Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/2023

 PUBLIC LAW 109–68—SEPT. 21, 2005

119 STAT. 2005

(b) FORGIVENESS OF LOANS.—Notwithstanding section 406 of the Social Security Act, a penalty may not be imposed against any of the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama for failure to— (1) repay a loan made to the State under such section on or after the date of the enactment of this Act and before October 1, 2007; or (2) make any interest payment on such a loan. SEC. 5. AVAILABILITY OF UNSPENT TANF FUNDS TO PROVIDE BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT NEEDY FAMILIES AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA.

A State or tribe may use a grant made to the State or tribe under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act for any fiscal year to provide, without fiscal year limitation, any benefit or service that may be provided under the State or tribal program funded under such part to support needy families affected by Hurricane Katrina. SEC. 6. WORK REQUIREMENTS AND TIME LIMITS UNDER TANF PROGRAM NOT TRIGGERED BY RECEIPT OF TEMPORARY TANF BENEFITS BY FAMILIES AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA.

Benefits provided on a short-term, nonrecurring basis under a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act, during the period that begins with the date of the enactment of this Act and ends with the end of fiscal year 2006, to meet a subsistence need of a family resulting from Hurricane Katrina shall not be considered assistance for purposes of sections 407 and 408(a)(7) of the Social Security Act. SEC. 7. WAIVER OF TANF PENALTIES IN HURRICANE-DAMAGED STATES.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not impose a penalty on any of the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama under any of paragraphs (2) through (6), or (8) through (14) of section 409(a) of the Social Security Act with respect to a failure to comply with a provision of part A of title IV of such Act during the period that begins with the date of the enactment of this Act and ends with the end of fiscal year 2006, if the Secretary determines that the failure resulted from Hurricane Katrina or reasonable conduct of the State in addressing needs of victims of Hurricane Katrina.

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