H.R. 2579: Reduce Duplication and Improve Access to Work Act

This bill, titled the Reduce Duplication and Improve Access to Work Act, proposes amendments to the Social Security Act that would allow states to use a portion of funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program for workforce development. Here’s a breakdown of the key provisions:

1. Allowing Fund Transfers

The bill aims to modify existing laws to permit the transfer of specified funds from TANF to support activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This means that states could shift some of the money they receive for helping families in need towards initiatives that encourage job training and employment.

2. Fund Reservation Limitation

The bill stipulates that if states choose to transfer these funds to WIOA programs, they cannot allocate more than 15% of the transferred funds for statewide workforce investment activities. This limitation is intended to ensure that a significant portion of the funds directly benefits individuals in need to access work-related training and services.

3. Planning Requirements

If a state decides to transfer funds under this new allowance, it must follow certain procedures:

• The state is required to submit a combined State plan to both the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor. This plan must detail how the state intends to carry out its programs under the amended law.
• While submitting this plan, the state must apply specific regulations from the WIOA to ensure that various programs included in the plan align with federal requirements.

4. Effective Date

The changes proposed in the bill would come into effect on October 1, 2026, giving states time to prepare for this legislative adjustment.

Relevant Companies

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