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256J.561 Universal participation required.

Subdivision 1. Implementation of universal participation requirements. (a) All caregivers whose applications were received July 1, 2004, or after, are immediately subject to the requirements in subdivision 2.

(b) For all MFIP participants who were exempt from participating in employment services under section 256J.56 as of June 30, 2004, between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005, the county, as part of the participant's recertification under section 256J.32, subdivision 6, shall determine whether a new employment plan is required to meet the requirements in subdivision 2. Counties shall notify each participant who is in need of an employment plan that the participant must meet with a job counselor within ten days to develop an employment plan. Until a participant's employment plan is developed, the participant shall be considered in compliance with the participation requirements in this section if the participant continues to meet the criteria for an exemption under section 256J.56 as in effect on June 30, 2004, and is cooperating in the development of the new plan.

Subd. 2. Participation requirements. (a) All MFIP caregivers, except caregivers who meet the criteria in subdivision 3, must participate in employment services. Except as specified in paragraphs (b) to (d), the employment plan must meet the requirements of section 256J.521, subdivision 2, contain allowable work activities, as defined in section 256J.49, subdivision 13, and, include at a minimum, the number of participation hours required under section 256J.55, subdivision 1.

(b) Minor caregivers and caregivers who are less than age 20 who have not completed high school or obtained a GED are required to comply with section 256J.54.

(c) A participant who has a family violence waiver shall develop and comply with an employment plan under section 256J.521, subdivision 3.

(d) As specified in section 256J.521, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), a participant who meets any one of the following criteria may work with the job counselor to develop an employment plan that contains less than the number of participation hours under section 256J.55, subdivision 1. Employment plans for participants covered under this paragraph must be tailored to recognize the special circumstances of caregivers and families including limitations due to illness or disability and caregiving needs:

(1) a participant who is age 60 or older;

(2) a participant who has been diagnosed by a qualified professional as suffering from an illness or incapacity that is expected to last for 30 days or more, including a pregnant participant who is determined to be unable to obtain or retain employment due to the pregnancy; or

(3) a participant who is determined by a qualified professional as being needed in the home to care for an ill or incapacitated family member, including 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).

(e) For participants covered under paragraphs (c) and (d), the county shall review the participant's employment services status every three months to determine whether conditions have changed. When it is determined that the participant's status is no longer covered under paragraph (c) or (d), the county shall notify the participant that a new or revised employment plan is needed. The participant and job counselor shall meet within ten days of the determination to revise the employment plan.

Subd. 3. Child under 12 weeks of age. (a) A participant who has a natural born child who is less than 12 weeks of age who meets the criteria in clauses (1) and (2) is not required to participate in employment services until the child reaches 12 weeks of age. To be eligible for this provision, the following conditions must be met:

(1) the child must have been born within ten months of the caregiver's application for the diversionary work program or MFIP; and

(2) the assistance unit must not have already used this provision or the previously allowed child under age one exemption. However, an assistance unit that has an approved child under age one exemption at the time this provision becomes effective may continue to use that exemption until the child reaches one year of age.

(b) The provision in paragraph (a) ends the first full month after the child reaches 12 weeks of age. This provision is available only once in a caregiver's lifetime. In a two-parent household, only one parent shall be allowed to use this provision. The participant and job counselor must meet within ten days after the child reaches 12 weeks of age to revise the participant's employment plan.

HIST: 1Sp2003 c 14 art 1 s 91

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