39-7,104. Participation of public assistance recipients in KanWork program; evaluation and screening; performance standards to measure program; period of participation; participant appeal procedure. (a) The secretary of social and rehabilitation services shall provide for the evaluation of public assistance recipients to determine whether such persons are required to participate in the KanWork program and whether such persons are employable.  All public assistance recipients not required to participate in the KanWork program who are employable shall be encouraged to participate in such program.  The secretary also shall provide for the evaluation of KanWork participants to assess the appropriate level of services needed by such participants under the KanWork program; shall provide initial employability screening, goal setting, identification of support service needs and development of initial timeline goals for completion of activities; and shall establish and enter into with such participants written contracts of participant self-sufficiency. The secretary shall also develop a set of performance standards by which the effectiveness of the KanWork program may be evaluated.

(b) The secretary of social and rehabilitation services may enter into agreements with public, private and community-based providers for services including but not limited to the following: Determination and provision of employment occupational assessment, goal setting, training services, job development and placement and such other services as the secretary may deem appropriate within the provisions of this act.

(c) A KanWork participant who is determined to be employable shall not be eligible to participate in the KanWork program for more than 30 months, inclusive of any educational program under the KanWork program. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a KanWork participant under the KanWork program shall not be eligible to receive any cash assistance for three years subsequent to the time participation in the KanWork program ceases. The secretary of social and rehabilitation services may adopt by rules and regulations exceptions to such limitations on participation in the KanWork program, on participation in any educational program thereunder, or on eligibility for cash assistance, in cases of undue hardship. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, a KanWork participant who fails to become employed while participating in the KanWork program is authorized to receive support services as defined in K.S.A. 39-7,106 and amendments thereto for a period not to exceed six months while a person is seeking employment. If the person obtains employment, the person is authorized to receive transitional services under K.S.A. 39-7,107, and amendments thereto.

(d) KanWork participants may bring grievances and appeal decisions of the secretary under the KanWork program in accordance with grievance and appeal procedures established by the secretary by rules and regulations.

History: L. 1988, ch. 141, § 4; L. 1994, ch. 265, § 10; L. 1995, ch. 234, § 34; Jan. 1, 1996.