LB 359 LB 359 LEGISLATIVE BILL 359 Approved by the Governor April 2, 2014 Introduced by Cook, 13; Nordquist, 7. FOR AN ACT relating to social services; to amend sections 68-1713 and 68-1726, Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, section 43-512, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2012, and section 68-1206, Revised Statutes Supplement, 2013; to exclude certain income and assets as prescribed from determination of income, resources, or need for certain public assistance; to change provisions relating to eligibility redetermination for a child care subsidy as prescribed; to harmonize provisions; and to repeal the original sections. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska, Section 1. In determining eligibility for the program for aid to dependent children pursuant to section 43-512, for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program administered by the State of Nebraska pursuant to the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq., and for the child care subsidy program established pursuant to section 68-1202, the following shall not be included in determining assets or income: (1) Assets in or income from an educational savings account, a Coverdell educational savings account described in 26 U.S.C. 530, a qualified tuition program established pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 529, or any similar savings account or plan established to save for qualified higher education expenses as defined in section 85-1802; (2) Income from scholarships or grants related to postsecondary education, whether merit-based, need-based, or a combination thereof; and (3) Income from postsecondary educational work-study programs, whether federally funded, funded by a postsecondary educational institution, or funded from any other source. Sec. 2. Section 43-512, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2012, is amended to read: 43-512 (1) Any dependent child as defined in section 43-504 or any relative or eligible caretaker of such a dependent child may file with the Department of Health and Human Services a written application for financial assistance for such child on forms furnished by the department. (2) The department, through its agents and employees, shall make such investigation pursuant to the application as it deems necessary or as may be required by the county attorney or authorized attorney. If the investigation or the application for financial assistance discloses that such child has a parent or stepparent who is able to contribute to the support of such child and has failed to do so, a copy of the finding of such investigation and a copy of the application shall immediately be filed with the county attorney or authorized attorney. (3) The department shall make a finding as to whether the application referred to in subsection (1) of this section should be allowed or denied. If the department finds that the application should be allowed, the department shall further find the amount of monthly assistance which should be paid with reference to such dependent child. Except as may be otherwise provided, payments shall be made by state warrant, and the amount of payments shall not exceed three hundred dollars per month when there is but one dependent child and one eligible caretaker in any home, plus an additional seventy-five dollars per month on behalf of each additional eligible person. No payments shall be made for amounts totaling less than ten dollars per month except in the recovery of overpayments. (4) The amount which shall be paid as assistance with respect to a dependent child shall be based in each case upon the conditions disclosed by the investigation made by the department. An appeal shall lie from the finding made in each case to the chief executive officer of the department or his or her designated representative. Such appeal may be taken by any taxpayer or by any relative of such child. Proceedings for and upon appeal shall be conducted in the same manner as provided for in section 68-1016. (5)(a) For the purpose of preventing dependency, the department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations providing for services to former and potential recipients of aid to dependent children and medical assistance benefits. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations establishing programs and cooperating with programs of work incentive, work experience, job training, and education. The provisions of this section with regard to determination of need, amount of payment, maximum payment, and method of payment shall not be applicable to families or children -1-