E.__The department or any employee of the department may not penalize, retaliate against or discriminate against any ASPIRE-TANF program or Parents as Scholars Program participant for seeking assistance from a peer support advocate or against any peer support advocate acting within the scope of the advocate's role.__If a peer support advocate or ASPIRE-TANF program or Parents as Scholars Program participant believes this paragraph has been violated, the individual or the individual's representative may request a fair hearing pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 4.

SUMMARY

This bill directs the Department of Human Services to contract with a nonprofit entity or entities to establish a peer support advocacy demonstration project in 4 different regions of the State to provide information and advocacy services to ASPIRE-TANF program and Parents as Scholars Program participants.