HB1401

House Bill 1401 proposes to amend Arkansas law by reducing the lifetime limit for receiving state-funded cash welfare assistance from twenty-four months to twelve months for households with work-eligible adults. The bill's stated intent is to move individuals from welfare dependency to employment, thereby encouraging self-sufficiency and reducing state expenditures. The legislation includes several specific exemptions for individuals unable to work due to circumstances such as disability, domestic violence, or lack of necessary support services. It also maintains protections for child-only cases where no work-eligible adults are present. The bill mandates that the Division of Workforce Services notify current recipients before the new time limit is implemented and requires enhanced case reviews for those approaching the expiration of their eligibility period.