,,ii  #aaeth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #cgjj  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,december #d1  
#bjah ,mr4 ,hatch 7for himself and ,mr4 
,wyden7 introduced the following bill2  
which was read twice and referred to the
 ,committee on ,finance  ,a ,,bill  ,to 
reauthorize the program of block grants 
to ,states for temporary assistance for 
needy families1 and for other purposes4 
#a4 ,short title  ,this ,act may be     
cited as the ,promoting ,employment and 
,economic ,mobility ,act4  #b4 ,table of
 contents ,the table of contents of this
 ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short   
title4 ,sec4 #b4 ,table of contents4    
,sec4 #c4 ,references4 ,,title          
,i--,improving ,participation in        
,activities ,leading to ,employment     
,sec4 #aja4 ,strengthening partnerships 
to improve results for families4 ,sec4  
#ajb4 ,increasing ,state incentives to  
help individuals secure employment4     
,sec4 #ajc4 ,strengthening measurement  
of recipient participation4 ,sec4 #ajd4 

,supporting treatment and rehabilitation
 to prepare recipients for employment   
and support employment4 ,sec4 #aje4     
,demonstration projects and improved    
data collection to improve engagement   
and outcomes4 ,,title                   
,,ii--,strengthening ,families ,sec4    
#bja4 ,uniform work requirement for     
families4 ,sec4 #bjb4 ,supporting       
families by ending the marriage penalty4
 ,,title ,,iii--,restoring the          
,integrity of ,,tanf ,sec4 #cja4        
,strengthening ,state requirements to   
engage recipients in employment and     
employment preparation activities4 ,sec4
 #cjb4 ,measuring ,,tanf spending on    
families receiving assistance and on    
low-income families4,sec4 #cjc4 ,report 
on child care provider criminal         
background checks4 ,,title              
,,iv--,reauthorizing the ,,tanf ,program
 ,sec4 #dja4 #c-year reauthorization4   
,,title ,v--,miscellaneous ,sec4 #eja4  
,technical corrections to data exchange 
standards to improve program            

coordination4 ,sec4 #ejb4 ,effective    
dates4  #c4 ,references ,except as      
otherwise expressly provided1 wherever  
in this ,act an amendment or repeal is  
expressed in terms of an amendment to1  
or repeal of1 a section or other        
provision1 the reference shall be       
considered to be made to a section or   
other provision of the ,social ,security
 ,act4  ,i ,improving ,participation in 
,activities ,leading to ,employment     
#aja4 ,strengthening partnerships to    
improve results for families ,section   
#djh7;b7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjh7;b77 is    
amended to read as follows3  7b7        
,individual opportunity plans  7#a7     
,assessment ,the ,state agency          
responsible for administering a ,state  
program funded under this part or any   
other ,state program funded with        
qualified ,state expenditures 7as       
defined in section #dji7;a77#g77;,b77i77
 shall make an initial assessment of the
 skills1 prior work experience1 and     
employability of each work-eligible     

individual 7and1 at ,state option1 any  
other adult who is a member of the      
family of the individual7 as well as of 
the well-being of the children in the   
family of the individual4  7#b7         
,contents of plans ,on the basis of the 
assessment required by paragraph 7#a7   
with respect to the individual1 the     
,state agency1 in consultation with the 
individual1 may develop a customized    
individual opportunity plan with the    
individual that contains the following3 
7,a7 ,immediate needs and resources     
,information that-- 7i7 specifies the   
immediate needs of the individual and   
the family2  7ii7 describes the         
resources the individual and the family 
have to meet immediate needs1           
including-- 7,i7 individual resources1  
such as income and assets identified in 
the application process1 education1 and 
work experience2  7,,ii7 household and  
family resources that may assist the    
individual1 such as parents1 children1  
siblings1 and others2 and  7,,iii7 other

 resources and how they may help the    
individual meet immediate needs2 and    
7iii7 describes the assistance and      
services the ,state will provide to help
 the individual meet immediate needs and
 improve the well-being of the children 
in the family4  7,b7 ,individual and    
state responsibilities ,information on  
the respective responsibilities of the  
individual and the ,state that-- 7i7    
includes a personal responsibility      
agreement signed by the individual in   
which the individual acknowledges       
receipt of publicly funded benefits and 
responsibility to comply with program   
requirements in order to receive the    
benefits2  7ii7 sets forth an employment
 goal chosen by the individual with     
assistance from the ,state and a plan1  
jointly developed by the individual and 
the ,state1 for moving the individual   
into employment and towards             
self-sufficiency2  7iii7 sets forth the 
obligations of the individual1 including
 specific and measurable benchmarks for 

success that will help the individual   
become and remain employed2  7iv7 to the
 greatest extent possible and consistent
 with the plan1 is designed to move the 
individual into the employment the      
individual is capable of performing as  
quickly as possible1 and increase the   
responsibility and amount of work the   
individual is to perform over time2  7v7
 describes the services the ,state will 
provide the individual so that the      
individual will be able to obtain and   
maintain employment2  7vi7 may direct   
the individual to undergo appropriate   
treatment for substance abuse or other  
treatment if the individual1 in         
consultation with the ,state1 identifies
 such treatment as necessary to obtain  
and maintain employment2 and  7vii7     
specifies a timeline for meeting the    
benchmarks contained in the plan with   
short-1 medium-1 and long-term goals1   
including a description of any          
incentives for the individual if the    
individual meets or exceeds the         

obligations specified in the plan1 and  
any penalties that will apply if the    
individual fails without good cause to  
comply with the plan4  7#c7 ,timing ,the
 ,state agency shall comply with        
paragraph 7#a7 with respect to a        
work-eligible individual-- 7,a7 in the  
case of a work-eligible individual who1 
on ,october #a1 #bjbj1 is in a family   
receiving assistance under the ,state   
program funded under this part or any   
other ,state program funded with        
qualified ,state expenditures 7as       
defined in section                      
#dji7;a77#g77;,b77i771 at the first     
periodic review for the individual that 
occurs after that date2 or  7,b7 in the 
case of a work-eligible individual who1 
after ,october #a1 #bjbj1 is in a family
 determined to be eligible for          
assistance under the ,state program     
funded under this part or any other     
,state program funded with qualified    
,state expenditures 7as so defined71    
within #fj days after the family is     

determined to be eligible for such      
assistance4  7#d7 ,penalty for          
noncompliance by individual ,in addition
 to any other penalties required under  
section #dji7;a71 the ,state may reduce1
 by such amount as the ,state considers 
appropriate1 the amount of assistance   
otherwise payable under the ,state      
program to a family that includes the   
individual who fails without good cause 
to comply with the individual           
opportunity plan developed pursuant to  
this subsection that is signed by the   
individual4  7#e7 ,periodic review ,the 
,state shall develop a plan to1 not less
 frequently than every #ij days or at a 
period determined by the ,state--  7,a7 
review the individual opportunity plan  
developed for the individual2  7,b7     
review with the individual the progress 
made by the individual in achieving the 
goals specified in the plan 7in person  
or through another communication method 
allowing for discussion of progress     
made72 and  7,c7 update the plan1 as    

necessary1 to reflect any changes in the
 circumstances of the individual since  
the plan was last reviewed4  4  #ajb4   
,increasing ,state incentives to help   
individuals secure employment  7a7      
,work-,eligible individuals served by a 
performance-,based entity1 working or   
training for a specific job offer       
,section #djg7;c77#b7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4    
#fjg7;c77#b771 as amended by section    
#bja7;a77#c71 is amended-- 7#a7 by      
redesignating subparagraphs 7,a7 through
 7,d7 as subparagraphs 7,b7 through     
7,e71 respectively2 and  7#b7 by        
inserting before subparagraph 7,b7 7as  
so redesignated by paragraph 7#a771 the 
following3  7,a7 ,work-eligible         
individual served by a performance-based
 entity focused on work1 working in     
subsidized employment1 or training for a
 specific job offer deemed to be meeting
 work requirements ,for purposes of     
calculating the number described in     
subsection 7b77#a77;,b77i71 a           
work-eligible individual is deemed to be

 engaged in work for a month in a fiscal
 year if--  7i7 the work-eligible       
individual is participating in          
activities under the supervision of an  
entity funded by the ,state focused on  
moving work-eligible individuals into   
employment and at least #ej percent of  
the payment made to the entity is       
contingent on work-eligible individuals 
becoming employed or retaining          
employment2  7ii7 the work-eligible     
individual is participating in an       
activity described in subsection 7d77#b7
 for at least #hj hours per month and   
the ,state program funded under this    
part pays for at least #be percent of   
the individual's wage during the        
countable period 7not to exceed #f      
months with respect to any individual72 
or  7iii7 the work-eligible individual  
is participating in activities 7as      
defined by the ,state7 for not more than
 #c months that provide the competencies
 necessary for the individual to secure 
employment and an employer has entered  

into an agreement to hire the individual
 upon successful completion of the      
activities4  4  7b7 ,verification of    
engagement ,section #djg7;i7 7#db       
,u4,s4,c4 #fjg7;i77 is amended by adding
 at the end the following3  7#c7        
,verification of engagement for         
work-eligible individuals served by a   
performance-based entity focused on     
work1 working in subsidized employment1 
or training for a specific job offer ,in
 addition to the regulations and ,state 
procedures required under paragraphs    
7#a7 and 7#b71 not later than ,october  
#a1 #bjai1 the ,secretary shall         
promulgate regulations1 and ,states     
shall establish procedures consistent   
with such regulations1 for purposes of  
reporting and verifying participation in
 activities described in subsection     
7c77#b77;,a74 ,in the case of activities
 described in clause 7i7 of such        
subsection1 such regulations and        
procedures shall include information    
with respect to the following3  7,a7    

,how a ,state using performance-based   
contracts will report how they use such 
contracts to engage work-eligible       
individuals and move them into work4    
7,b7 ,how a ,state will report          
demographic characteristics of the      
work-eligible individuals the ,state is 
serving through such contracts and how  
such characteristics compare with those 
of individuals not served through such  
contracts4  7,c7 ,how a ,state will     
assess the effectiveness of such        
contracts4  7#d7 ,work-eligible         
individual ,in this part1 the term      
work-eligible individual has the meaning
 given that term in the regulations     
promulgated pursuant to paragraph       
7#a77;,a77i74  4  #ajc4 ,strengthening  
measurement of recipient participation  
7a7 ,allowing ,states ,to receive       
limited credit for partial participation
 ,section #djg7;c77#a77;,b7 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #fjg7;c77#a77;,b771 as amended
 by section #bja7;a77#c71 is amended to 
read as follows3  7,b7 ,credit for      

families participating for less than the
 minimum hours required ,if a family    
includes a work-eligible individual who 
has participated in work activities for 
an average of fewer than #cj hours per  
week during a month1 but at least #ae   
hours 7or #aj hours1 in the case of a   
single parent specified in paragraph    
7#b77;,c7 of this subsection7 per week  
of which are attributable to an activity
 described in paragraphs 7#a7 through   
7#i7 of subsection 7d71 the family shall
 count as #j4e of a family for purposes 
of calculating the number described in  
subsection 7b77#a77;,b77i7 for the      
month4  4  7b7 ,state option ,to use    
universal work participation rate       
calculation  7#a7 ,in general ,section  
#djg7;b7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjg7;b771 as   
amended by section #bja7;a77#b71 is     
amended-- 7,a7 by redesignating         
paragraphs 7#c7 through 7#e7 as         
paragraphs 7#d7 through 7#f71           
respectively2  7,b7 by striking all that
 precedes paragraph 7#d7 7as so         

redesignated by subparagraph 7,a77 and  
inserting the following3  7b7           
,calculation of participation rates     
7#a7 ,in general  7,a7 ,average monthly 
rate ,for purposes of subsection 7a71   
the participation rate of a ,state for a
 fiscal year is the average of the      
participation rates of the ,state for   
each month in the fiscal year4  7,b7    
,monthly participation rates ,the       
participation rate of a ,state for all  
families of the ,state for a month1     
expressed as a percentage1 is--  7i7 the
 number of families in the ,state that  
include a work-eligible individual who  
is engaged in work for the month2       
divided by  7ii7 the total number of    
families in the ,state that include a   
work-eligible individual during the     
month4  7#b7 ,universal work            
participation rate calculation  7,a7    
,application ,a ,state may apply to the 
,secretary to apply this paragraph with 
respect to the ,state for a fiscal year4
  7,b7 ,calculation  7i7 ,in general ,a 

,state whose application under this     
paragraph is approved by the ,secretary 
for a fiscal year shall be considered to
 be in compliance with subsection 7a7   
for a month in the fiscal year if the   
total number of countable hours of work 
participation activities of families    
with work-eligible individuals in the   
,state for the month is not less than   
the target number of hours of work      
participation activities for the ,state 
for the month4  7ii7 ,target number of  
hours of work participation activities  
,for purposes of clause 7i71 the target 
number of hours of work participation   
activities for a ,state for a month in a
 fiscal year is the amount equal to the 
number of weeks in the month multiplied 
by the product of--  7,i7 the percentage
 equal to the minimum participation rate
 in effect under subsection 7a7 for the 
fiscal year 7after the application of   
any reduction in such rate under        
paragraph 7#d7 and the application of   
the minimum ,state engagement           

requirement in paragraph 7#h772 and     
7,,ii7 the sum of-- 7aa7 #bj times the  
number of families with work-eligible   
individuals in the ,state to whom the   
,state may apply subparagraph 7,c7 or   
7,d7 of subsection 7c77#b7 for the      
month2 and  7bb7 #cj times the number of
 families with work-eligible individuals
 not described in item 7aa7 in the      
,state for the month4  7iii7 ,total     
number of countable hours of work       
participation activities of families    
with work-eligible individuals  7,i7 ,in
 general ,for purposes of clause 7i71   
subject to subclause 7,,ii71 the total  
number of countable hours of work       
participation activities of families    
with work-eligible individuals in a     
,state for a month in a fiscal year1 is 
the sum of the following number of hours
 determined for the month with respect  
to each family with a work-eligible     
individual3  7aa7 ,in the case of a     
family with an individual to whom the   
,state applies subsection 7c77#b77;,a7  

for the month1 #cj times the number of  
weeks in the month 7or #bj times the    
number of weeks in the month in the case
 of a single parent or caretaker        
relative described in subsection        
7c77#b77;,c774  7bb7 ,in the case of a  
family with a single parent or caretaker
 relative to whom the ,state applies    
subsection 7c77#b77;,c7 for the month1  
the lesser of the actual number of hours
 for which the single parent or         
caretaker relative participates in work 
activities in the month and #bj times   
the number of weeks in the month4  7cc7 
,in the case of a family with a single  
teen head of household or married teen  
to whom the ,state applies subsection   
7c77#b77;,d77i7 for the month1 #bj times
 the number of weeks in the month4  7dd7
 ,in the case of a family with a single 
teen head of household or married teen  
to whom the ,state applies subsection   
7c77#b77;,d77ii7 for the month1 the     
lesser of the actual number of hours for
 which the teen participates in         

education directly related to employment
 and #bj times the number of weeks in   
the month4  7ee7 ,in the case of a      
family with any other work-eligible     
individual1 the lesser of the actual    
number of hours for which the individual
 participates in work activities in the 
month and #cj times the number of weeks 
in the month4  7,,ii7 ,disregard of     
certain work participation hours ,in    
calculating the countable hours of work 
participation activities of a family    
with a work-eligible individual in a    
,state for a month1 the ,secretary shall
 disregard any hour of participation    
that would not be countable if the      
participation rate of the ,state for the
 month were determined without regard to
 this paragraph and the limitations on  
counting activities under subsections   
7c7 or 7d7 were applied4  7iv7 ,source  
of data ,the number of families with    
work-eligible individuals in a ,state   
and the number of hours of participation
 of the individuals in work activities  

shall be determined on the basis of     
information reported monthly under      
section #daa4  2 and  7,c7 by adding at 
the end the following3  7#g7 ,state     
option to include individuals formerly  
receiving assistance participating in   
subsidized employment ,in determining   
the participation rate under this       
section1 a ,state may include1 on a     
case-by-case basis and for not more than
 #f months1 a family with a former      
recipient of assistance participating in
 subsidized employment if the individual
 began participation in subsidized      
employment while receiving assistance   
but is no longer a recipient due to     
their participation in subsidized       
employment4  4  7#b7 ,conforming        
amendments  7,a7 ,section #djg7;b77#e7  
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjg7;b77#e77 7as        
redesignated by paragraph 7#a77;,a71 is 
amended--  7i7 by striking paragraph    
7#a77;,b7 and inserting calculating a   
participation rate under this section2  
and  7ii7 by inserting that include a   

work-eligible individual before that are
 receiving4  7,b7 ,each of the following
 provisions is amended by striking      
recipient each place it appears and     
inserting work-eligible individual3 7i7 
,section #djg7;c77#a77;,a7 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #fjg7;c77#a774  7ii7 ,section 
#djg7;c77#b77;,c7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4        
#fjg7;c77#b77;,c77 7as redesignated by  
section #ajb7;a77#a77;,a774  7iii7      
,section #djg7;c77#b77;,d7 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #fjg7;c77#b77;,d77 7as so     
redesignated74  7iv7 ,paragraphs 7#aj7  
and 7#aa7 of section #djg7;d7 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #fjg7;d774  7,c7              
,subparagraphs 7,c71 7,d71 and 7,e7 of  
section #djg7;c77#b7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#fjg7;c77#b771 7as redesignated by      
section #ajb7;a77#a77;,a7 and amended by
 subparagraph 7,b77 are each amended by 
striking determining monthly            
participation rates under and inserting 
calculating the number described in4    
7c7 ,clarification of exemptions from   
participation requirement ,section      

#djg7;b77#f7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4             
#fjg7;b77#f77 7as redesignated by       
subsection 7b77#a77;,a77 is amended--   
7#a7 by striking all that precedes any  
fiscal year and inserting the following3
  7#f7 ,exemptions from participation   
requirement  7,a7 ,state option to      
disregard single custodial parent caring
 for a child under age #a ,for  2 and   
7#b7 by adding after and below the end  
the following3  7,b7 ,disregard of      
family with work-eligible individual    
subject to penalty for refusing to      
engage in work ,in calculating a        
participation rate under this section1 a
 ,state shall disregard a family with a 
work-eligible individual that is subject
 to a penalty imposed pursuant to       
subsection 7e77#a7 but has not been     
subject to the penalty for more than #c 
months in the preceding #ab-month       
period4  4  #ajd4 ,supporting treatment 
and rehabilitation to prepare recipients
 for employment and support employment  
,section #djg7;c77#b77;,b7 7#db         

,u4,s4,c4 #fjg7;c77#b77;,b771 7as so    
redesignated by section                 
#ajb7;a77#a77;,a771 is amended--  7#a7  
in the subparagraph heading1 by         
inserting and job readiness assistance  
after job search2 and  7#b7 by adding at
 the end the following3  7iii7          
,participation in treatment or          
rehabilitation activities to prepare    
recipients for employment and support   
employment ,notwithstanding any         
limitation specified in clause 7i71 if  
an individual participates in substance 
abuse treatment1 mental health          
treatment1 or rehabilitation activities1
 the need for which has been determined 
to be necessary by a qualified          
independent medical1 substance abuse1 or
 mental health professional to prepare  
the individual for employment or to     
support the individual in employment1 up
 to #ab weeks of such participation     
shall be disregarded for purposes of    
applying the limitation under clause    
7i74  4  #aje4 ,demonstration projects  

and improved data collection to improve 
engagement and outcomes  7a7 ,in general
 ,section #dae 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fae7 is  
amended to read as follows3  #dae4      
,demonstration projects and improved    
data collection to improve engagement   
and outcomes  7a7 ,definitions ,in this 
section3  7#a7 ,engagement strategies   
,the term engagement strategies means1  
with respect to a ,state carrying out a 
demonstration project under subsection  
7b71 such policies1 procedures1 and     
activities as the ,state and ,secretary 
shall determine necessary to achieve the
 desired outcomes of the project4  7#b7 
,poverty line ,the term poverty line has
 the meaning given that term in section 
#baaj7;c77#e74  7#c7 ,state ,the term   
,state has the meaning given that term  
in section #dai7e74  7#d7 ,state ,,tanf 
program ,the term ,state ,,tanf program 
means the ,state program funded under   
this part and includes a tribal program 
carried out under section #dab4  7b7    
,authority  7#a7 ,selection of          

demonstration projects  7,a7 ,in general
 ,not later than ,october #a1 #bjai1    
from the amounts reserved under         
paragraph 7#g7 to carry out this        
subsection1 the ,secretary shall select 
and award grants to up to #aj ,states to
 develop and carry out demonstration    
projects for the purposes of evaluating 
the impact of different engagement      
strategies in ,state ,,tanf programs on 
employment1 earnings1 family stability1 
and other outcomes on a subset of       
families in the ,state with a           
work-eligible individual who receive    
assistance under such programs4  7,b7   
,requirements ,in selecting and awarding
 grantees1 the ,secretary shall         
prioritize regional diversity and select
 demonstration projects that represent  
both urban and rural populations4  7,c7 
,applications ,in order to be selected  
to carry out a demonstration project    
under this subsection1 a ,state shall   
submit an application to the ,secretary1
 at such time1 in such manner1 and      

containing such information as the      
,secretary shall require4  7#b7         
,requirements  7,a7 ,outcomes and       
measures ,the ,secretary1 in            
collaboration with the ,states selected 
to carry out demonstration projects     
under this subsection1 shall determine a
 core set of outcomes and measures that 
the ,states carrying out such projects  
shall report on4 ,at a minimum1 the core
 set of outcomes and measures shall     
include standard measures of employment1
 earnings1 program participation1       
receipt of means-tested benefits or     
assistance1 poverty1 and deep poverty   
that have been included in previous     
evaluations of this type for the #d     
years following the quarter in which    
such individuals first participated in  
the project4  7,b7 ,other measures ,in  
addition to the core set of outcomes and
 measures1 a ,state carrying out a      
demonstration project under this        
subsection may select and specify       
supplemental targeted outcomes the      

,state seeks to achieve through the     
demonstration project and how such      
outcomes shall be measured4 ,if a ,state
 demonstration project focuses on       
intensive employment and training       
engagement strategies1 to the extent    
possible1 the ,state shall ensure the   
outcome measures align with those used  
under the ,workforce ,innovation and    
,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caja  
et seq474  7,c7 ,caseload ,all families 
participating in a demonstration project
 carried out under this subsection must 
be families with a work-eligible        
individual where the family is receiving
 assistance under the ,state ,,tanf     
program when the family's participation 
in the demonstration project begins and 
may continue to participate in the      
demonstration project without regard to 
whether the family continues to receive 
such assistance4  7,d7 ,control group ,a
 ,state carrying out a demonstration    
project under this subsection shall     
establish a valid random assignment     

control group on behalf of whom the     
,state 7or1 if applicable1 a county or  
other political subdivision of the      
,state7 shall continue to operate the   
traditional ,state ,,tanf program in    
order to compare outcomes for families  
participating in the demonstration      
project with outcomes for families in   
the control group4  7,e7 ,tribal        
projects ,in addition to the up to #aj  
,states selected to carry out a         
demonstration project under this        
subsection1 the ,secretary shall select 
at least #a1 but not more than #c1      
,indian tribes with a tribal family     
assistance plan approved under section  
#dab with which to work on related      
implementation and outcomes studies to  
improve the engagement of and outcomes  
for tribal families with a work-eligible
 individual4  7#c7 ,duration ,each      
,state carrying out a demonstration     
project under this subsection shall be  
authorized to enroll new participants in
 the demonstration group or control     

group for not more than #d years from   
the date on which any work-eligible     
individuals first begin to participate  
in the project4 ,the ,secretary may     
allow for additional time to operate the
 demonstration project after the time to
 enroll new participants has expired for
 the purposes of evaluating the impacts 
of the demonstration projects4  7#d7    
,suspension authority ,with respect to  
the families participating in a         
demonstration project carried out under 
this subsection1 the ,secretary shall   
suspend compliance with any requirement 
under section #djg for families         
participating in the project which1 if  
applied1 would prevent the ,state from  
carrying out the demonstration project  
or prevent the ,state from effectively  
achieving the purposes of the project   
for the period during which the project 
is carried out4  7#e7 ,evaluation ,the  
,secretary1 through grant1 contract1 or 
interagency agreement1 shall evaluate   
the demonstration projects carried out  

under this subsection by comparing the  
employment1 earnings1 program           
participation1 receipt of means-tested  
benefits or assistance1 poverty1 deep   
poverty1 and other specific outcomes of 
families participating in the projects  
with the employment1 earnings1 and same 
specific outcomes for the families in   
the control groups for the projects4 ,in
 addition1 the evaluation shall analyze 
the relationships between engagement    
strategies1 performance measures1 and   
impacts of the engagement strategies1   
along with such other criteria as the   
,secretary determines appropriate4  7#f7
 ,annual report ,beginning ,october #a1 
#bjba1 and until all evaluations of the 
demonstration projects are complete1 the
 ,secretary shall annually submit to    
,congress reports containing--  7,a7    
analyses of the demographic             
characteristics of the individuals who  
participated in the demonstration       
projects carried out under this         
subsection with the demographics of the 

individuals in the control groups for   
the projects2  7,b7 analyses of the     
design1 interventions1 and objectives of
 the projects2  7,c7 the most recent    
available results of the evaluation     
described in paragraph 7#e72 and  7,d7  
recommendations for such legislation and
 administrative action as the ,secretary
 determines appropriate4  7#g7 ,funding 
,for each fiscal year in which          
demonstration projects are developed or 
carried out under this subsection1 the  
,secretary shall use amounts made       
available under section #dac7;h77#a7 for
 the fiscal year to carry out this      
subsection4  4  7b7 ,improved data      
collection ,to strengthen outcomes  7#a7
 ,data collection ,section #daa7;a7 is  
amended-- 7,a7 by redesignating         
paragraph 7#g7 as paragraph 7#h72 and   
7,b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#f71 
the following3  7#g7 ,information on    
employment and earnings outcomes for    
individuals receiving or formerly       
receiving assistance  7,a7 ,reporting   

agreement ,each eligible ,state and the 
,secretary shall enter into an agreement
 specifying the manner by which the     
information and data described in this  
paragraph shall be collected and        
reported to the ,secretary4  7,b7       
,outcomes for former recipients         
,information and data regarding         
individuals in families who formerly    
received assistance under the ,state    
program funded under this part or under 
any ,state program funded with qualified
 ,state expenditures 7as defined in     
section #dji7;a77#g77;,b77i77 and were  
work-eligible individuals before the    
family ceased receiving assistance1 with
 respect to the following3  7i7 ,the    
following data determined for the #ast  
and #dth full quarters ending after the 
quarter of exit from assistance3  7,i7  
,the percentage of such individuals who 
have any level of earnings4  7,,ii7 ,the
 percentage of such individuals who have
 earnings at or below #ej percent of the
 poverty line applicable to the quarter4

  7,,iii7 ,the distribution of income   
and earnings of such individuals        
relative to the poverty line4  7,,iv7   
,the percentage of such individuals     
receiving supplemental nutrition program
 benefits 7as defined in section #c7t7  
of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of     
#bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjab7t77 for the   
quarter4  7,v7 ,the percentage of such  
individuals receiving medical assistance
 under a ,state plan or a waiver of such
 plan under title ,,xix for the quarter4
  7ii7 ,the percentage of such          
individuals who are in unsubsidized     
employment during the #b;d quarter after
 exiting from the program4  7iii7 ,the  
percentage of such individuals who are  
in unsubsidized employment during the   
#dth quarter after exiting from the     
program4  7iv7 ,the median earnings of  
such individuals who are in unsubsidized
 employment during the #b;d quarter     
after exiting from the program4  7,c7   
,engagement and employment of current   
recipients ,in the case of work-eligible

 individuals in families who received   
assistance under the ,state program     
funded under this part or under any     
,state program funded with qualified    
,state expenditures 7as defined in      
section #dji7;a77#g77;,b77i771 the      
following information and data relative 
to a reference quarter3  7i7 ,employment
 and earnings in each of the #d quarters
 prior to the reference quarter4  7ii7  
,standard measures of employment1       
earnings1 receipt of assistance1 and    
participation in work activities 7as    
defined in section #djg7;d77 in each of 
the #d quarters following the reference 
quarter4  7,d7 ,other information ,with 
respect to the populations described in 
subparagraph 7,b7 or 7,c7-- 7i7 such    
other information or data as the        
,secretary may require2 and  7ii7 such  
other measures of employment1 earnings1 
program participation1 receipt of       
means-tested benefits or assistance1 and
 poverty as the ,secretary may require  
and which1 to the greatest extent       

practicable1 shall be based on the      
information required for ,state         
performance reports under section       
#aaf7;d77#b7 of the ,workforce          
,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi  
,u4,s4,c4 #cada7;d77#b774  7,e7         
,statistical adjustment model for       
employment outcomes ,the ,secretary1 in 
consultation with the ,secretary of     
,labor and relevant experts1 shall      
commission a study to develop           
recommendations on how to and           
disseminate an objective statistical    
model that will allow the ,secretary to 
make adjustments to data reported       
pursuant to this paragraph based on     
actual economic conditions and the      
characteristics of participants4 ,to the
 extent practicable1 the recommendations
 shall be compatible with the           
statistical adjustment model developed  
under subparagraph 7,a77viii7 of section
 #aaf7;b77#c7 of the ,workforce         
,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi  
,u4,s4,c4 #cada7;b77#c77;,a77viii77 and1

 with respect to a ,state1 the ,state   
adjusted levels of performance          
established for the ,state under that   
section4  4  7#b7 ,conforming amendment 
,paragraph 7#h7 of section #daa7;a71 as 
redesignated by paragraph 7#a77;,a71 is 
amended by inserting and with respect to
 the information required under         
paragraph 7#g7 before the period4  ,,ii 
,strengthening ,families  #bja4 ,uniform
 work requirement for families  7a7     
,elimination of separate participation  
rate requirements for #b-,parent        
families ,section #djg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#fjg7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection   
7a7--  7,a7 by striking all through ,a  
,state the #ast place it appears and    
inserting the following3  7a7           
,participation rate requirements ,a     
,state  2 and  7,b7 by striking         
paragraph 7#b72  7#b7 in subsection     
7b7--  7,a7 in the subsection heading1  
by striking rates and inserting rate2   
7,b7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by striking
 7a77#a7 and inserting 7a72  7,c7 by    

striking paragraph 7#b7 and inserting   
the following3  7#b7 ,reserved4  2  7,d7
 in paragraph 7#d71 by striking         
paragraphs 7#a77;,b7 and 7#b77;,b7 and  
inserting paragraph 7#a77;,b72 and  7,e7
 in paragraph 7#e71 by striking rates   
and inserting rate2 and  7#c7 in        
subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71
 by striking subparagraph 7,b7 and      
inserting the following3  7,b7          
,reserved4  2 and  7,b7 in paragraph    
7#b77;,d7--  7i7 by striking paragraphs 
7#a77;,b77i7 and 7#b77;,b7 of subsection
 7b7 and inserting subsection           
7b77#a77;,b77i72 and  7ii7 by striking  
in all families and in #b-parent        
families1 respectively14  7b7           
,conforming amendment ,the paragraph    
heading for section #dji7;a77#c7 7#db   
,u4,s4,c4 #fji7;a77#c77 is amended by   
striking rates and inserting rate4      
#bjb4 ,supporting families by ending the
 marriage penalty ,not later than       
,october #a1 #bjbj1 each ,state with a  
,state plan approved under part ,a of   

title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act
 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjg et seq47 shall     
report to the ,secretary of ,health and 
,human ,services information regarding  
the eligibility criteria applied by the 
,state to #b-parent families applying   
for or receiving assistance under the   
,state program funded under such part or
 under any other ,state program funded  
with qualified ,state expenditures 7as  
defined in section #dji7;a77#g77;,b77i7 
of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4             
#fji7;a77#g77;,b77i777 that are not     
applied to single-parent families       
applying for or receiving such          
assistance1 as well as provide an       
explanation as to how such differences  
do not impose additional barriers for   
#b-parent families or what efforts the  
,state is undertaking to ensure any such
 eligibility criteria do not            
disadvantage #b-parent families4  ,,iii 
,restoring the ,integrity of ,,tanf     
#cja4 ,strengthening ,state             
,requirements to ,engage ,recipients in 

,employment and ,employment ,preparation
 ,activities ,section #djg7;b7 7#db     
,u4,s4,c4 #fjg7;b771 as amended by      
section #ajc7;b77#a77;,c71 is amended by
 adding at the end the following3  7#h7 
,minimum state engagement requirement   
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
this section1 the minimum participation 
rate for purposes of subsection 7a7 of  
this section shall be not less than #aj 
percent in fiscal year #bjbj and #bj    
percent in fiscal year #bjba and each   
fiscal year thereafter4  4  #cjb4       
,measuring ,,tanf spending on families  
receiving assistance and on low-income  
families ,section #daa 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#faa7 is amended by adding at the end   
the following3  7e7 ,state requirement  
,to report spending on families         
receiving assistance and on low-,income 
families ,each eligible ,state shall    
report the following information1 with  
respect to fiscal year #bjai1 not later 
than ,july #a1 #bjbj1 and1 with respect 
to each fiscal year beginning after that

 date1 not later than such date as the  
,secretary shall require3  7#a7 ,the    
amount and percent of the ,state        
spending of the grant made under section
 #djc7;a77#a7 and any qualified ,state  
expenditures 7as defined in section     
#dji7;a77#g77;,b77i77 on families       
receiving assistance by category of     
spending4  7#b7 ,an estimate of the     
amount and percent of ,state spending of
 the grant made under section           
#djc7;a77#a7 and any qualified ,state   
expenditures 7as so defined7 that       
consists of benefits and services--     
7,a7 for families in the ,state whose   
income is below the income official     
poverty line 7as defined by the ,office 
of ,management and ,budget1 and revised 
annually in accordance with section     
#fgc7b7 of the ,omnibus ,budget         
,reconciliation ,act of #aiha7          
applicable to a family of the size      
involved2 and  7,b7 for families in the 
,state whose income is below twice the  
income official poverty line 7as so     

defined7 applicable to a family of the  
size involved4  7#c7 ,information       
explaining who is eligible for          
assistance in the ,state and the        
specific criteria used to determine     
eligibility for assistance4  4  #cjc4   
,report on child care provider criminal 
background checks  7a7 ,in general ,not 
later than #a year after the date of    
enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary  
of ,health and ,human ,services1 in     
consultation with the ,director of the  
,federal ,bureau of ,investigation1     
shall submit to the ,committee on       
,finance of the ,senate and the         
,committee on ,ways and ,means of the   
,house of ,representatives a report that
 includes the following3  7#a7          
,information on the requirements for    
criminal background checks for child    
care providers receiving funds directly 
from the ,,tanf program4 ,the report    
shall include descriptions of such      
requirements for each eligible ,state   
and analyses of--  7,a7 how such checks 

are conducted2  7,b7 the extent to which
 child care providers comply with such  
requirements2 and  7,c7 how the         
requirements for such background checks 
are similar to or differ from the       
requirements for criminal background    
checks for child care staff members     
7including prospective child care staff 
members7 of child care providers under  
section #feh;,h7b7 of the ,child ,care  
and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of  
#aiij4 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheh;f7b774  7#b7
 ,a list of eligible ,states that are   
not responding to requests for          
interstate child care provider criminal 
background checks and the reasons for   
why such ,states are not responding to a
 request from another ,state4  7#c7 ,for
 each eligible ,state1 information      
regarding the average interstate        
criminal background check processing    
time and fees4  7#d7 ,a list of eligible
 ,states that have closed record laws or
 systems that prevent such ,states from 
sharing complete criminal background    

check data with another eligible ,state4
  7b7 ,data requirement ,the ,secretary 
shall use data for the #c most recent   
fiscal years for which data are         
available to prepare the report4  7c7   
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7     
,eligible ,state ,the term eligible     
,state has the meaning given that term  
in section #djb7;a7 of the ,social      
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjb7;a774
  7#b7 ,,tanf program ,the term ,,tanf  
program means the temporary assistance  
for needy families program funded under 
part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social    
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et   
seq47 and includes any ,state program   
funded with qualified ,state            
expenditures 7as defined in section     
#dji7;a77#g77;,b77i7 of such ,act 7#db  
,u4,s4,c4 #fji7;a77#g77;,b77i774  ,,iv  
,reauthorizing the ,,tanf ,program      
#dja4 #c-year reauthorization  7a7      
,family assistance grants ,section      
#djc7;a77#a7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4             
#fjc7;a77#a77 is amended in each of     

subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,c7 by striking 
#bjag and #bjah and inserting #bjai     
through #bjba4  7b7 ,healthy marriage   
promotion and responsible fatherhood    
grants ,section #djc7;a77#b77;,d7 7#db  
,u4,s4,c4 #fjc7;a77#b77;,d77 is         
amended--  7#a7 by striking #bjag and   
#bjah and inserting #bjai through #bjba2
 and  7#b7 by striking for fiscal year  
#bjag or #bjah4  7c7 ,contingency fund  
,section #djc7;b77#b7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4    
#fjc7;b77#b77 is amended by striking for
 fiscal year #bjah and inserting for    
each of fiscal years #bjai through      
#bjba4  7d7 ,tribal family assistance   
grants ,paragraphs 7#a77;,a7 and        
7#b77;,a7 of section #dab7;a7 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #fab7;a77 are each amended by 
striking #bjag and #bjah and inserting  
#bjai through #bjba4  7e7 ,child care   
,section #dah7;a77#c7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4    
#fah7;a77#c77 is amended by striking and
 #bjah and inserting through #bjba4  7f7
 ,grants to the territories ,section    
#aajh7;b77#b7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4            

#acjh7;b77#b77 is amended by striking   
#bjag and #bjah and inserting #bjai     
through #bjba4  ,v ,miscellaneous  #eja4
 ,technical ,corrections to ,data       
,exchange ,standards to ,improve        
,program ,coordination  7a7 ,in general 
,section #daa7;d7 7#db ,u4,s4,c4        
#faa7;d77 is amended to read as follows3
  7d7 ,data exchange standards for      
improved interoperability  7#a7         
,designation ,the ,secretary shall1 in  
consultation with an interagency work   
group established by the ,office of     
,management and ,budget and considering 
,state government perspectives1 by rule1
 designate data exchange standards to   
govern1 under this part--  7,a7         
necessary categories of information that
 ,state agencies operating programs     
under ,state plans approved under this  
part are required under applicable      
,federal law to electronically exchange 
with another ,state agency2 and  7,b7   
,federal reporting and data exchange    
required under applicable ,federal law4 

7#b7 ,requirements ,the data exchange   
standards required by paragraph 7#a7    
shall1 to the extent practicable--  7,a7
 incorporate a widely accepted1         
non-proprietary1 searchable1            
computer-readable format1 such as the   
e,xtensible ,markup ,language2  7,b7    
contain interoperable standards         
developed and maintained by             
intergovernmental partnerships1 such as 
the ,national ,information ,exchange    
,model2  7,c7 incorporate interoperable 
standards developed and maintained by   
,federal entities with authority over   
contracting and financial assistance2   
7,d7 be consistent with and implement   
applicable accounting principles2  7,e7 
be implemented in a manner that is      
cost-effective and improves program     
efficiency and effectiveness2 and  7,f7 
be capable of being continually upgraded
 as necessary4  7#c7 ,rule of           
construction ,nothing in this subsection
 shall be construed to require a change 
to existing data exchange standards     

found to be effective and efficient4  4 
7b7 ,implementation ,not later than the 
date that is #bd months after the date  
of the enactment of this section1 the   
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services shall issue a proposed rule   
that--  7#a7 identifies federally       
required data exchanges1 include        
specification and timing of exchanges to
 be standardized1 and address the       
factors used in determining whether and 
when to standardize data exchanges2 and 
7#b7 specifies ,state implementation    
options and describes future milestones4
  #ejb4 ,effective dates  7a7 ,in       
general ,except as provided in          
subsection 7b71 the amendments made by  
this ,act shall take effect as if       
enacted on ,october #a1 #bjah4  7b7     
,improving participation in activities  
leading to employment ,the amendments   
made by sections #aja1 #ajb1 #ajc1 #ajd1
 and #cja take effect on ,october #a1   
#bjai4