                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

STATEWIDE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) PROGRAM FUNDING POOL
PROGRAM (§ 63.2-601.2)

A. The Department shall develop a Statewide TANF Program Funding Pool Program
(the Funding Pool Program) and shall allocate to the Funding Pool Program that
portion of the TANF block grant to be awarded to service providers for expanded
TANF programs, which shall include all funds not transferred to the Social
Services Block Grant or used for cash assistance, employment services, or
child-care benefits through the TANF program, up to an amount equal to 12
percent of the total amount of the TANF block grant for that year.

B. Prior to submission of its proposed biennial budget to the Governor, the
Department shall issue a Request for Proposals for use of available funds from
the Funding Pool Program to service providers providing expanded TANF programs
through a competitive process that is designed in a manner that ensures that all
service providers in the Commonwealth, regardless of size or geographic
location, are afforded the opportunity to apply for funds. All programs and
services funded through the Funding Pool Program shall comply with all federal
and state statutory and regulatory requirements and shall serve the stated
purposes of the TANF program.

C. In developing the Request for Proposals, the Department shall include:

   1. A long-range planning and priority-setting process to identify state and
   local service needs and avoid overlap or duplication of services. The planning
   and priority-setting process shall include opportunity for citizen
   participation and consideration of local and statewide service needs and
   priorities;

   2. A competitive process, to include uniform eligibility criteria for service
   providers seeking funding and uniform application and selection procedures for
   comparable service categories;

   3. Uniform oversight, administrative, and reporting requirements for service
   providers receiving funding through the Funding Pool Program; and

   4. Uniform program evaluation criteria to determine the effectiveness and
   efficiency of comparable services funded through the Funding Pool Program.

D. The Department shall require all service providers applying for funding
through the Funding Pool Program to submit a detailed proposal that includes a
proposed budget, proposed program outcomes, and proposed program outcome
measures. Following review of applications for funding received pursuant to this
section, the Department shall provide a summary of the requests for funding and
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly of the programs to be
funded in the proposed biennial budget, the levels of funding recommended, and
the rationale for such recommendations, and the Governor shall consider such
recommendations in developing the proposed budget.

E. The Department shall require all providers receiving Funding Pool Program
funds to report annually on the use of the funds and outcomes achieved and shall
include such information in its annual report to the General Assembly.

HISTORY: 2011, c. 531; 2020, cc. 860, 861.