1. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section and in regulations that the Secretary adopts, a local department may not pay temporary cash assistance to:

   1. (1) a family that includes an adult who has received more than 60 cumulative months of temporary cash assistance funded wholly or partly by federal funds; or

   2. (2) a family that includes an adult who:

      1. (i) has received more than 24 cumulative months of temporary cash assistance funded wholly or partly by federal funds; and
      2. (ii) is not participating in a work activity.

2. (b) The Secretary shall adopt regulations that establish:

   1. (1) standards and procedures under which a local department may exempt a family from the limitation under subsection (a)(1) of this section because of hardship; and

   2. (2) a separate State program that:

      1. (i) is funded entirely from State general funds that may be counted toward any federal maintenance of effort requirement;
      2. (ii) pays temporary cash assistance to a family that is exempted under item (1) of this subsection but cannot receive federal funds because of federal limitations; and
      3. (iii) is subject to all FIP requirements under this subtitle.
3. (c) The provisions of this section are subject to federal law and regulation.

Added by Acts 2007, c. 3, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2007. Amended by Acts 2008, c. 459, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2008, c. 460, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2011, c. 65, § 1, eff. April 12, 2011.