If
(it involves amending, or new) legislation:
- Drafting
- Caucus Legislation
Committee
- Caucus
- First reading
- Second reading
- Committee of the
whole
- Third reading
- Proclamation
Presenter’s Comment:
First of all, the Department requires permission to draft legislation.
Secondly, be aware that it is during the “Committee of the Whole” and
Third Reading where real “guts” of the debate happens. If there is trouble
with a policy this is where it may be stopped. Often, intended legislation
“dies” on the “order paper” at this stage; thus requiring the process
to begin all over from stage one.
Referring specifically
to the Household Income Policy (HIP):
- Department is obliged
to consider all revenue and assets for each member within a household
when assessing eligibility for income assistance.
- Individuals who
share accommodations, food and other day-to-day expenses are considered
part of the same household unit.
Legal
Authority for HIP
- Regulation under
the Family Income Security Act, sections 2 and 3.
- Section 2 defines
“spouse” as:
- The husband
or wife of a unit head, or
- A person who
resides with the unit head, who shares the responsibilities of the
unit and who benefits economically from the sharing of food, shelter,
etc.
- Section 3 deals
with the unit itself, and states that there can be only one application
per unit, that the application shall be completed by the unit head and
that where more than one application is filed by a group of two or more
persons who are living together and who do not legally constitute a
family, they may be grouped into one unit.
Exemptions
introduced in 1994 (two examples)
- Youth under the
age of 19, following a social evaluation, from parental home that is
not considered a safe environment. (goal to keep more < 19yr olds
in school).
- Individuals recognized
as visually impaired or disabled by the Medical Advisory Board (a deaf
category was added in 1999). Does not apply to married individuals or
those living common law.
Additional
Exemptions in 1997
- Single parents
(with a case plan)
- Extended benefits
grandparented
- Adult child with
income
- Long-term needs
Single Parent Families
- Two single parents
can share without affecting benefits if at least one is actively involved
in an approved case plan
- Specific eligibility
criteria:
- Each single
parent family must have been on Social Assistance for 12 months
- At least one
single parent must be involved in an approved case plan
- The exemption
may apply for the length of time to complete the case plan
- Other conditions
apply that could allow the exemption to continue
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