(i)
Allowable activities
An entity to which funds are provided under this paragraph shall use the funds to move individuals into and keep individuals in lasting unsubsidized employment by means of any of the following:
(I)
The conduct and administration of community service or work experience programs.
(II)
Job creation through public or private sector employment wage subsidies.
(III)
On-the-job training.
(IV)
Contracts with public or private providers of readiness, placement, and post-employment services, or if the entity is not a private industry council or workforce investment board, the direct provision of such services.
(V)
Job vouchers for placement, readiness, and postemployment services.
(VI)
Job retention or support services if such services are not otherwise available.
(VII)
Not more than 6 months of vocational educational or job training.
(iii)
Noncustodial parents
An entity that operates a project with funds provided under this paragraph may use the funds to provide services in a form described in clause (i) to noncustodial parents with respect to whom the requirements of the following subclauses are met:
(I)
The noncustodial parent is unemployed, underemployed, or having difficulty in paying child support obligations.
(II)
At least 1 of the following applies to a minor child of the noncustodial parent (with preference in the determination of the noncustodial parents to be provided services under this paragraph to be provided by the entity to those noncustodial parents with minor children who meet, or who have custodial parents who meet, the requirements of item (aa)):
(aa)
The minor child or the custodial parent of the minor child meets the requirements of subclause (I) or (II) of clause (ii).
(bb)
The minor child is eligible for, or is receiving, benefits under the program funded under this part.
(cc)
The minor child received benefits under the program funded under this part in the 12-month period preceding the date of the determination but no longer receives such benefits.
(dd)
The minor child is eligible for, or is receiving, assistance under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 [
7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.], benefits under the supplemental security income program under subchapter XVI of this chapter, medical assistance under subchapter XIX of this chapter, or child health assistance under subchapter XXI of this chapter.
(III)
In the case of a noncustodial parent who becomes enrolled in the project on or after November 29, 1999, the noncustodial parent is in compliance with the terms of an oral or written personal responsibility contract entered into among the noncustodial parent, the entity, and (unless the entity demonstrates to the Secretary that the entity is not capable of coordinating with such agency) the agency responsible for administering the State plan under part D, which was developed taking into account the employment and child support status of the noncustodial parent, which was entered into not later than 30 (or, at the option of the entity, not later than 90) days after the noncustodial parent was enrolled in the project, and which, at a minimum, includes the following:
(aa)
A commitment by the noncustodial parent to cooperate, at the earliest opportunity, in the establishment of the paternity of the minor child, through voluntary acknowledgement or other procedures, and in the establishment of a child support order.
(bb)
A commitment by the noncustodial parent to cooperate in the payment of child support for the minor child, which may include a modification of an existing support order to take into account the ability of the noncustodial parent to pay such support and the participation of such parent in the project.
(cc)
A commitment by the noncustodial parent to participate in employment or related activities that will enable the noncustodial parent to make regular child support payments, and if the noncustodial parent has not attained 20 years of age, such related activities may include completion of high school, a general equivalency degree, or other education directly related to employment.
(dd)
A description of the services to be provided under this paragraph, and a commitment by the noncustodial parent to participate in such services, that are designed to assist the noncustodial parent obtain and retain employment, increase earnings, and enhance the financial and emotional contributions to the well-being of the minor child.
In order to protect custodial parents and children who may be at risk of domestic violence, the preceding provisions of this subclause shall not be construed to affect any other provision of law requiring a custodial parent to cooperate in establishing the paternity of a child or establishing or enforcing a support order with respect to a child, or entitling a custodial parent to refuse, for good cause, to provide such cooperation as a condition of assistance or benefit under any program, shall not be construed to require such cooperation by the custodial parent as a condition of participation of either parent in the program authorized under this paragraph, and shall not be construed to require a custodial parent to cooperate with or participate in any activity under this clause. The entity operating a project under this clause with funds provided under this paragraph shall consult with domestic violence prevention and intervention organizations in the development of the project.
(iv)
Targeting of hard to employ individuals with characteristics associated with long-term welfare dependence
An entity that operates a project with funds provided under this paragraph may expend not more than 30 percent of all funds provided to the project for programs that provide assistance in a form described in clause (i)—
(I)
to recipients of assistance under the program funded under this part of the State in which the entity is located who have characteristics associated with long-term welfare dependence (such as school dropout, teen pregnancy, or poor work history), including, at the option of the State, by providing assistance in such form as a condition of receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part;
(II)
to children—
(aa)
who have attained 18 years of age but not 25 years of age; and
(bb)
who, before attaining 18 years of age, were recipients of foster care maintenance payments (as defined in
section 675(4) of this title) under part E or were in foster care under the responsibility of a State;
(III)
to recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part, determined to have significant barriers to self-sufficiency, pursuant to criteria established by the local private industry council; or
(IV)
to custodial parents with incomes below 100 percent of the poverty line (as defined in
section 9902(2) of this title, including any revision required by such section, applicable to a family of the size involved).