The proposed bill establishes a three-year pilot program called the Actionable Help And New Dignity for Upward Progression (A HAND UP) Act, aimed at assisting individuals transitioning from public assistance benefits into the workforce. The Department of Job and Family Services will select four counties—one metropolitan, one midsize, and two rural (including one in the Appalachian region)—to implement the program. The Department is tasked with creating eligibility criteria, conditions for participation, a competitive application process for employers, and various support mechanisms, including mentorship and financial literacy programs. Participants will receive stipends to help cover healthcare and childcare costs, while employers will be offered subsidies for hiring program participants.

Additionally, the bill mandates the Department to conduct a study on participants post-program to assess their employment status, compensation, and self-sufficiency, with findings to be reported annually to the General Assembly. The bill also includes an appropriation of $10 million from the General Revenue Fund to support the pilot program's operations. The Department is required to adopt necessary rules for implementation and develop a digital application to facilitate participant engagement and resource connection.