TANF; time limit on receipt of financial assistance. (HB2213)
Introduced By
Del. John O'Bannon (R-Richmond) with support from co-patron Del. Steve Landes (R-Weyers Cave)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Time limit on the receipt of TANF financial assistance. Reduces the total lifetime limit on TANF financial assistance to 24 months; reduces the number of consecutive months a person may receive TANF before a period of ineligibility from 24 to 12 consecutive months; and reduces the time period of ineligibility from 24 months to 12 consecutive months. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 01/11/2017 | Committee |
| 01/11/2017 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100918D |
| 01/11/2017 | Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions |
| 01/17/2017 | Assigned HWI sub: Subcommittee #2 |
| 01/26/2017 | Subcommittee recommends reporting (6-Y 2-N) |
| 01/27/2017 | Impact statement from DPB (HB2213) |
| 01/31/2017 | Reported from Health, Welfare and Institutions (12-Y 10-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/31/2017 | Referred to Committee on Appropriations |
| 01/31/2017 | Assigned App. sub: Health & Human Resources |
| 02/03/2017 | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table |
| 02/08/2017 | Left in Appropriations |
Comments
TANF is a safety net program that is, to begin with, underfunded. Only 23% to 30% of TANF goes to actual cash benefits to qualifying Virginians. And, cash benefits paid to TANF recipients are approximately 30% of the poverty level, effectively miring a person in poverty.
Poverty is a systemic problem and quite often a trap for many people who are poor. Cutting the consecutive length of time any person or family can receive TANF benefits effectively, one more time, short cuts efforts to rise out of poverty. Unfortunately, many bills like HB 2213 are based on unproven theory that people simply need to work and stand on their own two feet. The fact is that most people who are poor are hard workers and willing to do what is necessary. Systemic poverty makes that incredibly difficult. HB 2213 would effectively throw one additional barrier into a system that is already problematic for many people in poverty.