TANF Data Reporting

Data Collection and Reporting, Section 5507, changes three of the P.L. 104-193 Section 411 data elements to which APWA (now APHSA) had recommended modifications.

• The relation of each family member to the youngest child element would be reversed instead to require states to identify the relationship of each family member to the head of family;
• The disabled child and adult in family element would be scaled back to require states only to identify disabled children and adults receiving Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program or SSI disability benefits; and
• The elements requiring states to report the educational status of each child and adult in the family would be revised to require states to report the educational level of each family member.

This section would make three additional changes to P.L. 104-193, Section 411. The measure would: (1) add a new data element requiring states to report whether each individual in the family under 20 years of age is a parent of a child in the family; (2) address potential confusion in P.L. 104-193 about the use of disaggregated case record information to fulfill quarterly reporting requirements by replacing the term “estimate” with “disaggregated case record information on a sample of families selected”; and (3) add a new provision requiring states to submit a quarterly report on the number of families receiving assistance along with other required quarterly reports.

Direct funding and administration by Indian tribes, Section 5508, allows TANF block grants to Indian tribes can be calculated on a pro-rata basis if provided during the fiscal year. This section also clarifies that tribes have discretion on who will be served by the tribal plan; the appropriations for tribal work activities is corrected; tribes will be eligible for federal loans and a tribe can submit a corrective compliance plan to HHS.
Research, Evaluation, and National Studies, Section 110, makes a number of technical clarifications to research requirements, including allowing the continued funding of waiver demonstrations approved before Aug. 22, 1996. The current language set a date of Sept. 30, 1995. This section delays until the end of 1997 the required state report on poverty. 1998. Current law required this report in November 1996.