SB 737

This bill increases funding for skills enhancement grants for community action

agencies and changes the eligibility requirement for the services provided under

those grants.

Under current law, a community action agency approved by the secretary of

children and families and by the legislative body of the local governmental unit

serviced by the community action agency is required to develop and implement

programs designed to serve persons whose income is at or below 125 percent of the

poverty line. Those programs may include provisions that will help those persons

secure and retain employment, improve their education, and secure needed

transportation, among other things. Current law also appropriates money to the

Department of Children and Families (DCF) and requires DCF to distribute grants

to community action agencies to provide, to individuals who work at least 20 hours

per week and whose earned income is at or below 150 percent of the poverty line, a

program of skills enhancement that must include access to transportation, child

care, career counseling, job placement assistance, and financial support for

education and training (skills enhancement grants).

This bill increases the funding during the 2015-17 biennium for skills

enhancement grants. The bill also requires a community action agency that receives

a skills enhancement grant to provide skills enhancement services to individuals

who work at least 15 hours per week and whose earned income would make the

individuals eligible for any other program operated by the community action agency.