Oklahoma § 56-230.62 - Contracts for literacy remediation, work activities,

§ 56-230.62. Contracts for literacy remediation, work activities,

training and other services.

A. The Department of Human Services shall, as appropriate,

provide literacy remediation, English as a second language, work

activities, training, and other services to recipients pursuant to

the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through

contracts. In contracting for English as a second language, work

activities, training, or other services, the following terms and

conditions shall apply:

1. A contract shall be performance based. Whenever possible,

payment shall be based on performance outcomes that include, but are

not limited to, such factors as job entry, job entry at a target

wage, and job retention. Payment shall not be based on completion

of training, education, or any other phase of the program

participation process;

2. A contract may include performance-based incentive payments

that may vary according to the extent to which a recipient is more

difficult to place. Contract payments may be weighted

proportionally to reflect the extent to which a recipient has

limitations associated with the long-term receipt of welfare and

difficulty in maintaining employment. The factors may include the

extent of a recipient's prior receipt of welfare, lack of employment

experience, poor literacy skills, lack of education, lack of job

skills, and any other factors determined appropriate by the

Department; and

3. The Department is hereby authorized to contract with

commercial, charitable, religious or faith-based organizations to

provide the necessary services pursuant to the TANF program as

provided in this section.

B. Subject to the availability of funds, the Department shall

explore and recommend technological enhancements and funding

necessary to support the work activities, training and other

services provided to recipients as described in subsection A of this

section. The enhancements may include creation of an online selfservice portal allowing recipients to retain responsibility for

periodically reporting on their employment, education, training and

job activities.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 56. Poor Persons

Added by Laws 1997, c. 414, § 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by

Laws 2002, c. 123, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2018, c. 121, § 1,

eff. Nov. 1, 2018.