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<section article="ghu" article_name="Human Services" number="5-319" title_number="5" title_name="Public Assistance" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Family Investment Program">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “demonstration site” means a site that the Secretary selects in consultation with the local director.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Secretary may establish a FIP demonstration site in not more than six jurisdictions.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Notwithstanding any other law, the local director shall appoint a director of the FIP established in a demonstration site who shall report directly to the local director.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary has sole authority to approve demonstration site plans that will govern FIP functions in a demonstration site, including the authority to approve demonstration site plans that will:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>assist families that have an employable parent toward a lasting exit from temporary cash assistance;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>ensure that individuals and families receive appropriate benefits;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>reduce errors in the administration of FIP;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>place temporary cash assistance recipients in employment in which their earnings will likely increase; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>improve the types of employment and employment retention rates of existing and former recipients.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The local director shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>develop a demonstration site plan for submittal to the Secretary for approval that will detail its:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>programmatic structure, including any programmatic changes;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>organizational structure, including any organizational changes;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>pay incentive structure and criteria for the award of pay incentives;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>measurable performance criteria and how these relate to the incentive structure; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>target performance criteria;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>implement the plan as approved; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>report to the Department on the progress achieved in the demonstration site.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The proper operation of the demonstration site and the achievement of the target performance criteria shall be an element of the local director’s performance evaluation.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Secretary shall establish a performance incentive program to provide pay incentives for employees in a demonstration site.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Secretary’s powers under this section shall be construed liberally.</text>
  </level>
</section>
