2019 -- S 0420

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES-PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Bell, Metts, and Crowley

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 40-6-3.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-6 entitled "Public

Assistance Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     40-6-3.1. Eligibility for general public assistance.

     (a) The state, acting by and through the department, shall provide assistance (in the form

specified in § 40-6-3.2) to residents of the state found by the department in accordance with this

chapter and rules and regulations of the department to be eligible for general public assistance;

provided further, that benefits under this program shall be provided only to residents who are

citizens of the United States or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise

permanently residing in the United States under color of law, and benefits shall not be provided to

illegal or undocumented aliens.

     (b) Individuals eligible for GPA.

     (1) General public assistance shall be provided to the following individuals and families

provided all other eligibility requirements of this chapter are met:

     (2) Individuals age eighteen (18) or older, provided that they do not have a dependent

child who is living in his or her home, and provided that they are determined by the department in

accordance with this chapter and departmental regulations to be suffering from an illness, injury,

or medical condition as determined by physical examination by a licensed physician, that is

reasonably expected to last for a period of at least thirty (30) days from the date the application

for general public assistance is filed with the department, and which precludes the individual

from working. The illness, injury, or medical condition may be based on a primary diagnosis of

alcoholism or substance abuse. The total physical or mental incapacity shall be verified by a

medical practitioner and/or a qualified substance abuse counselor designated by the department,

within forty-five (45) days of the date the individual is found by the department to be totally

incapacitated. If total physical or mental incapacity cannot be reasonably verified then the

individual shall not be eligible for general public assistance under this subsection.

     (3) The department shall provide an application for medical assistance (Medicaid)

benefits to each applicant for general public assistance and shall use a uniform medical form for

both programs to secure information from the applicant's treating physician. A decision on the

application for general public assistance shall be made within thirty (30) days of receipts of a

completed application.

     (4) Individuals found eligible on the basis of illness, injury, or medical condition under

this subsection (b) shall be eligible for assistance only in the forms specified in § 40-6-3.2(a)(2)

and (a)(3), and only for an initial period of up to six (6) months, renewable for a period of up to

an additional six (6) months. In order to receive assistance for a period greater than twelve (12)

months, individuals must reapply for general public assistance.

     (c) Resources. Ownership of real or personal property shall disqualify individuals from

receiving general public assistance; provided, however, that the following property or resources

owned by such individuals shall be exempted:

     (1) A home occupied by such individuals;

     (2) One motor vehicle having an equity value not exceeding four thousand six hundred

fifty dollars ($4,650) or a vehicle necessary to transport a family member with a disability, where

the vehicle is specially equipped to meet the specific needs of the person with a disability or if the

vehicle is a special type of vehicle that makes it possible to transport the person with the

disability;

     (3) Cash or liquid assets not exceeding four hundred dollars ($400);

     (4) Such tools of the trade not to exceed an aggregate value of one thousand dollars

($1,000) and household furnishings and effects as the director shall determine by regulation.

     (d)(1)(i) Income. Income shall not disqualify an individual from receiving general public

assistance provided that the income as defined and determined by the department is within the

income limitations established by the regulations of the department. For the purpose of

determining income limitations, for any aid provided for in this chapter, including general public

assistance, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and, where federal law allows, the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and medical assistance (RiteCare), child

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support that is in arrears for thirty (30) days or more shall not be considered to be income. An

applicant shall execute a sworn affidavit demonstrating said arrearage.

     (ii) Pursuant to the purposes set forth in § 40-6-3 and notwithstanding the provisions of §

40-6-3.3 [Repealed], individuals found ineligible for cash assistance under chapter 5.1 of this title

due to provisions of the chapter regarding alien sponsors, the deeming of alien sponsor income or

the deeming of stepparent income, shall not be eligible for general public assistance.

     (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 40-6-3.3 [Repealed], the receipt of lump sum

income shall disqualify an individual from receiving general public assistance.

     (3) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations regarding the treatment of

lump sum income.

     (e) Postsecondary education. (1) An individual age eighteen (18) or older, attending a

school, college, or university as a full-time student or attending a full-time program of vocational

or technical training, all beyond the level of secondary education, shall not be eligible for general

public assistance under this chapter, excepting however those individuals active as students with

the department's vocational rehabilitation programs who have been certified as unemployable by

the department.

     (2) Notwithstanding the foregoing prohibition, an individual, age eighteen (18) or older,

pursuing a course of study on a part-time basis beyond the level of secondary education, may be

eligible for general public assistance, provided the student remains available for and is actively

seeking employment, and provided that the individual meets all other eligibility requirements for

general public assistance pursuant to this chapter.

     (f) Cooperation in applying for SSI and medical assistance. All applicants and recipients

of general public assistance shall, within thirty (30) days of application for general public

assistance or notice from the department, be required to apply for and cooperate in the

determination for benefits under the federal supplemental security income (SSI) program and/or

medical assistance, as provided pursuant to title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1396

et seq., provided the applicant or recipient is determined by the department to be potentially

eligible for benefits.

     (g) Report of income or resources by recipients. If, at any time during the receipt of

general public assistance, the recipient thereof becomes possessed of income or resources in

excess of the amount previously reported by him or her, it shall be his or her duty and a condition

of eligibility to notify the department of this fact immediately on the receipt or possession of

additional income or resources.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES-PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

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     This act would provide that for the purpose of determining income limitations for

receiving general public assistance, child support that is in arrears for thirty (30) days or more

would not be considered to be income. An applicant would be required to execute a sworn

affidavit demonstrating said arrearage.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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