When Gov. Mike Leavitt announced he would push for sweeping reforms to the state welfare system, many thought the plan overly ambitious, if not naive.
Criticism aside, three bills designed to change the face of welfare in Utah could be on the governor's desk for signature by Tuesday night.The Senate Tuesday was debating a package of three bills that would change the focus of welfare from grants to that of work. The changes include coordinated job training, requiring work for welfare benefits and limiting the time poor people can receive welfare.
Much of the reform initiatives would fall under the auspices of a new state department, called the Department of Workforce Services, that would consolidate and coordinate the activities of the Industrial Commission, job training programs and the delivery of welfare services.HB375, scheduled for final debate Tuesday, "provides the skeleton" state officials would use to create the department during the next year. The bill calls for 30 to 40 areas of study, the creation of regional advisory councils and the development of three divisions to deal with employment development, dispute adjudication and workplace safety.
On Monday, the Senate voted 23-1 to approve HB293, entitled "employment assistance for Utah families," requiring every welfare recipient to complete an employment plan, find work within 24 months and be off welfare within 36 months with limited exceptions.
Supporters of the legislation said it was nothing more than expanding the SPED pilot program statewide, but critics disagreed.
"SPED has no limitation on how long (welfare recipients) can receive assistance," said Sen. Robert Steiner, D-Salt Lake. And in every case that would fall under the welfare reforms, there are children involved. "I don't know what happens to them," he said.
The Senate also passed HB294, the Social Capital Formation Act, which is based on belief that "many civic volunteer-sector institutions" should be encouraged to help poor people so they won't have to rely on government. It directs Human Services staff to tell welfare applicants to apply to those charitable organizations for assistance instead of relying solely on government.