Provision of assistance and services; duties of department; burial assistance; department of health state supplemental security income program

Provision of assistance and services; duties of department; burial assistance; department of health state supplemental security income program. (a) The department shall provide and administer programs for public assistance and social services in Wyoming to those individuals lacking sufficient income or resources to provide themselves or their families with a reasonable subsistence compatible with decency and health or with services necessary for their well-being. (b) In carrying out subsection (a) of this section and except as provided under the Wyoming Medical Assistance and Services Act, the department shall: (i) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 179, § 2. (ii) Establish policies and standards for the provision of public assistance and social services in accordance with this article and federal law and regulation; (iii) Except as otherwise provided by law, establish by rule and regulation payment amounts and service levels for public assistance and social services programs provided under this article based upon the financial condition of the individual applicant or recipient; (iv) Supervise the expenditure of state funds and federal funds allocated to the state for purposes of providing public assistance and social services in such a manner as to ensure that, to the extent funds are available and authorized by the legislature, funds may be used in separate state-funded programs to: (A) Use, to the extent practicable, state maintenance of effort funds in a separate state funded program to provide public assistance to eligible individuals who have exhausted their benefits under the federal temporary assistance to needy families block grant and are exempt from the five (5) year limitation under paragraph (e)(i) of this section; (B) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 108, § 2. (C) Allow an individual receiving assistance to attend school as provided by W.S. 42-2-109(a) provided the individual: (I) Has completed an employment assessment conducted under department rule or regulation; (II) Meets the income and resource eligibility requirements of the personal opportunities with employment responsibilities (POWER) program; (III) Qualifies as a full-time student under W.S. 42-2-109(a)(ii)(A) and (C). (v) Cooperate with and report to the United States department of health and human services and other federal agencies as necessary to qualify the state for federal funding for public assistance and social services and comply with federal law and regulations governing the administration and expenditure of federal funds allocated to the state; (vi) Serve as an agent of the federal government in matters of mutual concern and in the administration of federal funds allocated to the state for public assistance and social services; (vii) Cooperate with other agencies as necessary to administer this article; (viii) Limit approved educational programs under paragraph (iv) of this subsection to educational courses not to exceed the baccalaureate level, or to one (1) vocational training program; (ix) Amend the state plan submitted to the United States department of health and human services to provide that the state elects as authorized by section 402(1)(A)(ii) of P.L. 104-193 to define work as including all activities permitted under section 407 of P.L. 104-193 plus satisfactory full-time school attendance as defined by W.S. 42-2-109; (x) To the extent funds are available and authorized by the legislature and if full-time students as defined by W.S. 42-2-109 are required by federal law or regulation to work in addition to attending school full-time, create a state funds only program using funds required for maintenance of effort to provide assistance to such students. Such a program shall take priority over other uses of the maintenance of effort funds available; (xi) Not discriminate against married couples with one (1) or more dependent children applying for assistance, provided the department may maintain work requirements for married couples consistent with the federal requirements for work participation for two (2) parent families; (xii) Provide benefits under the personal opportunities with employment responsibilities (POWER) program to permanent resident aliens lawfully admitted to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as allowed under section 402 of P.L. 104-193; (xiii) Exempt individuals domiciled in Wyoming from the application of section 115, subsection (a) of P.L. 104-193 allowing payment of benefits under the personal opportunities with employment responsibilities program (POWER) and the supplemental nutrition assistance program; (xiv) Promulgate and adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out this article; (xv) Subject to the availability of funds, provide to recipients in an approved education program under W.S. 42-2-109(a) at least two (2) hours of dependent day care, if needed, for each hour the applicant is required to be in class, laboratory or other required instructional activity; (xvi) Conduct the eligibility and identity verification process as provided in W.S. 42-10-101 through