Section 10-112.2 - Noncustodial Parent Employment Assistance Pilot Program(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.(2) "Child support order" has the meaning stated in § 10-1A-01 of this title.(3) "Noncustodial parent" means an individual who:(i) does not have primary care, custody, or control of the individual's child; and(ii) has an obligation to pay child support under a pending or established court order.(4) "Program" means the Noncustodial Parent Employment Assistance Pilot Program.(5) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Human Services.(b)(1) The Administration shall develop and implement a Noncustodial Parent Employment Assistance Pilot Program in Baltimore City in cooperation with:(i) the Family Investment Administration;(ii) the Baltimore City Department of Social Services;(iii) the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning within the Maryland Department of Labor;(iv) local workforce development boards in Baltimore City; and(v) the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.(2) The purpose of the Program is to provide eligible unemployed or underemployed noncustodial parents assistance in obtaining employment that will enable the noncustodial parents to achieve economic self-sufficiency and meet their child support obligations.(c) To be eligible to participate in the Program, an individual must be: (1) a noncustodial parent of a child who is receiving services in Baltimore City under Title IV, Part D, of the federal Social Security Act;(2) unable to meet a child support obligation due to the noncustodial parent's unemployment or underemployment;(4) subject to the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.(d) The Program shall include: (1) the identification of noncustodial parents who are eligible to participate in employment services under the Program;(2)(i) for an eligible noncustodial parent who has a pending child support order, an opportunity to agree to: 1. participate in employment services under the Program in accordance with a consent agreement between the noncustodial parent and the Administration; and2. have the child support order require participation in the Program in accordance with the consent agreement; or(ii) for an eligible noncustodial parent who has arrearages under an existing child support order, an opportunity to choose one of the following methods of addressing the failure to pay child support:1. pay the arrearages or enter into a payment plan;2. participate in employment services under the Program in accordance with a consent agreement between the noncustodial parent and the Administration; or3. be subject to any enforcement remedy authorized by law for noncompliance with a child support order, including contempt of court proceedings; and(3) for a noncustodial parent who chooses to participate in employment services under the Program: (i) the issuance of a court order that: 1. requires participation in the Program in accordance with a consent agreement between the noncustodial parent and the Administration;2. indicates the noncustodial parent's agreement to comply with all Program requirements; and3. is signed by the noncustodial parent and the Administration;(ii) immediately after issuance of the court order, an initial assessment of the noncustodial parent's work readiness and determination of appropriate employment assistance services;(iii) execution of a consent agreement between the noncustodial parent and the Administration that sets forth: 1. the noncustodial parent's rights and responsibilities under the Program;2. an employment plan for the noncustodial parent; and3. the consequences of a failure to comply with Program requirements;(iv) employment assistance services;(v) referrals to other appropriate support services, as determined during the initial assessment or included in the employment plan;(vi) intensive case management that includes: 1. close monitoring of the noncustodial parent's compliance with Program requirements and continuing payment of child support; and2. documentation of the noncustodial parent's compliance status at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days after the effective date of the consent agreement; and(vii) strict enforcement procedures for noncompliance with Program requirements, including contempt of court proceedings.(e) The employment assistance services provided to a noncustodial parent under the Program may include: (1) job skills assessment;(2) job search guidance and assistance;(6) assistance with other employment-related needs such as work clothing, testing, transportation, or child care; and(7) referrals to educational programs and other community services.(f) In a case in which an assignment has been made under § 5-312(b)(2) of the Human Services Article, the consent agreement between the noncustodial parent and the Administration may provide for a reduction in the amount of arrearages as authorized under § 10-112 of this subtitle on full completion of Program requirements.(g) The Secretary may use any available funds for the development and implementation of the Program.(h)(1) The Secretary shall conduct evaluations of the Program using the following measures:(i) the number of noncustodial parents who are eligible to participate in the Program;(ii) the number of noncustodial parents who sign consent agreements and enroll in employment services under the Program;(iii) the number of participants who are in compliance with their employment plans;(iv) the percentage of participants who complete all Program requirements;(v) the number of participants who receive an occupational license or certificate;(vi) the number of participants who obtain employment;(vii) for each employed participant, the job type and location, wage or salary amount, and length of time the job is retained;(viii) the number of participants who consistently make the required child support payments and the amounts of the payments; and(ix) the amount of child support arrearages paid by participants who entered the Program with arrearages.(2) On or before December 31 each year, the Secretary shall report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, on the effectiveness of the Program based on the evaluations.(i) The Secretary may adopt regulations to implement this section.Amended by 2018 Md. Laws, Ch. 412,Sec. 1, eff. 10/1/2018.Added by 2016 Md. Laws, Ch. 312,Sec. 1, eff. 10/1/2016.