112 STAT. 2736 PUBLIC LAW 105-285—OCT. 27, 1998 as a lead agency for purposes of carrying out State activities under this subtitle. "(2) DUTIES.— The lead agency shall— "(A) develop the State plan to be submitted to the Secretary under subsection (b); "(B) in conjunction with the development of the State plan as required under subsection (b), hold at least one hearing in the State with sufficient time and statewide distribution of notice of such hearing, to provide to the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed use and distribution of funds to be provided through the grant or allotment under section 67oA or 675B for the period covered by the State plan; and "(C) conduct reviews of eligible entities under section 678B. "(3) LEGISLATIVE HEARING.—In order to be eligible to receive a grant or allotment under section 675A or 675B, the State shall hold at least one legislative hearing every 3 years in conjunction with the development of the State plan. "(b) STATE APPLICATION AND PLAN. —Beginning with fiscal year 2000, to be eligible to receive a grant or allotment under section 675A or 675B, a State shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application and State plan covering a period of not less than 1 fiscal year and not more than 2 fiscal years. The plan shall be submitted not later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the first fiscal year covered by the plan, and shall contain such information as the Secretary shall require, including— "(1) an assurance that funds made available through the grant or allotment will be used— "(A) to support activities that are designed to assist low-income families and individuals, including families and individuals receiving assistsmce under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), homeless families and individuals, migrant or seasonal farmworkers, and elderly low-income individuals and famihes, and a description of how such activities will enable the families and individuals— "(i) to remove obstacles and solve problems that block the achievement of self-sufficiency (including self- sufficiency for families and individuals who are attempting to transition off a State program carried out under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act); "(ii) to secure and retain meanin^^l employment; "(iii) to attain an adequate education, with particular attention toward improving literacy skills of the low-income families in the communities involved, which may include carrying out family hteracy initiatives; "(iv) to make better use of available income; "(v) to obtain and maintain adequate housing and a suitable hving environment; "(vi) to obtain emergency assistance through loans, grants, or other means to meet immediate and urgent family and individual needs; and "(vii) to achieve greater participation in the affairs of the communities involved, including the development of public and private grassroots partnerships with local
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