(a)  All provisions of this chapter, with the exception of subsection (b), shall be effective and apply to all applicants and recipients on or after July 1, 2008.

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(b)  For all current recipients as of July 1, 2008, who have received cash assistance, either state or federally funded, since May 1, 1997, under Rhode Island’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), formerly entitled the family independence program, or received cash assistance from another state, either state or federally funded, since May 1, 1997, under that state’s similar Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), prior to October 1, 2008, application and implementation of the time limits described in § 40-5.2-10(h) will occur on and after July 1, 2009.

(c)  All cash assistance received, either state or federally funded, since May 1, 1997, under Rhode Island’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), formerly entitled the family independence program, or in another state under that state’s similar Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.) prior to July 1, 2009, shall be counted toward the time limits of cash assistance described in § 40-5.1-10(h) [repealed].

(d)  The department will not close families who previously received cash assistance, either state or federally funded, since May 1, 1997, under Rhode Island’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), formerly entitled the family independence program, or in another state under that state’s similar Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (federal TANF described at Title IV-A of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.) prior to the effective date of the Rhode Island works program due to the time limit outlined in § 40-5.2-10(h) of this chapter until July 1, 2009. Except, however, all those families who previously received family independence program cash assistance, either state or federally funded or in another state, as described above, and who will reach the family independence program sixty-month (60), lifetime time limit in accordance with prior Rhode Island general law, § 40-5.1-8(d), prior to July 1, 2009, shall be closed at the time they would have reached the sixty-month (60) time limit in accordance with prior Rhode Island general law, § 40-5.1-8(d). Nothing in this section shall be deemed to mean that any recipient of cash assistance, either state or federally funded, through the prior family independence program shall receive more than the time limit of sixty (60) months of cash assistance that had been permissible under prior Rhode Island general law, § 40-5.1-8(d).

(e)  Those families or assistance units receiving cash assistance shall be notified in writing as to the time limits imposed on the receipt of cash assistance in accordance with the Rhode Island works program under this chapter, as well as all the other program requirements.