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1 <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> Agenda Item Abstract <br /> Meeting Date: October 6, 1997 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item# /O-c- <br /> SUBJECT: Senate Bill 352: Part XII, Welfare Reform Initiatives <br /> Department: Social Services <br /> ATTACHMENT (S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Senate Bill 352 Marti Pryor-Cook,Ext.#2802 <br /> 2. Outline of county options <br /> (Pios and Cons) TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough - 732-8181 <br /> Durham - 688-7331 <br /> Mebane -227-2031 <br /> Chapel Hill - 967-9251/968-4501 <br /> Purpose: To provide information regarding the duties of county boards of <br /> commissioners as outlined in Senate Bill (SB) 352: Part XII, Welfare Reform Initiatives: <br /> Background: On August 28, 1997,the NC General Assembly approved SB 352, Part <br /> XII, Welfare Reform Initiatives. The legislation establishes The Work First Program as a <br /> program of public assistance,replacing the old Aid to Families with Dependent Children <br /> (AFDC) Program. The purpose of the Work First Program is to provide eligible families <br /> with short-term assistance to facilitate their movement to self-sufficiency through <br /> employment. <br /> In addition to specifying the specific requirements for operating and meeting the goals of <br /> the Work First Program,the legislation defines the duties of county boards of <br /> commissioners as follows: <br /> • Decide by three-fifths(3/5)majority vote whether the county will request designation <br /> as an Electing Program County or a Standard Program County. Electing counties may <br /> operate pilot programs and standard counties will operate under statewide eligibility <br /> criteria and benefit calculations. <br /> • Submit a written request and documentation of the three-fifths majority vote by <br /> October 31, 1997,to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services <br /> (DHHS)for consideration as an Electing or a Standard County designation. <br /> • Appoint a committee to identify the needs of the Work First population and to assist <br /> in developing the County Plan to respond to the needs. <br /> The committee membership shall include representatives of the board of social services; <br /> the boards of mental health;the public health board; the local school systems; the <br />