United States 115th Congress Status: Died 1 R cosponsors

HR 5843 — The Benefits to Employment Act

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

The Benefits to Employment Act This bill modifies the required content and timing of individual responsibility plans under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and requires states to periodically review such plans.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

1 section in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-124).

Social security · 42 U.S.C. ch. 7 1 section
  • § 608 Prohibitions; requirements Amends

    42 U.S.C. § 608 — at 608(b)

    The law today

    (a) In general (1) No assistance for families without a minor child A State to which a grant is made under section 603 of this title shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance to a family, unless the family includes a minor child who resides with the family (consistent with paragraph (10)) or a pregnant individual. (2) Reduction or elimination of assistance for noncooperation in establishing paternity or obtaining child support If the agency responsible for administering the State plan approved under part D determines that an individual is not cooperating with the State in establishing paternity or in establishing, modifying, or enforcing a support order with respect to a child of the individual, and the individual does not qualify for any good cause or other exception established by the State pursuant to section 654(29) of this title, then the State— (A) shall deduct from the assistance that would otherwise be provided to the family of the individual under the State program funded under this part an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the amount of such assistance; and (B) may deny the family any assistance under the State program. (3) No assistance for families not assigning certain support rights to the State A State to which a grant is made under section 603 of this title shall require, as a condition of paying assistance to a family under the State program funded under this part, that a member of the family assign to the State any right the family member may have (on behalf of the family member or of any other person for whom the family member has applied for or is receiving such assistance) to support from any other person, not exceeding the total amount of assistance so paid to the family, which accrues during the period that the family receives assistance under the program. (4) No assistance for teenage parents who do not attend high school or other equivalent training program A State to which a grant is made under section 603 of this title shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance to an individual who has not attained 18 years of age, is not married, has a minor child at least 12 weeks of age in his or her care, and has not successfully completed a high-school education (or its equivalent), if the individual does not participate in— (A) educational activities directed toward the attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalent; or (B) an alternative educational or training program that has been approved by the State. (5) No assistance for teenage parents not living in adult-supervised settings (A) In general (i) Requirement Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a State to which a grant is made under section 603 of this title shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance to an individual described in clause (ii) of this subparagraph if the individual and the minor child referred to in clause (ii)(II) do not reside in a place of residence maintained by a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative of the individual as such parent’s, guardian’s, or adult relative’s own home. (ii) Individual described For purposes of clause (i), an individual described in this clause is an individual who— (I) has not attained 18 years of age; and (II) is not married, and has a minor child in his or her care. (B) Exception (i) Provision of, or assistance in locating, adult-supervised living arrangement In the case of an individual who is described in clause (ii), the State agency referred to in section 602(a)(4) of this title shall provide, or assist the individual in locating, a second chance home, maternity home, or other appropriate adult-supervised supportive living arrangement, taking into consideration the needs and concerns of the individual, unless the State agency determines that the individual’s current living arrangement is appropriate, and thereafter shall require that the individual and the minor child referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) reside in such living...

    54 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

How this bill changes current law

1 change Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds new requirements for individual opportunity plans within the existing framework of assistance programs under title IV-A of the Social Security Act.

  • 42 U.S.C. 608(b)

    (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.

    This change establishes a requirement for states to create individual opportunity plans for recipients of assistance, detailing assessments, obligations, and periodic reviews.

Action History

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 5843 do?
The Benefits to Employment Act This bill modifies the required content and timing of individual responsibility plans under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and requires states to periodically review such plans.
Who sponsors HR 5843?
HR 5843 is sponsored by Smith, Jason (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 5843?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 5843?
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