(b) Where an assessment indicates that a participant who is not subject to the education requirements of this title has not attained a basic literacy level, the social services official shall encourage and may require the participant to enter a program to achieve basic literacy or high school equivalency or to enter such educational programs in combination with other training activities consistent with the employability plan. 3. A local social services official shall, pursuant to department regulations developed in consultation with the department of education and the department of social services or its successor agencies, use designated trained staff or contract with providers having a demonstrated effectiveness in performing assessments and developing employability plans to perform assessments and develop employability plans. 4. Each applicant for or recipient of public assistance as described herein must participate in an assessment as required by the social services district in accordance with the conditions of this section. Applicants who fail or refuse to participate with the requirements of this section shall be ineligible for public assistance. Recipients who fail or refuse to participate with the requirements of this section shall be subject to the sanctions set forth in section three hundred forty-two of this title. 5. A social services district shall assign participants to activities pursuant to their employability plans to the extent that supportive services including transportation are available. 6. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a social services official from providing an assessment more detailed or comprehensive that the requirements set forth in this section.