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256J.56 Employment and training services component; exemptions.

(a) Paragraphs (b) and (c) apply only to an MFIP participant who was exempt from participating in employment services as of June 30, 2004, has not been required to develop an employment plan under section 256J.561, and continues to qualify for an exemption under this section. All exemptions under this section expire at the time of the participant's recertification. No new exemptions shall be granted under this section after June 30, 2004.

(b) A participant is exempt from the requirements of sections 256J.515 to 256J.57 if the participant continues to belong to any of the following groups:

(1) participants who are age 60 or older;

(2) participants who are suffering from a permanent or temporary illness, injury, or incapacity which has been certified by a qualified professional when the illness, injury, or incapacity is expected to continue for more than 30 days and prevents the person from obtaining or retaining employment. Persons in this category with a temporary illness, injury, or incapacity must be reevaluated at least quarterly;

(3) participants whose presence in the home is required as a caregiver because of the illness, injury, or incapacity of another member in the assistance unit, a relative in the household, or a foster child in the household when the illness or incapacity and the need for a person to provide assistance in the home has been certified by a qualified professional and is expected to continue for more than 30 days;

(4) women who are pregnant, if the pregnancy has resulted in an incapacity that prevents the woman from obtaining or retaining employment, and the incapacity has been certified by a qualified professional;

(5) caregivers of a child under the age of one year who personally provide full-time care for the child. This exemption may be used for only 12 months in a lifetime. In two-parent households, only one parent or other relative may qualify for this exemption;

(6) participants experiencing a personal or family crisis that makes them incapable of participating in the program, as determined by the county agency. If the participant does not agree with the county agency's determination, the participant may seek certification from a qualified professional, as defined in section 256J.08, that the participant is incapable of participating in the program.

Persons in this exemption category must be reevaluated every 60 days. A personal or family crisis related to family violence, as determined by the county or a job counselor with the assistance of a person trained in domestic violence, should not result in an exemption, but should be addressed through the development or revision of an employment plan under section 256J.521, subdivision 3; or

(7) caregivers with a child or an adult in the household who meets the disability or medical criteria for home care services under section 256B.0627, subdivision 1, paragraph (f), or a home and community-based waiver services program under chapter 256B, or meets the criteria for severe emotional disturbance under section 245.4871, subdivision 6, or for serious and persistent mental illness under section 245.462, subdivision 20, paragraph (c). Caregivers in this exemption category are presumed to be prevented from obtaining or retaining employment.

A caregiver who is exempt under clause (5) must enroll in and attend an early childhood and family education class, a parenting class, or some similar activity, if available, during the period of time the caregiver is exempt under this section. Notwithstanding section 256J.46, failure to attend the required activity shall not result in the imposition of a sanction.

(c) The county agency must provide employment and training services to MFIP participants who are exempt under this section, but who volunteer to participate. Exempt volunteers may request approval for any work activity under section 256J.49, subdivision 13. The hourly participation requirements for nonexempt participants under section 256J.55, subdivision 1, do not apply to exempt participants who volunteer to participate.

(d) This section expires on June 30, 2005.

HIST: 1997 c 85 art 1 s 47; 1998 c 407 art 6 s 103; 1999 c 245 art 6 s 70; 2000 c 488 art 10 s 21; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 10 s 46; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 1 s 90; 2004 c 288 art 4 s 49

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Revisor of Statutes