Florida Senate - 2015                                    SB 1434
       
       
        
       By Senator Abruzzo
       
       
       
       
       
       25-01164-15                                           20151434__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Temporary Assistance for Needy
    3         Families State Plan; providing for the use of funds
    4         provided under the plan for the purchase of disposable
    5         diapers by parents receiving financial assistance
    6         under certain conditions and consistent with federal
    7         law; providing an effective date.
    8  
    9         WHEREAS, existing law requires each county to provide cash
   10  assistance and other social services to needy families through
   11  the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families State Plan, and
   12         WHEREAS, existing federal law classifies diapers, together
   13  with cigarettes and alcohol, as disallowed purchases under the
   14  Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and
   15  Children, and
   16         WHEREAS, low-income parents cannot take advantage of
   17  subsidized child care if they cannot afford to provide
   18  disposable diapers as required by most child care centers, and
   19         WHEREAS, without access to child care, these parents are
   20  less able to attend work or school on a consistent basis,
   21  leading to increased economic instability, and
   22         WHEREAS, lack of sufficient diapers can lead to multiple
   23  problems for families in need, including unhappy babies,
   24  unhealthy communities, undereducated toddlers, and underemployed
   25  adults, and
   26         WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature to enact
   27  legislation that will empower families that receive public
   28  assistance and who have children who are wearing diapers to
   29  return to the workforce by removing obstacles to obtaining
   30  diapers to the extent permitted by federal law, NOW, THEREFORE,
   31  
   32  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   33  
   34         Section 1. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families State
   35  Plan.—The Department of Children and Families shall amend the
   36  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families State Plan, submitted in
   37  accordance with s. 402 of the Social Security Act, as amended,
   38  42 U.S.C. s. 602, to provide for the use of funds for the
   39  purchase of disposable diapers by parents receiving assistance
   40  through the plan, subject to the availability of moneys and the
   41  limitations established by the General Appropriations Act.
   42         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.