"Conference Committee Actions, to 5/13"
May 14, 1997
Welfare Reform Conference Committee
These options have been adopted by the conference committee in
actions taken on May 6, 7, and 12.
Diversion/Prevention Assistance: Option A: authorize
counties to offer cash or 3rd party voucher payments up
to the value of 3 months of aid to prevent the need for
assistance
GAIN exemption -- pregnancy: Option B: exempt women in
third trimester
GAIN exemptions -- disability: Current law with medical
verification of illness or incapacitation
GAIN exemptions-- teen parents: Option A: continue Cal-
Learn until 2001 and extend eligibility through age 19
or high school graduation
Requirements-work participation: Exempt from work
participation parents with child at least younger than
one year (may consider higher threshold later)
Child care disregard: Eliminate child care disregard in
favor of a "direct pay" approach whereby counties pay
child care providers directly; disregard funds to remain
with the counties.
Child care for TANF recipients transitioning to work:
Families receive care under a streamlined system that
does not differentiate between TANF and the working
poor. Families can continue to receive care as long as
they meet eligibility and income requirements (below 75
percent of state median income or 200 percent of
poverty).
High quality child care programs:
o Increase consumer education and consumer awareness so
that parents will look for and demand high quality child
care.
o Provide additional voluntary training opportunities
for all providers -- those with licenses and those
exempt from licensure.
o Target and focus some training for exempt providers
and/or a course on child care development for all
licensed family day care providers.
o Consider the expansion of school-based child care at
those schools where over 65 percent of children are
eligible for free or reduced cost meals.