Pub. L. 118–5, div. C, title I, §§ 302, 304, 305,
(e) Pilot projects for promoting accountability by measuring work outcomes
(1) In general
The Secretary shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary may select up to 5 States to which a grant is made under section 603(a) of this title for a fiscal year to negotiate performance benchmarks for work and family outcomes for recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part, and programs funded with qualified State expenditures. The Secretary shall issue guidance on how States apply for participation in the pilot. The benchmarks shall include—
(A) the percentage of work-eligible individuals under the State program funded under this part who are in unsubsidized employment during the 2nd quarter after exiting the program;
(B) the level of earnings of such individuals in the 2nd and 4th quarters after exit; and
(C) other indicators of family stability and well-being as established by the Secretary.
(2) Level of performance benchmark
The Secretary and a State selected under paragraph (1) shall agree to the requisite level of performance on these benchmarks after developing baseline data in the State and comparative data in other States.
(3) Failure of State to meet benchmark
If a State fails to meet a measured benchmark standard agreed to under paragraph (2) for 2 successive fiscal years, the State, in order to continue in the pilot shall enter into a plan with the Secretary to achieve the required level of performance or, if mutually agreed to, adjust the benchmark based on new information about the feasibility of meeting such benchmark.
(4) Duration
The pilot under this subsection shall be in effect for 6 fiscal years, with one year to establish benchmark data and negotiate targets and five years to measure performance against the targets, and shall supersede the requirements under section 607 of this title for such fiscal years, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
(5) Application of penalty for failure to reduce assistance for recipients refusing without good cause to work
For purposes of section 609(a)(14) of this title, a State operating a pilot must have a system for reducing the amount of assistance payable to a family if an individual refuses, without good cause (including for reasons described in 607(e)(2) of this title), to engage in any such activities as the State has required of such an individual. A State without such a system shall be considered to have failed to comply with the requirements of section 607(e) of this title for so long as the failure to comply continues.
(6) Collection of performance data
Each State selected under paragraph (1), in consultation with the Secretary, shall collect and submit to the Secretary data on the performance of the State operating such a pilot program.
(7) Reports
(A) Initial report
Not later than 12 months after
(B) Final report
Not later than 12 months after the date on which the programs under this section have terminated, the Secretary shall submit a comprehensive report to Congress on outcomes achieved under such programs.
(f) Reporting performance indicators
(1) In general
Each State, in consultation with the Secretary, shall collect and submit to the Secretary the information necessary for each indicator described in paragraph (2), for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter.
(2) Indicators of performance
The indicators described in this paragraph for a fiscal year are the following:
(A) The percentage of individuals who were work-eligible individuals as of the time of exit from the program, who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after the exit.
(B) The percentage of individuals who were work-eligible individuals who were in unsubsidized employment in the second quarter after the exit, who are also in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after the exit.
(C) The median earnings of individuals who were work-eligible individuals as of the time of exit from the program, who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after the exit.
(D) The percentage of individuals who have not attained 24 years of age, are attending high school or enrolled in an equivalency program, and are work-eligible individuals or were work-eligible individuals as of the time of exit from the program, who obtain a high school degree or its recognized equivalent while receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part or within 1 year after the exit.
(3) Definition of exit
In paragraph (2), the term “exit” means, with respect to a State program funded under this part, ceases to receive assistance under the program funded by this part.
(4) Regulations
In order to ensure nationwide comparability of data, the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Labor and with States, shall issue regulations governing the reporting of performance indicators under this subsection.
See 2023 Amendment notes below.
Section 301 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(A)(ii)(III), is section 301 of Pub. L. 92–603, title III,
Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
A prior section 611, act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 411, as added
2023—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 118–5, § 302, added subsec. (e).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 118–5, § 304, added subsec. (f).
2012—Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(ii)(III). Pub. L. 112–96, § 4005(e), struck out second closing parenthesis after “1972”.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–96, § 4003(a), added subsec. (d).
2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–291 added subsec. (c).
2008—Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(ix). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(b)(1)(E), (2)(V), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits” for “food stamps”.
2006—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109–171, § 7102(b)(2)(A), inserted “or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 609(a)(7)(B)(i) of this title)” before colon at end of introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(1)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 109–171, § 7102(b)(2)(B), inserted “and any other State programs funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 609(a)(7)(B)(i) of this title)” after “this part”.
1999—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 106–113, § 1000(a)(4) [title VIII, § 804(a)(1)], in introductory provisions, inserted “(except for information relating to activities carried out under section 603(a)(5) of this title)” after “part”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(xviii). Pub. L. 106–113, § 1000(a)(4) [title VIII, § 804(a)(2)], struck out cl. (xviii) which related to families participating in a program operated with funds provided under section 603(a)(5) of this title.
1997—Pub. L. 105–33, § 5514(c), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 104–193, § 103(a)(1), which enacted this section.
Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5507(1)(A)(i), added cl. (ii) and struck out former cl. (ii) which read as follows: “Whether a child receiving such assistance or an adult in the family is disabled.”
Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(iv). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5507(1)(A)(ii), substituted “head of” for “youngest child in”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(vii), (viii). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5507(1)(A)(iii), substituted “level” for “status”.
Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(xvii). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5507(1)(A)(iv), added cl. (xvii).
Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(xviii). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5001(e)(1), added cl. (xviii).
Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5507(1)(B), substituted “samples” for “estimates” in heading and “disaggregated case record information on a sample of families selected” for “an estimate which is obtained” in cl. (i).
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5001(e)(2), inserted before period at end “, with a separate statement of the percentage of such funds that are used to cover administrative costs or overhead incurred for programs operated with funds provided under section 603(a)(5) of this title”.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5001(e)(3), inserted before period at end “, with a separate statement of the total amount expended by the State during the quarter on programs operated with funds provided under section 603(a)(5) of this title”.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5001(e)(4), inserted before period at end “, with a separate statement of the number of such parents who participated in programs operated with funds provided under section 603(a)(5) of this title”.
Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5507(2), added par. (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (7).
Subsec. (a)(6)(C). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5001(e)(5), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 105–33, § 5507(2), redesignated par. (6) as (7).
Pub. L. 105–33, § 5001(e)(6), inserted before period at end “, and shall consult with the Secretary of Labor in defining the data elements with respect to programs operated with funds provided under section 603(a)(5) of this title”.
Amendment by Pub. L. 118–5 effective
Pub. L. 112–96, title IV, § 4003(b), “(1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue a proposed rule under section 411(d)(1) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 611(d)(1)] within 12 months after the date of the enactment of this section [“(2) The reporting standards required under section 411(d)(2) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 611(d)(2)] shall become effective with respect to reports required in the first reporting period, after the effective date of the final rule referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, for which the authority for data collection and reporting is established or renewed under the Paperwork Reduction Act [44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.].”
Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective
Amendment by section 4002(b)(1)(E), (2)(V) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–171 effective
Amendment by section 5507 of Pub. L. 105–33 effective as if included in section 103(a) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, at the time such section 103(a) became law, see section 5518(a) of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as a note under section 602 of this title.
Amendment by section 5514(c) of Pub. L. 105–33 effective as if included in the provision of Pub. L. 104–193 amended at the time the provision became law, see section 5518(d) of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as a note under section 862a of Title 21, Food and Drugs.
Section effective