Tracking #2007-00983
[former Tracking #2007-01059]
Adopted final (permanent) on 10/5/07;
emergency adoption 9/7/07, eff. 10/1/07
(note: no changes have occurred since emergency adoption)

I:/07081601.rtf
[I:/07081601.doc]

(9 CCR 2503-1)

[Note:  Statement of basis and purpose included w/Tracking #2007-00973/Rule-making #07-5-24-1]

[Instructions: replace lines 1399247 through 1399276.]

3.636  WORK VERIFICATION PLAN [Eff. 10/1/07]
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), or other governing body if no Board exists, shall adopt standards and written policies that fully adhere to requirements set forth in Colorado's most current federally certified Work Verification Plan. The Work Verification Plan is written in accordance with federal regulations. 
Failure to adhere to work verification requirements as set forth under the above certified plan can result in a work verification penalty assessment to the county block grant allocation. The following are the minimum requirements of the Work Verification Plan that counties must adhere to: 
A.  Countable work activity definitions; 
B.  Documentation and case file maintenance; 
C.  Work activity hour verifications; 
D.  Daily supervision requirements for work activities; 
E.  Application of excused absence and holiday allowances; 
F.  Requirements for secondary stage case file review; and, 
G.  Timely and accurate reporting of relevant information into the electronic data system. 
3.637  PRIVATE CONTRACTING [Rev. eff. 10/1/07]
The Board of County Commissioners may contract all or part of the Colorado Works Program operation to private or public providers. Contracts which are paid for with county block grant funds and which are designed to invest in the development of community resources pursuant to Section 26-2-707.5(1), C.R.S., do not require that Colorado Works participants complete an application, a written agreement, or an Individual Responsibility Contract (IRC). Counties continue to have the authority to require such written documentation in their individual contracting procedures.
3.637.1  The contracting procedures for benefits or services provided through community resource investment contracts must: 
A.  Ensure that county block grant funds be used only to support Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)-eligible applicants or participants and support the purposes of the Federal “Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity reconciliation Act of 1996.”
B.  Approximate, with reasonable certainty, the number of TANF-eligible persons to be served and include the method used to calculate this number.
C.  Outline the provider’s eligibility verification process.
D.  Explain the methodology used as the basis upon which the costs for the services are calculated. Such methodology must be an accounting or statistical system that gives a reasonably accurate calculation of the costs for TANF-eligible services that support TANF-eligible applicants or participants.
E.  Prohibit supplantation: “supplantation” means the replacement of county funds serving Colorado Works participants with block grant funds and the use of those county fund savings for purposes other than Colorado Works.
F.  Include a regular accounting of activity at least twice a year. All expenditures for goods, services, or start-up funds must be documented with purchasing document.
3.637.2  Counties who contract with religious organizations for the payment of cash assistance or provision of services must provide alternative means for families to receive basic cash assistance or services if the client objects to being served by the religious provider chosen as a contractor by a county.
3.638  OPTIONAL NONCUSTODIAL PARENT PROGRAMS [Rev. eff. 10/1/07]
A county may provide services under the Colorado Works Program to a noncustodial parent (as defined in Section 3.605), in accordance with the county’s approved plan.
A.  A noncustodial parent shall not be eligible to receive a basic cash assistance grant under the program.
B.  Such services provided to a noncustodial parent shall be intended to promote the sustainable employment of the noncustodial parent and enable such parent to pay child support.
C.  Provision of such services shall not negatively impact the eligibility for benefits or services of the custodial parent.
D.  Any services offered to a noncustodial parent shall be based on the county’s review of: 
1.  The noncustodial parent’s completed application for services (which application shall be in a form approved by the State); and
2.  The county’s assessment of the noncustodial parent’s needs.
E.  All services offered to a noncustodial parent shall be outlined in an Individual Responsibility Contract entered into by the county and the noncustodial parent.
F.  Services may include, but are not limited to, parenting skills, mediation, workforce development, job training activities, job search, and county diversion.