,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #diih ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #aj1 #bjbj,mr4 ,cotton introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,finance ,a ,,bill ,to amend part ,d of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act to allow ,states to receive ,federal matching payments for mandatory work activity programs for noncustodial parents1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,child ,support ,works ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,state option for mandatory work activity programs for noncustodial parents 7a7 ,state plan option ,section #ded7ac7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fed7ac77 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting 7,a7 after 7#ac72 7#b7 by adding and after the semicolon2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,b7 provide1 at the option of the ,state and subject to subsection 7g7 of section #dee1 mandatory work activity programs for noncustodial parents described in paragraph 7#b7 of that subsection who are ordered to participate in work activities in accordance with procedures required under section #dff7;a77#ae72 4 7b7 ,payment requirements ,section #dee of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fee7 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7g7 ,in the case of a ,state that elects under section #ded7ac77;,b7 to provide mandatory work activity programs for noncustodial parents in cases subject to enforcement under the ,state plan who are ordered to participate in work activities in accordance with procedures required under section #dff7;a77#ae71 amounts expended by the ,state for such programs shall be included in the total amounts expended by the ,state during a quarter for purposes of payments under subsection 7a77#a77;,a7 subject to the following3 7#a7 ,the total amount paid under subsection 7a77#a7 to a ,state for amounts expended on such programs in any quarter shall not exceed an amount equal to #b percent of the total amount expended by the ,state during the quarter for the operation of the plan approved under section #ded 7excluding any amounts expended on such programs74 7#b7 ,the programs are provided only for noncustodial parents who-- 7,a7 have a current child support order2 7,b7 are unemployed1 underemployed1 or not making regular child support payments2 and 7,c7 meet such other eligibility criteria as the ,state may establish4 4 7c7 ,option ,to require ,,tanf or ,,snap work activities ,section #dff7;a77#ae7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fff7;a77#ae77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting 7and1 if the ,state has elected under section #ded7ac77;,b7 to provide mandatory work activity programs for noncustodial parents described in section #dee7;g77#b71 in any case subject to enforcement under the ,state plan that involves such a noncustodial parent7after with respect to a child receiving assistance under a ,state program funded under part ,a2 and 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by inserting 7or1 in the case of a noncustodial parent described in section #dee7;g77#b71 to participate in such work activities 7as so defined7 or in activities that would satisfy the work requirements that would apply to the noncustodial parent under subsection 7d7 or 7o7 of section #f of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act if the noncustodial parent were eligible for benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under that ,act and were required to satisfy such work requirements7 after 7as defined in section #djg7;d774 #c4 ,evaluation of effectiveness of work activity programs for noncustodial parents 7a7 ,in general ,section #dac of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fac7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7h7 as subsection 7i72 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7g71 the following3 7h7 ,evaluation of work activity programs for noncustodial parents 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall conduct research to determine the effects of work activity programs for noncustodial parents funded under section #dee7;g7 and required in accordance with section #dff7;a77#ae7 on child support payments1 employment1 earnings1 and other factors1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,methodology ,the research conducted under paragraph 7#a7 shall employ random assignment when feasible1 or1 when random assignment is not feasible1 other research methods that allow for the strongest possible causal inferences4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,section #djc7;a77#a77;,b7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjc7;a77#a77;,b77 is amended by striking #dac7;h77#a7 and inserting #dac7;i77#a74 7#b7 ,paragraph 7#c7 of subsection 7i7 of section #dac of such ,act 7as redesignated by paragraph 7#a77;,a77 is amended by striking section #dac7;h7 of this ,act and inserting this subsection4