The program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through state and local
government agencies within certain broad federal requirements and guidelines. On August 22, 1996, President
Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). This law
eliminated the open-ended federal entitlement program of AFDC and created a block grant for states to provide
time-limited cash assistance for needy families. The new program is called
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
The
goals of TANF are to provide assistance to low-income families with
children so they can be cared for in their own home, reduce dependency
by promoting job preparation, reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies and
encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. States
had until July 1, 1997 to submit a TANF state plan and initiate block
grant funding; however, states were permitted to implement the state
plan grant immediately after allowing a 45-day public comment period.
States which opted for early implementation had to abide by the
mandatory requirements of the Act. These include a 60-month lifetime
time limit on receipt of benefits, increased work participation
requirements, mandatory sanctions for failure to participate in work
requirements and failure to cooperate with the Child Support Enforcement
Program, and living arrangement and school attendance requirements for
minor parents. Nevada implemented TANF beginning January 1, 1997.
On February 1, 1997, state welfare reform measures passed during the 1995 legislative session were implemented.
These included exempting the total value of one vehicle, increasing the resource limit to $2,000 and allowing
100% and 50% earned income disregards.
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