HB4636 S H&HR AM #1

K. White 7982

    The Committee on Health and Human Resources moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §25-8-1 and §25-8-2, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 8. RESPONSIBLE PARENT PROGRAM PILOT PROJECT.

§25-8-1. Authorization of responsible parent program pilot project.

    The Division of Corrections in an effort to improve child and family well-being and to empower men and women with the skills and resources needed to succeed as parents and as family providers, may implement a twenty-four month pilot project to establish a responsible parent program that:

    (a) Identifies for enrollment in the program persons who:

    (1) Are parents of one or more children;

    (2) Are present or former recipients of Temporary Aid to Needy Families or have one or more children who are receiving Temporary Aid to Needy Families;

    (3) Have an income that is at two hundred percent or below the federal poverty level; or

    (4) Are within six months of their release from prison or have been previously incarcerated, and

    (5) Currently reside or will reside in Kanawha, Cabell, Raleigh, Mason, Mercer, McDowell, Wood or Randolph Counties.

    (b) Includes a course of instruction, which may include, but not be limited to:

    (1) Healthy marriage/relationship skills;

    (2) Parenting skills;

    (3) Job seeking training that includes:

    (A) Knowledge of personal aptitudes, skills and preferences;

    (B) Knowledge of different types of employment opportunities;

    (C) Resume drafting, completion of a job application, drafting a cover letter and follow-up letter; and

    (D) Interview skills;

    (4) Vocational training;

    (5) Basics of domestic violence; and

    (6) Drug and/or alcohol addiction.

    (c) Requires the successful completion of a transitional job assignment.

§25-8-2. Reporting Requirements.

    If a responsible parent program pilot project is implemented by the Division of Corrections, that agency shall submit an annual report on the results of the pilot project to the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary by July 1 of each year during implementation of the pilot project. The results shall include at a minimum:

    (a) Key process measures, including:

    (1) The number of participants served;

    (2) The demographics of participants;

    (3) Attendance/participation in training elements;

    (4) The knowledge acquired by participants;

    (5) Participant behavior changes as a result of program participation;

    (6) The number of participants gaining employment and their wages earned;

    (7) The number of participants completing vocational training;

    (8) The number of participants successfully completing transitional job assignments;

    (9) The number of participants demonstrating workforce readiness; and

    (10) The recidivism rate of participants.

    (b) An unbiased comparison of the outcomes between program participants and similarly situated persons not in the program.

Adopted

Rejected