Workforce Funding and Policy Updates from Washington

1. News From Washington This is Wilmington ↓ Bob Knight ResCare Workforce Services

2. Where Things Stand • Republican Majorities 238 to 194 in House and 52-48 in Senate • But Republican Party is sometimes divided: • Fiscal Conservatives • Trump Supporters • Others (Libertarians, Moderates, Establishment) • As Are Democrats sometimes: Progressive, Liberal, Centrist, Sanders, Establishment • Getting Results with Majority of the Majority Rule

3. Workforce Appropriations • CR Ended March 23 • Final Budget Deal Funded Domestic Programs at FY’17 Levels in FY’18 with Planned Increases in Both Domestic and Defense Spending for FY’19 • But then Appropriators Added Almost $100 Million to Core WIOA Programs • Huge Growth in Deficit is Long-Term Challenge

4. Workforce Funding Thus Far(In $ Millions)

5. North Carolina State-Level Allotments

6. Workforce-Related Legislation • House considering bill to double number of families eligible for child care assistance • PROSPER Act would rewrite Higher Education Act • Infrastructure Proposals Languish • WIOA Oversight Hearings??

7. Now Over 20 Years with Work Requirements for Welfare; Has It Worked? • TANF must now integrate into one-stop unless governor opts out/how is that working so far? • TANF Expires 9/30/18 • Likely to be Extended as is; Reauthorization not likely Until 2019 or Beyond

8. Ideas for Reauthorization of TANF • Retain current funding level and 50% participation requirement • Eliminate 90% 2 parent work participation rate • Eliminate “caseload reduction credit” • Allow partial credit toward work participation rate • Extend lifetime voced training credit from 12 to 24 months • Eliminate distinction between “core” and “noncore” work activities

9. Work Requirements in Social Policy • Medicaid Waivers • New CMS Policy Promotes Work and Community Engagement • Prohibits Using Medicaid Funds for Workforce Activities • Kentucky First Approval; Also Applying are Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Indiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Utah and Arizona • But First a Stop in Court? • SNAP Beyond ABAWDs? • Other Income Transfer Programs?

10. General SNAP Work Requirement Applies to people who are: Requires: Register for work Participate in an E&T or workfare program if assigned by State Accept suitable employment if offered No voluntarily quit or reduction in work hours under 30 per week 273.7(a) • Age 16 - 59 • Fit for work • Working under 30 hrs per week • Not already complying with work requirements of another program • Not students • Not responsible for a child under 6 273.7(b)

11. Failure to Comply with the General Work Requirement Ineligible for benefits (sanctioned) from 1 month to indefinitely, depending on the number of occurrences and the State’s chosen option Sanction periods: • 1st strike: 1 - 3 months • 2nd strike: 3 - 6 months • 3rd strike: 6 months to permanent 273.7(f)(2)

12. ABAWD Work Requirement & Time Limit Applies to people who are: Requires that ABAWDs: Work or participate in a work program (e.g. E&T) at least 20 hours per week, averaged monthly Participate in and comply with a workfare program 273.24(a) • Age 18 - 49 • Fit for employment • Do not live in a SNAP household with a minor • Not pregnant • Not already exempt from general work requirement • Not covered by time limit waiver or 15 percent exemption 273.24(c)

13. Failure to Fulfill the ABAWD Work Requirement and the Time Limit ABAWDs are limited to 3 months of SNAP eligibility in any 3-year period while not fulfilling the ABAWD work requirement or otherwise exempt

14. Meanwhile Policy and Plans At Federal Agencies GETTING RID OF REGULATIONS? • Employer Status in Franchises • Wage at Which Overtime Must be Applied • Whose Hand in the Tip Jar? • Minimum Wage

15. New Directions in Workforce Policy • $ for Apprenticeship Expansion • Trade Groups and Private Industries Would Administer and Certify Programs • Job Corps • Improving Safety • Stronger Career Training Focus • Opportunity Youth

16. STAY TUNEDQUESTIONS COMMENTS THANK YOU!