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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 43-1-220 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SELF-SUFFICIENCY STANDARD FOR USE BY STATE AGENCIES TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN ESTABLISHING PERSONAL FINANCIAL GOALS AND ESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF INCOME NEEDED TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 43 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 43-1-220. (A) For purposes of this section, 'self-sufficiency standard' means a calculation of the income an employed adult requires to meet his family's needs including, but not limited to, housing, food, dependent care, transportation, and medical costs.
(B) The State Department of Social Services shall contract with a private consultant to develop a self-sufficiency standard by January 1, 2006. This standard must take into account geographical variations in costs, the age and number of children in a family, and any state or federal public assistance benefit received by a family.
(C) Not later than March 1, 2006, the department shall distribute the self-sufficiency standard to all state agencies that counsel individuals who are seeking education, training, or employment. Those state agencies shall use the self-sufficiency standard to assist individuals in establishing personal financial goals and estimating the amount of income these individuals may need to support their families.
(D) The self-sufficiency standard must not be used to analyze the success or failure of a program or determine eligibility or benefit levels for a state or federal public assistance program."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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