1.  Eligibility.  Candidates must be active participants of the ASPIRE‑TANF program, as defined in Title 22, chapter 1054‑A, or current recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families who have completed the ASPIRE‑TANF program within the past year at the time an application for employment is filed with the Bureau of Human Resources in order to be eligible for preference under this section. Candidates shall make their status in the ASPIRE‑TANF program known to the State Human Resources Officer in a manner prescribed by the officer. Eligibility for preference continues for a period of one year after the date of application for employment and may be renewed at the end of one year at the request of the candidate if the candidate continues to meet the other eligibility criteria specified in this subsection. A candidate receives preference only if the candidate has earned a qualifying rating on all relevant examinations.  

2.  Certification preference.  Preference is limited to referral of the highest scoring ASPIRE‑TANF program participant as an additional candidate to be interviewed. If the normal certification procedure includes an eligible ASPIRE‑TANF program participant, further preferential certification may not be made. Preference under this section may not exclude a person who would be referred normally.