<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".22" citation="COMAR 07.03.17.22" title_num="07" subtitle_num="03" chapter_num="17" heading="Failure to Comply with Work Requirements.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>If the local department determines that an individual has refused or failed without good cause to comply with the work requirements or employment and training program requirements, the individual is ineligible to participate in the Program for the following time periods:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>After the first violation, the later of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>1 month, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The date the individual complies with the work requirements;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>After the second violation, the later of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>3 months, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The date the individual complies with the work requirements; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>After the third or subsequent violation, the later of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>6 months, or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The date the individual complies with the work requirements.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>If the individual moves to another household, the individual remains ineligible.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Conciliation Period for Failure to Comply with an Employment and Training Program Requirement.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The local department shall begin a conciliation period the day after the local department learns of the noncompliance.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The conciliation shall continue for a period not to exceed 30 calendar days.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The purpose of the conciliation effort is to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Determine the reason the individual did not comply with the employment and training program requirement; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Provide the noncomplying individual the opportunity to comply before the issuance of a notice of adverse action.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Within the conciliation period, the local department shall, at a minimum, contact the noncomplying household member to determine the reasons for noncompliance and determine if good cause exists as described in §G of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Notice of Adverse Action. Within 10 days of the local department determining that an individual has not complied without good cause with a work requirement other than FSP employment and training program requirements, the local department shall provide a notice of adverse action containing the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The particular act of noncompliance committed;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The proposed disqualification period;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A statement that the individual may reapply at the end of the disqualification period; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A description of the action the individual may take to avoid the disqualification.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Ending a Disqualification.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Following the end of the disqualification period for noncompliance with the work requirements or employment and training program requirements, participation may be resumed if the individual or household applies again and is determined eligible.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Eligibility may be reestablished during a disqualification period if the individual who caused the disqualification becomes exempt from work registration under the provisions of Regulation .21B(1)—(4), (6), and (8)—(10) of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Suitable Employment.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Employment is considered suitable unless:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The wage offered is less than the federal minimum wage;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The employment is on a piece rate basis and the average hourly pay rate can reasonably be expected to be less than the federal minimum wage;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>There are conditions of employment which require joining, resigning from, or refraining from joining any legitimate labor organization; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The work offered is at a site subject to a strike or lockout unless the strike has been enjoined under §208 of the Taft-Hartley Act, or §10 of the Railway Labor Act.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Employment is considered unsuitable if the individual involved can demonstrate, or the local department becomes aware, that the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Degree of risk to health and safety is unreasonable;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Individual is physically or mentally unfit to perform the work as documented by medical evidence or by reliable information from other sources;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Employment offered within the first 30 days of employment registration is not in the individual's major field of experience;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Working hours or routine of the employment interferes with the individual's religious observances, convictions, or beliefs; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Distance from the individual's home to the place of employment is unreasonable considering the expected wage and time and cost of commuting.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A commuting time of 2 hours or more per day or the lack of private or public transportation renders a job unsuitable under §F(2)(e) of the regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Determining Good Cause.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The local department shall determine if an individual had good cause for failing to comply with the work requirements, employment and training program, and voluntary quit requirements.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In determining good cause, the local department shall consider the facts and circumstances described by the individual and employer involved.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The local department may base a good cause determination on factors such as:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Illness of the individual involved or another individual in the household requiring the presence of the individual involved;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A household emergency;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The unavailability of transportation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The lack of child care for a child or children who are 6 years old or older but younger than 12 years old.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>An individual shall be treated as though the individual failed to comply with the food stamp work requirements if the individual:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Is exempt from work requirements in accordance with Regulation .21B(5) or (7) of this chapter because the individual is subject to the TCA or Unemployment Compensation work requirements; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Fails to comply with the TCA or Unemployment Compensation work requirements.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>Unless an administrative hearing is requested and the individual is subject to benefits pending appeal, the disqualification period as described in §A of this regulation begins with the first month following the expiration of the 10-day adverse action period.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>