§346-102  Public service employment;established.  (a)  The department of human services shall be responsiblefor providing employment on public works projects as defined in section 346-71,for persons:

(1)  Receiving full or partial public assistance fromthe State; or

(2)  Receiving unemployment compensation benefits fromthe State whose benefits thereunder are within the last two weeks ofeligibility and who upon termination of unemployment compensation benefits willbe eligible for full or partial public assistance from the State; or

(3)  Who reside on an island where the primaryeconomic base providing employment for such persons is lost or is in danger ofbeing lost.

Public assistance recipients participating inpublic service employment shall be considered to be employees of thedepartment; provided however that except for coverage under the workers'compensation law, laws relating to civil service, classification, retirement,vacation, sick leave, and other matters relating to regular public employeesshall not apply to such persons.

(b)  The department shall promulgate rulesunder chapter 91 necessary to carry out the purposes of public serviceemployment, including but not limited to the following:

(1)  The employment of public assistance recipientsshall not displace any state or county employee or any individual performingwork for the State or county on a contractual basis;

(2)  The minimum period of employment shall not beless than four calendar weeks; and

(3)  There shall be no discrimination based on race,color, creed, sex, age, religion, or national origin. [L 1973, c 177, pt of §2;am L Sp 1974, c 1, §2; am L 1975, c 41, §1; am L 1987, c 339, §4]