HB 6520 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF TEMPORARY STATE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

The standard of assistance paid for individuals residing in rated boarding facilities shall remain at the level in effect onAugust 31, 2003.

No person sHB6520 / File No.

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773 shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program if eligible for cash assistance under any other state or federal cash assistance program.

The standards of assistance set forth in this subsection shall be subject to annual increases, as described in subsection (b) of section 17b-104.

(c)To beeligiblefor cashassistance under theprogram, a personshall (1) be (A) eighteen years of age or older;

In determining eligibility, the commissioner shall not consider as income (A) Aid and Attendance pensionbenefitsgrantedto aveteran,asdefinedinsection27-103,or the survivingspouseofsuchveteran,or(B)withinavailableappropriations,surviving thespouse income of an applicant's spouse, domestic partner or other household member credibly accused of domestic violence by the applicant when such applicantveteran. is a victim of domestic violence, as defined in section 17b-112a.

TheNo commissionerperson shallwho notis includea thesubstance incomeabuser ofand suchrefuses spouse, domestic partner or otherfails householdto memberenter inavailable, theappropriate householdtreatment incomeshall ofbe sucheligible applicant for acash periodassistance ofunder notthe lessprogram thanuntil ninetysuch daysperson afterenters thetreatment. applicant applies for assistance.

The commissioner may redetermine the applicant's eligibility for assistance after ninety days.

For purposes of this subsection, allegations of domestic violence may be substantiated by the commissioner pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17b-112a.

No person who is a substance abuser andrefusesor failsto enter available,appropriatetreatment shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program until such person enters treatment.

sHB6520(d) /Prior Fileto No.or upon discontinuance of assistance, a person previously determined to be a transitional person may petition the commissioner to review the determination of his or her status.

343In 4such sHB6520review, Filethe No.commissioner shall consider factors, including, but not limited to:

343(1) Sec.Age;

4.(2) education;

Subsection(3) (c)vocational oftraining; section 17b-112a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):

(c)(4) [Themental Commissionerand ofphysical Socialhealth; Services] Notwithstanding the provisions of section 17b-112, the Commissioner of Social Services shall expedite an eligibility determination for an applicant for temporary family assistance who is a victim of domestic violence.

Toand the(5) extentemployment permissiblehistory underand federal law, the commissioner shall notmake includea thedetermination income of the applicant's spouse, domestic partner or other household member credibly accused of domestic violence by such applicantperson's forability ato periodobtain ofgainful notemployment. less than ninety days after the applicant applies for temporary family assistance.

The(e) commissionerNotwithstanding mayany redetermineother suchprovision applicant'sof eligibilitythis section or section 17b-194, a victim of domestic violence, as defined in section 17b-112a, who is not eligible for temporarydiversion familyassistance under the provisions of section 17b-112g, as amended by this act, shall be eligible for a one-time assistance afterpayment ninetyunder days.the state-administered general assistance program within resources available to the Department of Social sHB6520 / File No.

The773 commissionersHB6520 shallFile notifyNo. applicants and recipients of temporary family assistance, who are past or present victims of domestic violence or at risk of further domestic violence, of the following:

(1)773 ReferralsServices. available to counseling and supportive services, including, but not limitedto,shelterservices,medicalservices,domestic abuse hotlines, legal counseling and advocacy, mental health care and financial assistance;

andSuch (2)Procedurestovoluntarilyandconfidentiallypayment identifyeligibilityshall forbe referralsequivalent to that which such counselingvictim would be entitled to receive as diversion assistance if such victim and supportivehis services.or her family, if any, were eligible for diversion assistance.

In determining whether and in what amount a victim of domestic violence and his or her family are eligible for a one-time assistance payment pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall not include as a member of such victim's family the spouse, domestic partner or other household member credibly accused of domestic violence by such victim, nor shall the commissioner count the income or assets of such a spouse, domestic partner or other household member.

For purposes of this subsection, allegations of domestic violence may be substantiated by the commissioner pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17b-112a, and "family" has the same meaning as used in section 17b-112, except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

Section 1 July 1, 2021 17b-105a17b-112g(a) Sec.

2 July 1, 2021 17b-749(b)17b-191 andsHB6520 (c)/ JulyFile 1,No. 2021 Sec.

3773 17b-191(c)4 Sec.sHB6520 File No.

4773 JulyThe 1,following 2021Fiscal 17b-112a(c)Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of Legislativethe Commissioners:members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In Section 3(c)(2)(B) and Section 4(c), "count" was changed to "include" for clarity.

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343 HS Joint Favorable Subst.

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343 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 22 $ FY 23 $ EarlySocial Childhood,Services, Off.;Dept.

Social GF - Potential See Below See Below Services,Cost Dept.Note:

Cost Note:

None Explanation The bill could result in a cost to the Department of Social Services (DSS) and Office of Early Childhood (OEC) associated with providing temporaryassistancetodomesticviolencevictimswhiletemporary waivingcertainassistance incometo standardsdomestic forviolence atvictims. least 90 days from the date of application.

1 The number of individuals who would qualify for diversion assistance or state administered general assistance and the value of the benefit under the bill is unknown.

ForThe context,maximum thebenefit averagecannot costexceed perthe caseequivalent forof 90three daysmonths of benefitsTemporary isFamily approximatelyAssistance $3,480benefits, forwhich Care4Kids,is $610approximately for State Administered General Assistance, and $1,420 forper Temporarycase. Family Assistance.

TheHouse bill"A" alsostrikes requiresthe 90language daysin ofthe expeditedunderlying assistancebill underand the Supplementalassociated Nutritionfiscal Assistanceimpact Programand (SNAP)results toin the extentimpact alloweddescribed underabove. federal law.

While domestic violence victims are not currently entitledto expedited SNAPbenefitsunder federalregulations, thestate couldincur administrative coststo support systemadjustments if this change were to be implemented.

SNAP benefits are federally- 1The bill requires the state to exclude the income of the victim’s credibly accused spouse, domestic partner, or other household member when considering eligibility for SAGA, TFA, and SNAP.

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343 funded and subject to federal regulations.

Sources:sHB6520 / File No.

Department773 of Social Services Caseload Information Office of Early Childhood Caseload Information sHB6520 / File No.

343773 8OLR sHB6520Bill FileAnalysis No.sHB 6520 (as amended by House "A")* AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF TEMPORARY STATE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

343SUMMARY OLRThis Billbill Analysisgenerally sHBprovides 6520a ANone-time ACTcash CONCERNINGassistance THEbenefit PROVISIONto OFeligible TEMPORARYdomestic STATEviolence SERVICES(DV) TOvictims VICTIMSunder OFtemporary DOMESTICfamily VIOLENCE.assistance (TFA) or state administered general assistance (SAGA).

SUMMARYIt Thisallows billallegations generallyof provides temporary assistance to domestic violence (DV)to victimsbe undersubstantiated (1)in theaccordance followingwith federally-fundedexisting programs,law to(see theBACKGROUND). extent permissible under federal law:

supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP);

Care-4-Kids (C4K) childcare subsidy program;

and temporary family assistance (TFA);

and (2) state administered general assistance (SAGA).

The bill allows allegations of domestic violence to be substantiated in accordance with existing law (see BACKGROUND).

*House Amendment “A” eliminates the provisions in the underlying bill on benefits for DV victims under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and Care-4-Kids (C4K) childcare subsidy program and changes the underlying bill’s provisions on TFA and SAGA benefits to provide a one-time cash benefit rather than ongoing benefits.

July 1, 2021 § 1 –— SNAPTFA BENEFITSDIVERSION TheCASH billASSISTANCE requiresBy law, the Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissionercommissioner must offer immediate diversion assistance to expediteprevent SNAPcertain eligibilityfamilies determinationswho are applying for domesticmonthly violenceTFA victims.fromneeding suchassistance.

ItUnder requiresthelaw, herdiversion assistance must be offered to providefamilies anthat eligible(1) DVupon victiminitial temporaryassessment SNAPare benefitsdetermined eligible for TFA, (2) demonstrate a minimumshort- term need that cannot be met with current or anticipated family resources, and (3) with the provision of 90a daysservice beforeor redeterminingshort-term benefitbenefit, eligibility.would be prevented from needing monthly TFA.

WhensHB6520 conducting/ anFile expeditedNo. eligibility determination, DSS must exclude the income of the victim’s credibly accused spouse, domestic partner, or other household member from the victim’s household income.

DSS773 must6 takesHB6520 theseFile actionsNo. to the extent permissible under federal law.

(DV773 victimsThe arebillrequiresDSS, notwithinavailableresources,to entitled(1)deema person who requests diversion assistance based on being a DV victim to expeditedhave SNAPmet benefitsthe undershort-term currentneed federalrequirement regulations,(i.e., butthe maysecond berequirement otherwiseabove) eligibleand if(2) theynot meetsubject such person to the establishedthird incomerequirement standards;above.

seeUnder BACKGROUND.)the sHB6520bill, /in Filedetermining No.(1) whether the DV victim’s family is eligible for TFA and (2) the appropriate amount of diversion assistance to provide, the DSS commissioner must exclude as a member of the family the spouse, domestic partner, or other household member credibly accused of domestic violence by the victim.

343Also, 9the sHB6520commissioner Filemust No.not count the income or assets of such a spouse, domestic partner, or other household member.

343By SNAP,law, formerly“family” ormeans colloquiallyone knownor asmore foodindividuals stamps,who isapply afor federally-or funded,receive state-administeredassistance programtogether thatunder providesthe electronicTFA benefitprogram transfer(CGS funds§ to17b-112). low-income households for food purchases.

§ 2 –— C4KSAGA CHILDCARECASH SUBSIDYASSISTANCE TheUnder bill requires the Officebill, ofa EarlyDV Childhoodvictim (OEC)who Commissioner,is tonot theeligible extentfor permissibleTFA underdiversion federalassistance lawmust andbe withineligible available appropriations, to waive C4K income standards when determining eligibility for ata leastone-time 90assistance dayspayment forunder anySAGA, allegedwithin DVavailable victimDSS applicant.resources.

ItThe requiresone-time OECpayment must be equal to redeterminewhat eligibilitythe basedvictim uponwould be entitled to receive as diversion assistance if the program’svictim incomeand standardshis afteror thisher period.family, if any, were eligible for diversion assistance.

TheIn billdetermining alsowhether addsand in what amount a DV victimsvictim toand thehis listor ofher applicantsfamily whoare musteligible befor givena priorityone-time inassistance payment, the C4Kcommissioner intakemust andexclude eligibilityas process,a tomember of the extentvictim's permissiblefamily underthe federalspouse, law.domestic partner, or other household member credibly accused of domestic violence by the victim.

TheAdditionally, C4Kthe programcommissioner subsidizesmust childnot carecount coststhe for low- and moderate- income familiesor whileassets aof parentsuch is working or attending a temporaryspouse, familydomestic cashpartner, assistance approved education or trainingother programhousehold (i.e.,member. a Jobs First participant).

§ 3 – SAGA CASH ASSISTANCE Under thethis bill,provision, in“family” determininghas eligibility for SAGA cash assistance, the DSSsame commissionermeaning mustas excludeused theunder income of a DV victim’s credibly accused spouse, domestic partner, or other household member for at least 90 days from the applicationTFA date,program. within available appropriations.

ItIn allowsgeneral, DSSSAGA provides cash assistance to redeterminesingle SAGAor eligibilitymarried basedchildless uponindividuals thewho program’shave incomevery standardslow afterincomes, thedo 90-daynot period.qualify for any other cash assistance program, and are considered “transitional” or “unemployable.” sHB6520 / File No.

In773 general,7 SAGAsHB6520 providesFile cashNo. assistance to single or married childless individuals who have very low incomes, do not qualify for any other cash assistance program, and are considered “transitional” or “unemployable.” § 4 – TFA CASH ASSISTANCE The bill requires the DSS commissioner to expedite TFA eligibility determinations for DV victim applicants.

To773 theBACKGROUND extentSubstantiating permissibleDomestic underViolence federalAllegations law,The thelaw commissionerdefines must“victim excludeof thedomestic incomeviolence” ofas thea applicant’sperson crediblywho accusedhas spouse,been domesticabused partner, or othersubjected sHB6520to /extreme Filecruelty No.by:

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343 household member for a minimum of 90 days after the application date.

The commissioner may redetermine TFA eligibility after the 90-day period.

TFA is Connecticut’s cash assistance program for low-income families, funded through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant.

BACKGROUND Substantiating Domestic Violence Allegations The law defines “victim of domestic violence” as a person who has been abused or subjected to extreme cruelty by:

• threats of,of or attempts at,at physical or sexual abuse;

By law, a DV victim’s allegations may be sufficientenough to establish domestic violence where DSS has no independent, reasonable basis to find the applicant or recipient not credible.

(2) documentation from a shelter worker, legal, medical, clerical, or other professionalprofessionalfromwhomtheapplicant from whom the applicant or recipient soughthassought assistance in dealing with domestic violence;

or (3) a statement from someonesomeonewith with knowledge of the circumstances that provide the basis for the claim (CGS § 17b-112a).

Related Bill sSB 1091, as amended by Senate “A” and passed by the Senate, has identical provisions (§§ 13 & 14).

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343773 ExpeditedCOMMITTEE SNAPACTION BenefitsHuman UnderServices federalCommittee regulations,Joint DSSFavorable mustSubstitute postYea expedited19 SNAPNay benefits0 to(03/18/2021) thesHB6520 household’s/ EBTFile cardNo. by the seventh calendar day following their application filing date (7 C.F.R.

§773 273.2(i)(3)(i)).9

This time limit would also apply to residents of shelters for battered women and children who are otherwise entitled to expedited service (7 C.F.R.

§ 273.2 (i)(3)(v)).

The following households are entitled to expedited service:

1.

households with less than $150 in monthly gross income, provided their liquid resources (e.g., cash, checking or savings accounts) do not exceed $100;

2.

migrant or seasonal farmworker households who are destitute, provided their liquid resources do not exceed $100;

and 3.

households whose combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than the household’s monthly rent or mortgage, and utilities (7 C.F.R.

§ 273.2(i)(1)).

COMMITTEE ACTION Human Services Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/18/2021) sHB6520 / File No.

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