HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-029BQ~#RD ~'?F SUPERVI~QRS
CQUNTY QF BUTTE, STATE QF CALIFORNIA
I~csolufion 110. 05-029
RESOLUTION REQUESTING A WAIVER OF WORK REQUIREMENT FOR
ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS (ABAWDs) DUE TO HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT
RATES IN BUTTE COUNTY
WHEREAS, Federal Food Stamp regulations overseen by the United States Department of
Agriculture and administered by the California Department of Social Services, limit Food Stamp
benefits for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) to three months within athree-year
period unless they are working at least twenty hours per week or participating in a workfare program;
and
WHEREAS, Federal Food Stamp regulations also provide for exceptions to work
requirements to prevent hardship among ABAWDs who live in areas of high unemployment or face
other barriers to employment; and
WHEREAS, Counties may submit a request for waiver of ABAWD work requirements when
the county's twenty-four month unemployment average is at least 20 percent higher than the
national average during the same period of time; and
WHEREAS, During the 2002 and 2003 calendar years, according to the Department of
Labor, Butte County experienced an average unemployment rate that was at least 20% higher than
the national average during the same period of time; and
WHEREAS, this level of unemployment now qualifies Butte County for a waiver of ABAWD
work requirements and the waiver is necessary to help ensure that low-income adults do not lose
basic nutrition supports due to the difficulty of finding employment in our county.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Butte County Board of Supervisors request
a waiver of ABAWD work requirements from the United States Department of Agriculture and the
California Department of Social Services for the maximum period allowed between April 1, 2005
through March 31, 2006.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that the Department of Employment and
Social Services shall forward the ABAWD Work Requirement Waiver Request to the California
Department of Social Services and shall immediately implement the ABAWD Work Requirement
Waiver upon receipt of notification of approval of request.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of March 2005 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Connelly, Dolan, Houx, Josiassen and Chair Yamaguchi
NOES: None -
ABSENT: None r ~
NOT VOTING: None `;
Kim K. Yamaguchi, Chair
ATTEST: Butte County Board of Supervisors
PAUL MCINTOSH, Chief Administrative Officer
and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
J,~ C.