SB 189 - This act creates the Family Stability Demonstration Project within the St. Louis metropolitan statistical area. The Family Stability Demonstration Project will allow up to 250, 2 parent families to receive AFDC benefits they would otherwise be ineligible to receive because of the marital status.

To be eligible, families must: (1) volunteer and apply to participate in the project; (2) have been eligible for and received AFDC in at least 12 of the last 36 months preceding their application; and (3) have or will become ineligible for AFDC benefits because of the caretaker parent's marriage to the parent of an eligible child.

Benefits based upon the number of family members shall not increase because of the change in marital status. However, both parents shall be eligible to participate in FUTURES and other self-sufficiency programs. Participating families will be allowed to earn up to 100% of the federal poverty level.

Participating families may only participate in the program for 2 years and the project will end on December 31, 1999.
CHERYL GRAZIER