[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5843 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5843
To amend title IV-A of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 16, 2018
Mr. Smith of Missouri (for himself and Mr. Smith of Nebraska)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means
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A BILL
To amend title IV-A of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``The Benefits to Employment Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPECTING UNIVERSAL ENGAGEMENT AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
Section 408(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(b)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(b) Individual Opportunity Plans.--
``(1) Assessment.--The State agency responsible for
administering the State program funded under this part shall
make an initial assessment of the following for each recipient
of assistance who is required to be engaged in work pursuant to
section 407(c):
``(A) The education obtained, skills, prior work
experience, work readiness, and barriers to work of the
individual.
``(B) The well-being of the children in the family
of the individual and, where appropriate, activities or
services (such as services offered by a program funded
under section 511) to improve the well-being of the
children.
``(2) Contents of plans.--On the basis of the assessment
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection, the State agency,
in consultation with the individual, shall develop an
individual opportunity plan that--
``(A) includes a personal responsibility agreement
in which the individual acknowledges receipt of
publicly-funded benefits and responsibility to comply
with program requirements in order to receive the
benefits;
``(B) sets forth the obligations of the individual
to participate in work activities, and the number of
hours per month for which the individual will so
participate pursuant to section 407(c);
``(C) sets forth an employment goal and planned
short-, intermediate-, and long-term actions to achieve
the goal, and, in the case of an individual who has not
attained 24 years of age and is in secondary school or
the equivalent, the intermediate action may be
completion of secondary school or the equivalent;
``(D) describes the job counseling and other
services the State will provide to the individual to
enable the individual to obtain and keep employment in
the private sector;
``(E) may include referral to appropriate substance
abuse or mental health treatment; and
``(F) is signed by the individual.
``(3) Timing.--The State agency shall comply with paragraph
(1) and (2) with respect to a work-eligible individual--
``(A) within 180 days after the effective date of
this subsection, in the case of an individual who, as
of such effective date, is a recipient of assistance
under the State program funded under this part (as in
effect immediately before such effective date); or
``(B) within 60 days after the individual is
determined to be eligible for the assistance, in the
case of any other individual.
``(4) Penalty for noncompliance by individual.--In addition
to any other penalties required under the State program funded
under this part, the State may reduce, by such amount as the
State considers appropriate, the amount of assistance otherwise
payable under the State program to a family that includes an
individual who fails without good cause to comply with an
individual opportunity plan developed pursuant to this
subsection, that is signed by the individual.
``(5) Periodic review.--The State shall meet with each
work-eligible individual assessed by the State under paragraph
(1), not less frequently than every 90 days, to--
``(A) review the individual opportunity plan
developed for the individual;
``(B) discuss with the individual the progress made
by the individual in achieving the goals specified in
the plan; and
``(C) update the plan, as necessary, to reflect any
changes in the circumstances of the individual since
the plan was last reviewed.
``(6) State discretion.--A State shall have sole
discretion, consistent with section 407, to define and design
activities for families for purposes of this subsection, to
develop methods for monitoring and reviewing progress pursuant
to this subsection, and to make modifications to the plans
developed pursuant to this subsection as the State deems
appropriate to assist families in increasing their degree of
self-sufficiency.''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendment made by this Act shall take effect on October 1,
2018.
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