PUBLIC LAW 104-193—AUG. 22, 1996 110 STAT. 2113 "PART A—BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMI- LIES "SEC. 401. PURPOSE. 42 USC 601. "(a) IN GENERAL.— The purpose of this part is to increase the flexibility of States in operating a program designed to— "(1) provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives; "(2) end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, andf marriage; "(3) prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies; and "(4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. "(b) No INDIVIDUAL ENTITLEMENT. —T h is part shall not be interpreted to entitle any individual or family to assistance under any State program funded under this part. "SEC. 402. ELIGIBLE STATES; STATE PLAN. 42 USC 602.
- (a) IN GENERAL.— As used in this part, the term 'eligible State'
means, with respect to a fiscal year, a State that, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the fiscal year, has submitted to the Secretary a plan that the Secretary has found includes the following: " (1) OUTLINE OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. — "(A) GENERAL PROVISIONS. — A written document that outlines how the State intends to do the following: "(i) Conduct a program, designed to serve all political subdivisions in the State (not necessarily in a uniform manner), that provides assistance to needy families with (or expecting) children and provides parents with job preparation, work, and support services to enable them to leave the program and become self- sufficient. "(ii) Require a parent or caretaker receiving assistance under the program to engage in work (as defined by the State) once the State determines the parent or caretaker is ready to engage in work, or once the parent or caretaker has received assistance under the program for 24 months (whether or not consecutive), whichever is earlier. "(iii) Ensure that parents and caretakers receiving assistance under the program engage in work activities in accordance with section 407. "(iv) Take such reasonable steps as the State deems necessary to restrict the use and disclosure of information about individuals and families receiving assistance under the program attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government. "(v) Establish goals and take action to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, with special emphasis on teenage pregnancies, and establish numerical goals for reducing the illegitimacy
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