Okla. Stat. tit. 56, § 56-230.50

Responsibilities of Department of Human Services - Interagency

collaboration - Block grant funding - Rulemaking - Federal waiver

applications - Report to Legislature and Governor.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons Page 97

A. Sections 230.50 through 230.73 and 241.1 through 241.3 of

this title shall be known and may be cited as the "Statewide

Temporary Assistance Responsibility System (STARS)".

B. 1. There is hereby established the Statewide Temporary

Assistance Responsibility System (STARS) which shall consist of

programs and services to be offered by the state with funds provided

by the temporary assistance for needy families block grant

authorized by Section 103 of the federal Personal Responsibility and

Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193, in

addition to other monies appropriated by law.

2. The STARS shall consist of integrated and coordinated

programs and services that will provide recipients with the

necessary tools to enable them to make the transition from reliance

on public assistance programs to becoming independent, self-

sufficient citizens who are capable of supporting themselves and

their families. Such programs and services include but are not

limited to: career guidance and employment preparation, job

referral, vocational and technical training, child care initiatives,

literacy development, adult basic education, and medical assistance.

3. The Oklahoma Legislature further recognizes the importance

of encouraging establishment of statewide, One-stop

Career/Employment Centers that would link existing resources and

federal and state programs for utilization by persons receiving

temporary assistance, and underemployed and unemployed persons.

C. The Department of Human Services shall be responsible for:

1. Implementing the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy

Families Act (TANF);

2. Carrying out the projects and programs specified in the

STARS. The Department shall implement the provisions of the STARS

to the fullest extent permitted by law and in accordance with the

terms and conditions specified by the federal government;

3. Expediting the acquisition of any federal waivers necessary

to implement the provisions of STARS through amendments, combined

waivers, requests and in any other such manner authorized by federal

law and regulations;

4. Working in close and continuous coordination with

appropriate federal officials and preparing and submitting

completely and in a timely manner all forms and data required by

federal officials to implement STARS; and

5. Continuing to explore and expand opportunities for the state

to pursue agreements with additional service providers including but

not limited to community colleges, technology centers and community

resources in order to provide direct referral and link recipients

with career and technology education and training programs.

D. In administering the STARS, the Department shall collaborate

with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the Department of

Commerce, the State Department of Health and the State Department of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons Page 98

Education and any other state or federal agency necessary to

implement the provisions of the STARS.

E. In submitting any state plan or amendments to the state plan

to the federal government in order to obtain a temporary assistance

for needy families block grant or child care and development block

grant, the Department shall seek the maximum block grant funding and

federal contingency fund allocations that are available pursuant to

the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity

Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193.

F. The Department for Human Services shall promulgate rules for

developing any projects and programs to implement the STARS.

G. 1. The Department of Human Services is directed to file

with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President
d allocations that are available pursuant to

the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity

Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193.

F. The Department for Human Services shall promulgate rules for

developing any projects and programs to implement the STARS.

G. 1. The Department of Human Services is directed to file

with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President

Pro Tempore of the Senate a copy of any waiver application or

request for amendment or exemption filed with the federal

government, copies of correspondence to and from the federal

government explaining and elaborating upon said applications, and

final documentation of any waivers, amendments, and exemptions

granted by the federal government pursuant to the STARS.

2. On or before February 1, 1998, for the previous six-month

period, and on or before February 1 of each year, for the previous

fiscal year, the Department shall provide a written report on each

project and program specified in the STARS to the Legislature and

the Governor which identifies:

a. total number of new applications received by the

Department for TANF, food stamps and child care, and

the number of cases actually certified,

b. number of recipients who signed a personal

responsibility agreement pursuant to the TANF program,

c. number of cases closed by the Department and the

reasons for the case closures,

d. the number of persons who reapplied for benefits

pursuant to the TANF program after a case had been

closed,

e. number of recipients who completed an employability

assessment by level of education,

f. the total number of recipients who completed an

employability assessment, and the number who were

initially referred for:

(1) literacy assessment,

(2) adult basic education or remediation classes,

(3) job skills development or vocational training,

(4) employment,

(5) other,

g. of the total number of recipients assessed for

literacy skills, the number who scored:

(1) at or below 6th grade level,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons Page 99

(2) at 7th or 8th grade level,

(3) at 9th or 10th grade level,

(4) above 10th grade level,

h. number of sanctions imposed for violations of the

provisions of the STARS or rules promulgated pursuant

thereto or any other provision of law or rule relating

to receipt of benefits by a recipient and the reasons

for imposing the sanction,

i. percentage of recipients in allowable work activities,

j. number of recipients in each allowable work activity

and the length of time spent in that activity,

k. number of recipients employed by state agencies and

contract service providers,

l. number of recipients entering the workforce by

occupation types,

m. estimated average monthly earnings for employed aid

recipients,

n. average monthly number of hours worked by recipients,

o. number of qualified aliens applying for assistance

pursuant to the STARS and number of applications

certified by the Department, and

p. such other information deemed necessary by the

Department.