Subd. 21.

Date of application.

"Date of application" means the date on which the county
agency receives an applicant's deleted text beginsigneddeleted text end applicationnew text begin as a signed application, an application
submitted by telephone, or an application submitted through Internet telepresencenew text end.

Subd. 3.

Submitting application form.

(a) A county agency must offer, in person or
by mail, the application forms prescribed by the commissioner as soon as a person makes
a written or oral inquiry. At that time, the county agency must:

(1) inform the person that assistance begins deleted text beginwithdeleted text endnew text begin onnew text end the datenew text begin thatnew text end the deleted text beginsigneddeleted text end application
is received by the county agency new text beginas a signed application; an application submitted by
telephone; or an application submitted through Internet telepresence; new text endor new text beginon new text endthe datenew text begin thatnew text end all
eligibility criteria are met, whichever is later;

new text begin (2) inform a person that the person may submit the application by telephone or through
Internet telepresence;
new text end

new text begin (3) inform a person that when the person submits the application by telephone or through
Internet telepresence, the county agency must receive a signed application within 30 days
of the date that the person submitted the application by telephone or through Internet
telepresence;
new text end

deleted text begin (2)deleted text endnew text begin (4)new text end inform the person that any delay in submitting the application will reduce the
amount of assistance paid for the month of application;

deleted text begin (3)deleted text endnew text begin (5)new text end inform a person that the person may submit the application before an interview;

deleted text begin (4)deleted text endnew text begin (6)new text end explain the information that will be verified during the application process by
the county agency as provided in section 256J.32;

deleted text begin (5)deleted text endnew text begin (7)new text end inform a person about the county agency's average application processing time
and explain how the application will be processed under subdivision 5;

deleted text begin (6)deleted text endnew text begin (8)new text end explain how to contact the county agency if a person's application information
changes and how to withdraw the application;

deleted text begin (7)deleted text endnew text begin (9)new text end inform a person that the next step in the application process is an interview and
what a person must do if the application is approved including, but not limited to, attending
orientation under section 256J.45 and complying with employment and training services
requirements in sections 256J.515 to 256J.57;

deleted text begin (8)deleted text endnew text begin (10)new text end inform the person that deleted text beginthedeleted text endnew text begin annew text end interview must be conductednew text begin. The interview may
be conductednew text end face-to-face in the county officenew text begin or at a location mutually agreed uponnew text end, through
Internet telepresence, or deleted text beginat a location mutually agreed upondeleted text endnew text begin by telephonenew text end;

deleted text begin (9) inform a person who has received MFIP or DWP in the past 12 months of the option
to have a face-to-face, Internet telepresence, or telephone interview;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (10)deleted text endnew text begin (11)new text end explain the child care and transportation services that are available under
paragraph (c) to enable caregivers to attend the interview, screening, and orientation; and

deleted text begin (11)deleted text endnew text begin (12)new text end identify any language barriers and arrange for translation assistance during
appointments, including, but not limited to, screening under subdivision 3a, orientation
under section 256J.45, and assessment under section 256J.521.

(b) Upon receipt of a signed application, the county agency must stamp the date of receipt
on the face of the application. The county agency must process the application within the
time period required under subdivision 5. An applicant may withdraw the application at
any time by giving written or oral notice to the county agency. The county agency must
issue a written notice confirming the withdrawal. The notice must inform the applicant of
the county agency's understanding that the applicant has withdrawn the application and no
longer wants to pursue it. When, within ten days of the date of the agency's notice, an
applicant informs a county agency, in writing, that the applicant does not wish to withdraw
the application, the county agency must reinstate the application and finish processing the
application.

(c) Upon a participant's request, the county agency must arrange for transportation and
child care or reimburse the participant for transportation and child care expenses necessary
to enable participants to attend the screening under subdivision 3a and orientation under
section 256J.45.

Subdivision 1.

County agency to provide orientation.

A county agency must provide
deleted text begin a face-to-facedeleted text endnew text begin annew text end orientation to each MFIP caregiver unless the caregiver is:

(1) a single parent, or one parent in a two-parent family, employed at least 35 hours per
week; or

(2) a second parent in a two-parent family who is employed for 20 or more hours per
week provided the first parent is employed at least 35 hours per week.

The county agency must inform caregivers who are not exempt under clause (1) or (2) that
failure to attend the orientation is considered an occurrence of noncompliance with program
requirements, and will result in the imposition of a sanction under section 256J.46. If the
client complies with the orientation requirement prior to the first day of the month in which
the grant reduction is proposed to occur, the orientation sanction shall be lifted.

Subd. 5.

Submitting application form.

The eligibility date for the diversionary work
program begins deleted text beginwithdeleted text endnew text begin onnew text end the date new text beginthat new text endthe deleted text beginsigneddeleted text end combined application form (CAF) is received
by the county agency new text beginas a signed application; an application submitted by telephone; or an
application submitted through Internet telepresence; new text endor new text beginon new text endthe date new text beginthat new text enddiversionary work
program eligibility criteria are met, whichever is later. new text beginThe county agency must inform an
applicant that when the applicant submits the application by telephone or through Internet
telepresence, the county agency must receive a signed application within 30 days of the
date that the applicant submitted the application by telephone or through Internet telepresence.
new text end The county agency must inform the applicant that any delay in submitting the application
will reduce the benefits paid for the month of application. The county agency must inform
a person that an application may be submitted before the person has an interview
appointment. Upon receipt of a signed application, the county agency must stamp the date
of receipt on the face of the application. The applicant may withdraw the application at any
time prior to approval by giving written or oral notice to the county agency. The county
agency must follow the notice requirements in section 256J.09, subdivision 3, when issuing
a notice confirming the withdrawal.