food stamps if, without good cause, the person refuses a
legitimate offer of, or quits, suitable employment within 60 days before the date of application.
A person who is required to participate in food stamp employment and training services and,
without good cause, voluntarily quits suitable employment or refuses a legitimate offer of suitable
employment while receiving food stamps shall be terminated from the food stamp program as
specified in subdivision 1a.
    Subd. 9. Subcontractors. A county agency may, at its option, subcontract any or all of
the duties under this section to a public or private entity approved by the commissioner of
employment and economic development.
    Subd. 10.[Repealed, 1995 c 178 art 6 s 18]
    Subd. 11.[Repealed, 1987 c 403 art 2 s 164]
    Subd. 12.[Repealed, 1987 c 403 art 2 s 164]
    Subd. 13.[Repealed, 1995 c 178 art 6 s 18]
    Subd. 14.[Repealed, 1995 c 178 art 6 s 18]
    Subd. 15.[Repealed, 1995 c 178 art 6 s 18]
    Subd. 16.[Repealed, 1991 c 292 art 5 s 82]
    Subd. 17.[Repealed, 2004 c 288 art 4 s 62]
    Subd. 18. Work experience placements. (a) To the extent of available resources, each
county agency must establish and operate a work experience component in the food stamp
employment and training program for recipients who are subject to a federal limit of three months
of food stamp eligibility in any 36-month period. The purpose of the work experience component
is to enhance the participant's employability, self-sufficiency, and to provide meaningful,
productive work activities.
(b) The commissioner shall assist counties in the design and implementation of these
components. The commissioner must ensure that job placements under a work experience
component comply with section 256J.72. Written or oral concurrence with job duties of persons
placed under the community work experience program shall be obtained from the appropriate
exclusive bargaining representative.
(c) Worksites developed under this section are limited to projects that serve a useful public
service such as health, social service, environmental protection, education, urban and rural
development and redevelopment, welfare, recreation, public facilities, public safety, community
service, services to aged or disabled citizens, and child care. To the extent possible, the prior
training, skills, and experience of a recipient must be used in making appropriate work experience
assignments.
(d) Structured, supervised volunteer work with an agency or organization that is monitored
by the county service provider may, with the approval of the county agency, be used as a work
experience placement.
(e) As a condition of placing a person receiving food stamps in a program under this
subdivision, the county agency shall first provide the recipient the opportunity:
(1) for placement in suitable subsidized or unsubsidized employment through participation in
job search under section 256D.051; or
(2) for placement in suitable employment through participation in on-the-job training, if such
employment is available.
(f) The county agency shall limit the maximum monthly number of hours that any participant
may work in a work experience placement to a number equal to the amount of the family's
monthly food stamp allotment divided by the greater of the federal minimum wage or the
applicable state minimum wage.
After a participant has been assigned to a position for nine months, the participant may not
continue in that assignment unless the maximum number of hours a participant works is no
greater than the amount of the food stamp benefit divided by the rate of pay for individuals
employed in the same or similar occupations by the same employer at the same site.
(g) The participant's employability development plan must include the length of time needed
in the work experience program, the need to continue job seeking activities while participating
in work experience, and the participant's employment goals.
(h) After each six months of a recipient's participation in a work experience job placement,
and at the conclusion of each work experience assignment under this section, the county agency
shall reassess and revise, as appropriate, the participant's employability development plan.
(i) A participant has good cause for failure to cooperate with a work experience job
placement if, in the judgment of the employment and training service provider, the reason
for failure is reasonable and justified. Good cause for purposes of this section is defined in
subdivision 1a, paragraph (b).
(j) A recipient who has failed without good cause to participate in or comply with the
work experience job placement shall be terminated from participation in work experience job
activities. If the recipient is not exempt from mandatory food stamp employment and training
program participation under subdivision 3a, the recipient will be assigned to other mandatory
program activities. If the recipient is exempt from mandatory participation but is participating as a
volunteer, the person shall be terminated from the food stamp employment and training program.
    Subd. 19.[Repealed, 1999 c 245 art 6 s 89]
History: 1Sp1985 c 9 art 2 s 60; 1Sp1985 c 14 art 9 s 75; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 403 art 3 s
33-37; 1989 c 282 art 5 s 52-65,133; 1Sp1989 c 1 art 16 s 12,22; 1990 c 568 art 4 s 26-30,84;
1991 c 292 art 5 s 36-42; 1992 c 513 art 8 s 19,20; 1Sp1993 c 1 art 6 s 31,32; 1Sp1993 c 6 s 15;
1994 c 483 s 1; 1995 c 178 art 6 s 2-13,17; 1996 c 465 art 3 s 33,34; 1997 c 66 s 80; 1997 c 85
art 3 s 35-38; 1998 c 407 art 6 s 15; 1999 c 107 s 66; 1999 c 159 s 61; 1999 c 245 art 6 s 1,2;
2000 c 343 s 4; 2004 c 206 s 52; 2004 c 288 art 4 s 27; 2005 c 159 art 5 s 4