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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The nation's welfare reform policy should continue to provide for state flexibility and full funding to carry out innovation, so says a new policy released by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) today.

"The historic welfare reform partnership between the federal and state governments has been an overwhelming success," said NCSL President and New York Senator Stephen Saland. "With a few modifications, state legislators believe that a good program can be made even better."

The basic tenet of the 1996 legislation was the ability of states to develop and implement their own innovative welfare systems to address the needs of their respective residents. Since then, cash assistance caseloads have declined dramatically as parents have gone to work. As a result, state legislatures have moved TANF funds from cash benefits to support services such as child care, treatment for those parents with barriers to work and job retention and advancement strategies.

"This revolution of social policy allowed state legislatures to transform a system of income maintenance to one focused on work and self-sufficiency with support for families and vulnerable children," according to the new NCSL policy.

Even with this progress state legislators believe that more needs to be done, according to Senator Saland. He said many families still struggle with substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence and low literacy that hinder their employment prospects. "The declining economy and the tragic events of September 11 have had an adverse impact on industries that have traditionally hired former cash assistance participants," he said. "And, state legislators believe that welfare reform is an ongoing process of sustaining the work effort of former welfare recipients."

NCSL's welfare reform reauthorization policy advocates several key positions:

• State flexibility must be maintained and reauthorized;
• Full funding of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant -- including supplemental grants -- is imperative to the continued success of the program;
• An inflationary increase in the TANF block grant to protect against the declining economy and the expected increase in cash assistance caseloads;
• Maintenance of the emphasis on work in the existing TANF program;
• Time limits for cash assistance with state flexibility -- i.e. allowing states the flexibility to extend the federal time limit for a parent who is working and receiving benefits;
• Flexibility in allowing states to find creative ways to support marriage and family formation programs; and
• Increased federal funding for childcare, to enable parents to stay employed.

NCSL's welfare reform reauthorization policy will guide its efforts on Capitol Hill and with the Administration as the welfare reform debate unfolds over the next several months.

Since 1975, NCSL has been dedicated to serving the lawmakers and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL is a bipartisan source for research, publications, consulting services, meetings and seminars. It is the national conduit for lawmakers to communicate with one another and share ideas. Additionally, NCSL is an effective and respected voice for the states in Washington, D.C., representing their interests before Congress, the administration and federal agencies. 

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