2006 Minnesota Statutes

256J.57 GOOD CAUSE EXEMPTION FROM SANCTION.
    Subdivision 1. Good cause for failure to comply. The county agency shall not impose the
sanction under section 256J.46 if it determines that the participant has good cause for failing to
comply with the requirements of sections 256J.515 to 256J.57. Good cause exists when:
(1) appropriate child care is not available;
(2) the job does not meet the definition of suitable employment;
(3) the participant is ill or injured;
(4) a member of the assistance unit, a relative in the household, or a foster child in the
household is ill and needs care by the participant that prevents the participant from complying
with the employment plan;
(5) the participant is unable to secure necessary transportation;
(6) the participant is in an emergency situation that prevents compliance with the
employment plan;
(7) the schedule of compliance with the employment plan conflicts with judicial proceedings;
(8) a mandatory MFIP meeting is scheduled during a time that conflicts with a judicial
proceeding or a meeting related to a juvenile court matter, or a participant's work schedule;
(9) the participant is already participating in acceptable work activities;
(10) the employment plan requires an educational program for a caregiver under age 20,
but the educational program is not available;
(11) activities identified in the employment plan are not available;
(12) the participant is willing to accept suitable employment, but suitable employment is
not available; or
(13) the participant documents other verifiable impediments to compliance with the
employment plan beyond the participant's control.
The job counselor shall work with the participant to reschedule mandatory meetings for
individuals who fall under clauses (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8).
    Subd. 2. Notice of intent to sanction. (a) When a participant fails without good cause to
comply with the requirements of sections 256J.515 to 256J.57, the job counselor or the county
agency must provide a notice of intent to sanction to the participant specifying the program
requirements that were not complied with, informing the participant that the county agency
will impose the sanctions specified in section 256J.46, and informing the participant of the
opportunity to request a conciliation conference as specified in paragraph (b). The notice must
also state that the participant's continuing noncompliance with the specified requirements will
result in additional sanctions under section 256J.46, without the need for additional notices or
conciliation conferences under this subdivision. The notice, written in English, must include the
Department of Human Services language block, and must be sent to every applicable participant.
If the participant does not request a conciliation conference within ten calendar days of the
mailing of the notice of intent to sanction, the job counselor must notify the county agency that
the assistance payment should be reduced. The county must then send a notice of adverse action
to the participant informing the participant of the sanction that will be imposed, the reasons for
the sanction, the effective date of the sanction, and the participant's right to have a fair hearing
under section 256J.40.
(b) The participant may request a conciliation conference by sending a written request, by
making a telephone request, or by making an in-person request. The request must be received
within ten calendar days of the date the county agency mailed the ten-day notice of intent to
sanction. If a timely request for a conciliation is received, the county agency's service provider
must conduct the conference within five days of the request. The job counselor's supervisor, or
a designee of the supervisor, must review the outcome of the conciliation conference. If the
conciliation conference resolves the noncompliance, the job counselor must promptly inform the
county agency and request withdrawal of the sanction notice.
(c) Upon receiving a sanction notice, the participant may request a fair hearing under
section 256J.40, without exercising the option of a conciliation conference. In such cases, the
county agency shall not require the participant to engage in a conciliation conference prior to
the fair hearing.
(d) If the participant requests a fair hearing or a conciliation conference, sanctions will
not be imposed until there is a determination of noncompliance. Sanctions must be imposed as
provided in section 256J.46.
History: 1997 c 85 art 1 s 48; 1998 c 407 art 6 s 104; 1999 c 245 art 6 s 71; 1Sp2001 c 9 art
10 s 47; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 1Sp2003 c 14 art 1 s 92; 2004 c 288 art 4 s 50