House Bill 5317 Summary

• Replaces references to "family independence agency" with "department" throughout the Social Welfare Act provisions governing domestic violence screening and assistance programs.

• Requires the department to screen and identify individuals receiving assistance or medical assistance who have a history of domestic violence, refer them to counseling and supportive services, and waive certain program requirements when compliance would make it harder to escape domestic violence or would unfairly penalize victims.

• Mandates the department include certification in state plans that it has established and is enforcing standards and procedures for domestic violence screening and waiver authorization, and requires annual reporting to the legislature on screened individuals and waivers granted.

• Establishes the PATH (Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope.) work partnership program for medical assistance recipients, requiring participation except for exempted groups including children under 16, disabled individuals, seniors 65+, supplemental security income recipients, and individuals with waived requirements due to domestic violence.

• Permits temporary exemptions from PATH participation for individuals with short-term illness or disability, those with waived requirements, new parents, pregnant recipients with medical restrictions, caregiving spouses, and parents of disabled children, with exemptions subject to review by department caseworkers.