WAIVERS
Sec. 415. [42 U.S.C. 615] (a) Continuation of Waivers.—
(1) Waivers in effect on date of enactment of welfare reform.—
(A) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if any waiver granted to a State under section 1115 of this Act or otherwise which relates to the provision of assistance under a State plan under this part (as in effect on September 30, 1996) is in effect as of the date of the enactment August 22, 1996 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996[70], the amendments made by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (other than by section 103(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) shall not apply with respect to the State before the expiration (determined without regard to any extensions) of the waiver to the extent such amendments are inconsistent with the waiver.
(B) Financing limitation.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning with fiscal year 1996, a State operating under a waiver described in subparagraph (A) shall be entitled to payment under section 403 for the fiscal year, in lieu of any other payment provided for in the waiver.
(2) Waivers granted subsequently.—
(A) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if any waiver granted to a State under section 1115 of this Act or otherwise which relates to the provision of assistance under a State plan under this part (as in effect on September 30, 1996) is submitted to the Secretary before the date of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and approved by the Secretary on or before July 1, 1997, and the State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the waiver will not result in Federal expenditures under title IV of this Act (as in effect without regard to the amendments made by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) that are greater than would occur in the absence of the waiver, the amendments made by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (other than by section 103(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) shall not apply with respect to the State before the expiration (determined without regard to any extensions) of the waiver to the extent the amendments made by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 are inconsistent with the waiver.
(B) No effect on new work requirements.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a waiver granted under section 1115 or otherwise which relates to the provision of assistance under a State program funded under this part (as in effect on September 30, 1996) shall not affect the applicability of section 407 to the State.
(b) State Option to Terminate Waiver.—
(1) In general.—A State may terminate a waiver described in subsection (a) before the expiration of the waiver.
(2) Report.—A State which terminates a waiver under paragraph (1) shall submit a report to the Secretary summarizing the waiver and any available information concerning the result or effect of the waiver.
(3) Hold harmless provision.—
(A) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a State that, not later than the date described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, submits a written request to terminate a waiver described in subsection (a) shall be held harmless for accrued cost neutrality liabilities incurred under the waiver.
(B) Date described.—The date described in this subparagraph is 90 days following the adjournment of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment[71] of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
(c) Secretarial Encouragement of Current Waivers.—The Secretary shall encourage any State operating a waiver described in subsection (a) to continue the waiver and to evaluate, using random sampling and other characteristics of accepted scientific evaluations, the result or effect of the waiver.
(d) Continuation of Individual Waivers.—A State may elect to continue 1 or more individual waivers described in subsection (a).
[70] P.L. 104-193; 110 Stat. 2105.
[71] August 22, 1996 [P.L 104-193; 110 Stat. 2105].