4133090 Resolution 19-710, "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Time Delay Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2012"

A RESOLUTION

 

19-710

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

December 4, 2012

 

To declare the existence of an emergency, due to Congressional review, with respect to

the need to delay the scheduled additional 25% reduction of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families payments for 6 months, from October 1, 2012, until April 1, 2013.

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Time Delay Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2012".

 

Sec. 2. (a) In September of this year, the Council passed the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Time Delay Emergency Act of 2012, effective September 20, 2012 (D.C. Act 19-450).  This emergency legislation will expire on December 19, 2012.  Prior to the passage of the emergency legislation, the law required, beginning October 1, 2012, a reduction of 25% of the fiscal year 2012 public assistance payment for assistance units receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (“TANF”) benefits for more than 60 months.

(b) Through a reprogramming approved by the Council on August 6, 2012, funding was made available to make feasible the delay in the implementation of this reduction in TANF cash benefits until April 1, 2013.

(c) This delay is necessary to provide customers subject to this reduction additional time to access services and prepare for their eventual transition off TANF dependency.

(d)  Temporary legislation, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Time Delay Temporary Act of 2012 (Bill 19-0902)(“Temporary Act”), which was signed by the Mayor on November 2, 2012 (D.C. Act 19-523), has not completed the 30-day Congressional review period required by section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973(87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). If the Council does not pass additional emergency legislation, a gap in legislative authority will exist.

(e) It is important to enact this Congressional review emergency legislation to ensure the continued delay of the scheduled additional 25% reduction of TANF payments until the Temporary Act is in place.

 

Sec. 3.  The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Time Delay Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2012 be adopted after a single reading.

 

Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.