39-7,105. Job preparation, training and education components of KanWork; period of participation; civil service examinations; community service providers, contracts. (a) Within the limits of appropriations therefor and to the extent allowed under any applicable federal law or rule and regulation adopted pursuant thereto, the secretary shall establish and make available to eligible public assistance recipients the job preparation, training and education component of the KanWork program.

(b) The job preparation element of the job preparation, training and education component includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Unsupervised job search, in which the participant individually seeks work and makes periodic progress reports to the secretary or an agency contracting with the secretary.

(2) Supervised job search which includes, but is not limited to, access to telephones to contact prospective employers, job orders, direct referrals to employers, or other organized methods of seeking work which are overseen, reviewed and critiqued by the secretary or an agent of the secretary. The amount and type of activity required during this supervised job search period shall be determined by the secretary and the participant, based on the participant's employment history and need for supportive services and shall be consistent with rules and regulations adopted by the secretary.

(3) Job club workshops, including group or individual training sessions, where participants learn various job finding and job retention skills. Workshops shall be conducted by persons trained in employment counseling. The skills taught in job clubs shall include preparation of an application, writing a resume, interviewing techniques, understanding employer requirements and expectations, telephone canvassing for job leads, proper dress and conduct on the job and ways to enhance self-esteem, self-image and confidence.

(4) Job referral and placement services.

(5) Employment counseling to assist persons to reach informed decisions on appropriate employment goals.

(c) The training and education element of the job preparation, training and education component includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Job training which includes, but is not limited to, training in industry-specific job skills in a classroom or onsite setting, including training provided by private industry, universities, community colleges, state and local agencies and school districts.

(2) Community work experience for a public or nonprofit agency that provides the participant the opportunity to develop basic work skills, practice and improve existing skills and acquire on-the-job experience established in accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of K.S.A. 39-708c, and amendments thereto, or subsection (d)(B)(3) of K.S.A. 39-709, and amendments thereto, or both such sections.

(3) Work experience through a grant diversion program which the secretary is hereby authorized to implement in which an employer receives a wage subsidy from money diverted in accordance with law from public assistance grants. Grant diversion shall be implemented through a contract entered into by the secretary and the employer.

(4) Work experience through employment with state government or local governmental units in work which otherwise would have gone undone, if the participant is unable to be placed in other employment. The state government and local governmental units may cooperate with the secretary for children and families in developing and making available such employment opportunities.

(5) Remedial education, which shall include adult basic education, high school completion and general equivalency diploma instruction. Only participants deemed able to become substantially more employable for an educational experience shall be placed in remedial education.

(6) College and community college education, when that education provides sufficient employment skills training which can be expected to lead to employment based on a labor market needs assessment. Only participants deemed capable of becoming substantially more employable from such an educational experience shall be placed in this education component.

(7) Vocational training in a community college, vocational technical school or local school district program which can be expected to lead to employment based upon a labor market needs assessment.

(8) English language instruction for non-English speaking participants.

(9) Other programs that may be made available through federal legislation authorizing employment and training programs for public assistance recipients.

(10) No participant who has graduated from high school shall participate in any educational program under the KanWork act for more than 30 months. A participant who has not graduated from high school but who the secretary determines is able to obtain general educational development credentials within nine months after becoming a KanWork participant may participate in the educational program under the KanWork act, but such educational program participation under the KanWork program shall be limited to 30 months, less the period of time required for the participant to obtain general educational development credentials, after the participant has received the general educational development credentials. The secretary for children and families may adopt by rules and regulations exceptions to such limitations on participation in any such educational program in cases of undue hardship.

(d) Workers assigned to state agencies under the KanWork program may participate in classified civil service examinations equivalent to the position occupied, as well as any other civil service examination for which the participant is qualified, and experience in the position occupied by the participant shall be included in determining whether the participant meets the experience requirements for the particular position under the Kansas civil service act.

(e) The secretary may enter into contracts with community service providers for job development and service provision.

History: L. 1988, ch. 141, § 5; L. 1994, ch. 265, § 11; L. 2014, ch. 115, § 104; July 1.