Conciliation for the grievances of individuals assigned to public assistance work activities.

(1) The social services official must establish a conciliation procedure for the resolution of grievances initiated by individuals assigned to work activities.

(2) In establishing such procedure, the social services official must:

(i) enter into an agreement with an independent entity;

(ii) employ district staff at a supervisory level who are trained in mediation and who have no direct responsibility for an individual's case; or

(iii) designate supervisory staff, who need not be trained in mediation and who have no direct responsibility for an individual's case to serve as mediators for such grievances.

(4) The social services official shall provide for at least one meeting which includes the individual, appropriate social services staff and the mediator. Such meeting shall occur within 30 days of the day on which the individual submitted a grievance in writing to the social services official.

(5) No sanction relating to the subject dispute shall be imposed during the conciliation process, which shall begin on the day on which the individual submitted a grievance in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision and shall end on the day upon which written notice has been provided to the individual which indicates the results of the conciliation.

(6) If the individual's grievance is not resolved through conciliation, the individual shall be informed of the right to a fair hearing. Notwithstanding such right to a fair hearing, the individual shall be required to participate in work activities as assigned in accordance with the requirements of this Part during the adjudication process.