The Joint Finance Committee’s version of the 2009-2011 state budget, approved early Friday morning, includes a number of improvements to the state’s W-2 program. The omnibus motion which contains those parts of the budget – and others – can be accessed at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/2009-11Budget/JFC/Motions/744.pdf.

Here’s a short summary of what was approved related to W-2:

1. The committee voted to use caseload projections for W-2 that are based on current levels and the recent upward trend, something the Governor’s budget failed to do as it assumed flat caseloads throughout the next biennium. Not only have caseloads already risen due to the recession, but they may go higher yet. JFC assumed higher caseloads and allocated additional federal TANF dollars to pay for benefits for the increased number of participants ($5.3 million in federal funds in 2009-10, and $6.9 million in 2010-11).

2. $3 million more in federal funds were allocated for W-2 services for each year of the biennium.

3. The JFC budget includes a provision stating that in the next round of W-2 contracts, the Department of Children and Families must prohibit W-2 agencies from requiring “up-front” job search” requirements, something that may have been keeping many eligible residents from participating in the program.

4. The JFC budget modifies the current law surrounding pregnant women who currently have no children and what they are eligible for within W-2. Currently, they may receive case management and job search assistance, but no cash benefit. The budget allows that for those in a medically-verifiable at-risk pregnancy, they may receive a cash benefit for that period of time. The change simply takes account of the fact that some women in at-risk pregnancies may not physically be able to search for work at that time.

Also in the area of TANF funding, the state’s Emergency Assistance allocation will be increased from its base level of $6 million per year by another $500,000 in 2009-10, and will return to base level in the second year of the biennium. The governor had requested an additional $1 million in 2009-10.