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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 204 appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund to the Commission on the Status of Women for continuing to implement TEAMWORKS, a job placement program for persons eligible to receive temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) who are referred to the commission by the Human services Department from July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000.

Significant Issues

House Bill 204 requires that the commission shall cooperate and coordinate with the Human Services Department, and that prior to expenditure of funds, the commission shall seek approval from the department for each program it develops. The appropriation is contingent upon certification by the secretary of the Human Services Department to the Department of Finance and Administration that the commission has entered into an agreement with the Human Services Department that the following elements will be included: 1) programs that maintain a work-first concept; 2) programs that contain measurable performance standards; 3) programs that identify the number of target clients; 4) programs that provide a tracking and reporting element; and 5) appropriate administrative and accounting procedures and oversight by the Human Services Department ensuring that expenditures meet all federal and state requirements for maintenance of effort (MOE), including the cap on administrative costs.

The 1998 Legislature appropriated $500.0 from "operating transfers in" derived from general fund appropriations to the Human Services Department for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program match to the Commission on the Status of Women. The purpose of the appropriation was to develop a program that would meet the New Mexico Works Act for a program directed at workforce development for adult women in accordance with the maintenance of effort requirements for the TANF grant for the State of New Mexico.

The commission developed a program entitled TEAMWORKS. The goal of the program is placement in employment or other acceptable work activity. The program contains components intended to assure the success of participants. The program is neighborhood-based to minimize transportation problems, utilizes group dynamics to encourage mutual support among clients, and offers work readiness and placement assistance services through contracts with training programs and direct job training.

House Bill 204 would allow more clients to participate in the program offered by the Commission on the Status of Women.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The Commission on the Status of Women would contract with independent consultants to provide the services; therefore, the fiscal and administrative impact to the commission would be minimal.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Executive recommends retaining TANF dollars for such contract programs within Human Services Department, consistent with the Executive's recommendation for the Human Services Department.

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