Bill description: SB 1095 would establish an employment training program under the state Department of Health and Welfare to provide training and payments to individuals leaving welfare programs.
Rating: -4
Does it create, expand, or enlarge any agency, board, program, function, or activity of government? Conversely, does it eliminate or curtail the size or scope of government?
SB 1095 would establish a new state program to assist individuals who are coming off welfare programs by giving them employment training and giving them direct payments of $500. This program would be administered by the state Department of Health and Welfare. It would be available to those leaving programs which provide “general assistance, old-age assistance, aid to the blind, assistance to families with children, aid to the disabled, and medical assistance,” such as the food stamp program, TANF or Medicaid.
(-1)
Does it transfer a function of the private sector to the government? Examples include government ownership or control of any providers of goods or services such as the Land Board's purchase of a self-storage facility, mandatory emissions testing, or pre-kindergarten. Conversely, does it eliminate a function of government or return a function of government to the private sector?
SB 1095 would put the state Department of Health and Welfare in charge of administering this employment training program—a task more suited to private organizations.
(-1)
Does it increase government redistribution of wealth? Examples include the use of tax policy or other incentives to reward specific interest groups, businesses, politicians, or government employees with special favors or perks; transfer payments; and hiring additional government employees. Conversely, does it decrease government redistribution of wealth?
The program established under SB 1095 would only be available to individuals who are under 185 percent of the federal poverty line, roughly $23,100 for a single individual or $46,400 for a family of four. As such, this bill would provide the additional direct payments of $500 and employment training and coaching benefits to a select group of individuals at the expense of others.
(-1)
Does it increase government spending (for objectionable purposes) or debt? Conversely, does it decrease government spending or debt?
The fiscal note for SB 1095 states that the implementation of this new program would cost $500,000 for startup costs and an additional $1.2 million in ongoing costs to provide the $500 and to administer the program.
(-1)
