New Federal Dollars for New York - TANF Contingency Funds




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ALBANY Frank Mauro Fiscal Policy Institute 1 Lear Jet Lane Latham, NY 12110 518-786-3156 mauro@fiscalpolicy.org
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	New Federal Dollars for New York The TANF Emergency Contingency Fund in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) established the Emergency Contingency Fund within the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program for states to provide more support to needy families. The new fund will supplement a prior existing contingency fund (called the regular Contingency Fund), which in New York's case will soon be exhausted. This ongoing series of briefs from the Fiscal Policy Institute looks into the rules governing the new Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF), reviews New York's experience with the regular Contingency Fund, and explores the situations under which New York may qualify for ECF funds.



	ISSUE BRIEFS - 2010 May 19, 2010. Extending the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund Would Bring More Dollars and Jobs to New York. To help needy families during the Great Recession, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, created a $5 billion Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF) within the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) federal block grant program. The TANF ECF has brought $935 million in new federal dollars to New York over the last year. With the nation continuing to experience high unemployment rates, an extension of the ECF past its current September 30, 2010, expiration date is essential. TESTIMONY April 2, 2010. Testimony at the Joint Legislative Public Hearing on the 2010-2011 Executive Budget Proposal - Human Services. Presented by Carolyn Boldiston, FPI's Senior Fiscal Policy Analyst. Includes: a review of New York’s historical utilization of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, an analysis of the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of February 2009 on TANF funding and spending in New York State, a brief review of child care subsidies in New York State, and recommendations for the 2010-2011 state fiscal year. (This is a revised version of testimony originally delivered on February 10, 2010.) ISSUE BRIEFS - 2009 June 11, 2009. Part I: The Basics. June 11, 2009. Part II: New York's Experience to Date Using the Regular Contingency Fund. August 11, 2009. Part III: How New York Could Use the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund. SUPPORTING INFORMATION June 11, 2009. Data tables. 1. In the 2009-2010 state budget, New York used its FFY 2009 regular Contingency Fund award to pay for over $400 million in TANF-related programs. 2. New York's TANF/MOE caseload was lower in each quarter of FFY 2008 than in FFY 2007 - so 2008 would serve as New York's base year for determining its Emergency Contingency Fund award for basic assistance. 3. If New York spends more to support needy families in 2009 and 2010, 80 percent of the increased spending in three categories will qualify for an Emergency Contingency Fund award. 4. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Expenditure Data for New York - Detail for 2007 and 2008. 5. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Expenditure Data for New York - Detail for 2009. August 11, 2009. Data table. 6. Applying for upfront funding based on anticipated spending could increase federal dollars for New York five-fold. August 11, 2009. Timeline: Timing and amounts of potential awards from the two contingency funds. August 11, 2009. Sources.