Section 1240-01-47-.16 - PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY PLAN(1) Personal Responsibility Plans Required for Eligibility. (a) As a condition of eligibility for the entire AU, the caretaker (both parents in a two (2) parent AU) who applies for or receives Families First/TANF must sign a Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP). Signing the PRP indicates an intent to comply with the requirements of the plan. The PRP is developed by the Department in consultation with the caretaker relative and:(b) Requires that all caretakers (both parents in a two (2) parent AU): 1. Agree to cooperate with child support enforcement activities;2. Assure that the children in the AU receive regular immunizations and health checks;3. Agree to participate in thirty (30) hours per week of activities as described in 1240-01-49-.03 if not exempt;4. Agree not to falsify work and/or educational activities documentation, such as providing a falsified employer's statement, attendance, etc. to verify thirty (30) hours per week of activities;5. Assure that the children in the AU attend school, including kindergarten;6. Agree to attend two (2) or more parent-teacher conferences within a school year with the child(ren)'s teacher to review the child(ren)'s status in school if the Department determines that the need is identified relative to the child(ren) in the AU;7. Agree to attend a minimum of eight (8) hours of parenting classes if the Department determines that the need is identified relative to the child(ren) in the AU;8. Agree to participate, in such support services that the child(ren) may require to overcome school, family, or other barriers that may interfere with the AU's ability to become self-sufficient, as determined pursuant to the Department's policy; and9. Agree to proper use of the electronic benefit transfer card, including agreement not to access public assistance benefits through an electronic benefit transfer card at: (i) Any point of sale device or automated teller machine located in any liquor store, casino, gambling casino, gaming establishment, or adult cabaret as prohibited under Chapter 1240-01-58; or(ii) Any point of sale device located in any tobacco store as prohibited under Chapter 1240-01-58.(2) As a condition of eligibility for him/herself, the minor parent who is a dependent child in an AU must sign a PRP. Signing the PRP indicates the intent to comply with the requirements of the plan listed in subparagraph (b), parts 1-8 above. Subparagraph (b), part 9 above does not apply to a minor parent who is a dependent child in an AU.(3) As a condition of eligibility for the entire AG/AU, the minor parent who is a caretaker of his/her own AG/AU must sign a Personal Responsibility Plan. Signing the PRP indicates the intent to comply with the requirements of the plan. The PRP requirements are the same as those listed in 1240-01-47-.16(1)(a) above.(4) The Department or its designees will provide benefits such as child care and transportation necessary to assist the individual in complying with the requirements set out in the Personal Responsibility Plan.(5) Failure, without good cause, to comply with the provisions of the PRP shall result in the following sanctions:(a) Failure to comply with the work requirement shall result in a mandatory period of case closure pursuant to rule 1240-01-49-.04.(b) Failure to comply with the prohibited uses of the electronic benefit transfer card as described under Chapter 1240-01-58 shall result in reimbursement of the illegally transferred funds to the Department and/or prohibition from receipt of temporary cash assistance benefits by means of direct cash payment or electronic benefit transfer card.(c) The following failures shall each result in a twenty percent (20%) reduction in temporary cash assistance, not to exceed forty percent (40%) for concurrent violations, until compliance is met: 1. Failure of one or more of the children in the AU to comply with the school attendance requirement.2. Failure to meet the immunization and health check requirement for one or more children in the AU.3. Failure to comply with the requirement to attend two (2) or more parent-teacher conferences if the Department determines that the need is identified for one or more child(ren) in the AU.4. Failure to attend a minimum of eight (8) hours of parenting classes if the Department determines that the need is identified for one or more child(ren) in the AU.5. Failure to participate in support services as provided in paragraph (1)(b)(8) if the Department determines that the need is identified for one or more child(ren) in the AU.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-01-47-.16
Original rule filed December 2, 1996; effective February 15, 1997. Public necessity rule filed July 2, 2007; expired December 14, 2007. Amendment filed October 1, 2007; effective December 15, 2007. Amendments filed April 2, 2014; effective July 1, 2014. Amendment filed April 2, 2015; effective July 1, 2015. Emergency rule filed July 1, 2016; effective through December 28, 2016. Amendments filed September 28, 2016; effective 12/27/2016.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201 et seq., 4-5-202, 4-5-209, 71-1-103, 71-1-104, 71-1-105, 73-1-126, 71-3-192, 71-3-103, 71-3-104, 71-3-108(d)(2)(D), 71-3-152, 71-3-153 and 71-3-154; 71-3-158(d)(2)(D); 42 U.S.C. §§ 601 et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 603, 42 U.S.C. § 604(i); 42 U.S.C. § 607(c), (d) and (e); 42 U.S.C. § 608(a)(2), (3) and (12), 42 U.S.C. § 608(b)(3); 42 U.S.C. § 609(a)(14) and 42 U.S.C. §§ 654 and 657; 45 C.F.R. § 261.2, 45 C.F.R. § 261.12 and 45 C.F.R. § 261.14; and Public Acts of 1996, Chapter 950, § 1115 of the Social Security Act; Deficit Reduction Act 2005 ( Pub. L. 109-171 §§ 7101 and 7102, February 8, 2006); 71 Federal Register 37454 (June 29, 2006); and Acts 2007, Chapter 31.