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(a) Screening. The Department shall require all adult Recipients of aid under the General Assistance, PAES, CALM, or SSIP Program to undergo screening for substance abuse when it is determined by the Department that there is reasonable suspicion to believe that an individual is dependent upon illegal drugs. The Department shall document all findings of reasonable suspicion.
(b) Professional Evaluation. Where the screening process set forth in subsection (a) indicates that there is reason to believe that a Recipient is abusing or dependent on illegal drugs, such Recipient shall undergo a professional evaluation for substance abuse. The professional evaluation may be performed by the Department, the Department of Public Health, or by an entity funded by the City to perform this function, subject to the Charter’s restrictions regarding contracting for personal services.
(c) Treatment. Recipients who are professionally evaluated and determined to need treatment for substance abuse shall be referred to a treatment program determined to meet their rehabilitation needs, and shall be required to participate in the treatment program upon referral, provided the program services are actually available at the time of referral and are at no charge to the individual.
(d) Violations. It shall be a violation of this Section 20.7-26.5 for a Recipient to fail to comply with the screening, evaluation, and/or treatment requirements set forth in subsections (a), (b), and (c) without good cause. Recipients whose aid is discontinued for violation of this Section 20.7-26.5 shall continue to receive housing assistance for 30 days from the effective date of the notice of discontinuance. For purposes of this subsection (d), “housing assistance” means eligible, verified rent expenses and guaranteed access to in-kind shelter and meal services. The Department may extend an individual’s eligibility for housing assistance beyond 30 days provided the Department finds that such extension is necessary to prevent eviction.
(1) establish categorical exemptions from screening, evaluation, and treatment requirements relating to illegal drug use where necessary or appropriate to prioritize the allocation of scarce treatment resources and/or ensure that Recipients are not required to participate in multiple activities at the same time; and
(2) establish standards governing determinations relating to a Recipient’s need for an extension of housing assistance beyond 30 days to prevent eviction.
(f) Amendments by the Board of Supervisors. This Section 20.7-26.5 may be amended by the Board of Supervisors by a supermajority vote of eight or more members.
(Added by Proposition F, 3/5/2024, Eff. 4/12/2024, Oper. 1/1/2025)
The Department may develop and operate an Intensive Employment Services Program designed to connect employable Recipients to job opportunities. Participation in the Intensive Employment Services Program shall be voluntary and limited to Recipients of assistance under the PAES program.
(Added by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)
An Applicant who has terminated employment without good cause within 45 days of the submission of an application for aid may be denied aid. If an Applicant is denied aid on this basis, the Applicant may request a fair hearing and a determination will be made as to whether or not good cause existed for the Applicant’s decision to terminate his or her employment.
(As Sec. 20.58.4, amended by Ord. 271-81, App. 5/21/81; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-28 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)
For purposes of this Article VII, where an Applicant/Recipient is required to show “good cause” for not meeting one of his/her obligations or duties under this Article, good cause may be shown by evidence of any of the following: (a) verified hospitalization; (b) verified illness; (c) verified incarceration; (d) verified disability; or other good cause satisfactorily demonstrated to the Executive Director.
“Good cause” shall not exist where the Applicant or Recipient willfully failed or refused to comply with program requirements, or where the Applicant or Recipient engaged in no fewer than three separate acts of negligent failure to comply with program requirements.
(Added as Sec. 20.58.5 by Ord. 152-98, App. 5/8/98; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-29 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)
Where the Department requires that an Applicant or Recipient engage in work activity, which would be considered “employment” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. §§ 201 et. seq.) and any applicable U.S. Department of Labor Guidelines, to become eligible or maintain eligibility for aid under this Article VII, the maximum number of hours of work assignments that the Department may require shall be calculated by dividing the Maximum Monthly Assistance Grant to which a Recipient is eligible under Section 20.7-21 of this Article by the Minimum Wage Ordinance hourly wage rate established under Section of the Labor and Employment Code. To the extent permitted by law, the value of transportation assistance and other in-kind benefits provided to the Recipient may be added to the Maximum Monthly Assistance Grant for purposes of calculating the maximum number of hours of work assignments.
(Added as Sec. 20.58.6 by Ord. 81-06, File No. 051924, App. 4/21/2006; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-30 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)
Emergency assistance shall be provided in the form of in-kind aid during the period in which an Applicant’s eligibility is being determined.
(As Sec. 20.59, amended by Ord. 271-81, App. 5/21/81; Ord. 152-98, App. 5/8/98; Ord. 93-07, File No. 070208, App. 4/27/2007; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-31 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)
Aid payments made under this Article VII may be provided in the form of in-kind benefits, in-kind orders, vouchers, checks, electronic benefit transfers, or warrants.
(As Sec. 20.59.1, amended by Ord. 271-81, App. 5/21/81; Ord. 93-07, File No. 070208, App. 4/27/2007; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-32 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)
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