This law recognizes that hunger and poor nutrition are problems for low-income families in California. It aims to create a program that helps these families, as well as those already receiving certain types of state aid, to benefit from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The California Department of Social Services must come up with a new name for the Food Stamp Program by July 1, 2009. This new name should show that the program doesn't use stamps anymore, promotes healthy living, supports California agriculture, and is more of a health and nutrition program than a welfare program. To do this, they'll work with various stakeholders, including health agencies. Also, they should consider how the new name might positively change how low-income Californians view the program and whether it could lead to more people using it.

This law states that California's administration of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is called CalFresh.

Additionally, any mention of the 'Food Stamp Program' in other laws now refers to CalFresh.

This law requires the development of a simple paper application by July 1, 2023, to make it easier for older adults (60+) and people with disabilities to access and stay enrolled in CalFresh, California's food assistance program. This initiative is part of a federal demonstration project aimed at simplifying enrollment for these groups, but even if the project ends, California must still provide this easier application process.

This section allows individuals applying for or recertifying CalFresh benefits to do so by phone, including signing documents electronically. Counties can choose how to collect electronic signatures, such as through phone calls, as long as they follow state and federal guidelines. By January 2023 or 2024, all counties using different welfare systems must meet these requirements. Additionally, a plan is being developed to offer statewide phone-based services for CalFresh, while still allowing other application methods. The phone service should be user-friendly and accessible to people with disabilities and those who don't speak English fluently.

This law makes it clear that people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can also qualify for CalFresh benefits, which help with food costs, if they meet the other eligibility requirements. The plan is to keep funding these benefits for certain groups until they naturally decrease in number. Starting June 1, 2019, people on SSI not already in a CalFresh household can join CalFresh. Existing households with SSI members will have to update their eligibility and benefits at regular reporting intervals. New households with only SSI members can have their certification periods adjusted to aid administrative processes.

The law also mandates that counties get automated systems ready by August 1, 2019, for these implementations and requires ongoing discussions with stakeholders to ensure smooth execution. The focus is on integrating SSI recipients into CalFresh without including the bonus value of food stamps, which isn't part of their benefits.

This law establishes the SSI/SSP Cash-In Supplemental Nutrition Benefit (SNB) Program to provide extra food benefits to certain households that were receiving CalFresh as of June 1, 2019. These benefits are for households whose CalFresh benefits were reduced when adding a previously excluded individual.

The SNB amount is determined annually based on household size, projected eligible households, the number of newly added individuals, and available state funding. The benefits are delivered monthly via electronic benefits transfer, similar to CalFresh, and they don't count as income for programs based on financial need.

Households continue receiving SNB as long as they remain eligible for CalFresh and keep the formerly excluded individual. If CalFresh benefits are reinstated after being cut due to missing documents, the household will also get their SNB backdated to when the benefits were stopped. However, if benefits are stopped for other reasons and then renewed, SNB doesn’t apply. Those receiving SNB aren't eligible for transitional nutrition benefits under a different section. The department will issue notices about the SNB program as needed.

This law sets up the SSI/SSP Cash-In Transitional Nutrition Benefit (TNB) Program to help households that lost CalFresh benefits when a new person receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) joined the family. These households are given transitional food assistance using state funds.

The amount of help each family gets is determined by a table that looks at the number of households in this situation, their size, the number of new SSI individuals added, and the budget set aside for this program. The help is given through an electronic benefits system and is not considered income for other assistance programs.

Eligible families get these benefits for 12 months at a time, and they can reapply if they still meet the criteria: having the newly added SSI recipient, who continues to be ineligible for CalFresh.

If a family loses benefits because they didn't provide required documents, they can get them back without penalty if they submit the needed information within 90 days. The law also aims to make sure eligible households keep getting these benefits for two years while processes are improved. Note that families on TNB can't get other state supplemental nutrition benefits.

This law requires the California Department of Social Services to collaborate with county agencies and organizations to update how they calculate annual funding for the administration of the CalFresh program starting in the 2023–24 fiscal year. They need to assess the ongoing workloads and costs for counties, especially in light of new beneficiaries like those receiving Supplemental Security Income.

In every fiscal year starting with 2027–28 and then every three years, the department must review these operating costs and inform legislative budget committees about any potential impacts on county administrative costs. This information should be provided by either January 10 or May 14 of the year before the applicable fiscal year.

The department is also required to consult with legislative staff, county agency representatives, advocate groups, and labor organizations representing county workers during this process.

This law allows the department to quickly put into effect special permissions, called waivers, that are granted by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture without going through the usual lengthy process of making new rules.

If these waivers are for less than 24 months, they can be implemented directly through guidelines sent to all counties. If they're for 24 months or more, the department can start using them right away, but must create formal rules within 24 months.

The overall goal of this law is to lower California's costs for the CalFresh benefits program by reducing errors in payments while making sure that applicants and recipients are not negatively affected. The law allows the Department of Social Services to use direct communication and emergency rules to manage the program without developing new, formal regulations until October 1, 2027. This action aims to streamline processes and enhance user experience without limiting access to benefits or reducing the number of people eligible for them.

The department can issue emergency rules rapidly, bypassing normal legal review, to maintain public welfare, and must share these with relevant stakeholders for feedback. Contracts made to help fulfill this law are not restricted by standard state contracting requirements. The department is required to consult with various stakeholders starting in September 2025, continuing throughout the multi-year initiatives. Additionally, from November 2025 to November 2027, the department must provide quarterly updates to the Legislature on their activities, including any new regulations, contracts, and verification methods used for income assessment of beneficiaries.

This law explains how eligibility for CalFresh, a food assistance program, is determined. Eligibility should follow federal guidelines, and there are no additional age restrictions beyond those federally mandated. When applicants don't provide all required documents, counties should first try to verify information using electronic sources or self-attestation before asking for additional paperwork. The department must have processes in place by January 1, 2021, for handling verification through county instructions.

This law requires the department to create guidelines for counties to simplify how dependent care expenses are verified for CalFresh benefits. First, it mandates that these expenses are verified with a self-certified statement unless federal rules require more documentation. Second, it stops county human services agencies from asking for more documents, unless the claim seems questionable. Lastly, the department can implement these rules temporarily through letters or instructions until official regulations are adopted.

The State Utility Assistance Subsidy (SUAS) is a California program providing energy assistance to eligible CalFresh households. It helps with energy costs and could boost federal nutrition benefits while simplifying paperwork. The program is run by the State Department of Social Services, similar to a federal aid program, and offers benefits via an electronic system without extra paperwork. SUAS ensures it doesn't negatively impact other benefits the household receives. Households using SUAS within one year can use a full utility allowance to calculate their CalFresh benefits, unless it reduces benefits for homeless households, who can choose an alternative deduction. This program only starts once funding is allocated.

California has chosen to allow individuals convicted of certain drug-related felonies to receive CalFresh benefits, which are food assistance benefits, despite federal restrictions that typically deny these benefits to drug offenders. This applies to those convicted after December 31, 1997. However, if the individual is on probation or parole, they must comply with their terms, including taking part in a government-approved drug treatment program if required.

Should the individual violate their probation or parole requirements or be identified as a fleeing felon, they will lose eligibility for benefits until they meet the terms again. This law took effect on April 1, 2015.

This California law section discusses a program starting in July 2010 to help foster youth transition to independence by providing them with food assistance through a special Transitional Food Stamps project. Eligible youths are those who have aged out of foster care and do not qualify for other assistance programs like CalWORKs or SSI. These young individuals will receive the maximum food benefits for a single-person household, regardless of their income or resources, for an initial set period. The program aims to reduce administrative hurdles and makes it easier for eligible foster youth to access food resources. The state must seek federal approval to offer this as a demonstration project and is contingent on receiving federal funding. Full implementation is expected by January 1, 2011, with necessary instructions issued to counties to manage the program.

This law requires the creation of a program that makes it easier for certain low-income households in California to qualify for CalFresh, which is the state's food assistance program, also known as SNAP federally. The aim is to support nutrition while helping households keep and grow their financial resources. The program includes households already receiving certain cash or food assistance benefits. The program can't be put into action unless it gets the necessary federal approval and doesn't cause any loss of federal funding. The law took effect on July 1, 2014.

This law requires county welfare departments in California to offer transitional CalFresh benefits to families that stop participating in the CalWORKs program, as long as it aligns with federal law.

This law explains that when calculating CalFresh (California's food assistance program) benefits, the income, resources, and expenses of any household member disqualified due to federal law changes can be ignored, but only if federal law allows it.

However, the total benefits a household gets cannot be higher than what they would have received if no household member was disqualified. This rule has been in place since September 1, 1998.

This law allows the California Department of Social Services to create a shorter, easier application form for CalFresh, California's food assistance program. They aim to make it easier to apply for multiple assistance programs like CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs all at once. Before rolling out this new form, the department will get necessary approvals from the federal government and work with stakeholder groups. Counties won't have to use this form until they have enough time to adjust their computer systems to handle it.

This law ensures that the rules for determining the value of motor vehicles for eligibility in this program match a specific option allowed under federal food stamp laws. It requires the state's department to get federal permission if needed to make this change. The changes will only take effect once the department director confirms that all necessary federal approvals have been obtained.

This law allows counties in California to exempt households from face-to-face interviews when applying for or renewing welfare benefits, as long as federal law allows it. Each county must check if a household qualifies for this exemption when they apply or recertify. However, if someone prefers, they can still request an in-person interview during these processes.

By January 1, 2022, counties should use new methods to schedule interviews, such as flexible scheduling options, phone calls, or providing same-day interviews, to make the process easier for applicants. Counties can still require in-person visits if an applicant doesn't qualify for an exemption anymore or for other valid reasons.

This law section discusses how educational programs related to CalFresh Employment and Training (E&T) are considered for eligibility and exemptions. It states that certain educational programs, as identified by the department, qualify as E&T programs unless federal laws say otherwise. The department must maintain an updated list of these programs on its website.

The law also outlines specific categories of students who can claim exemptions to CalFresh eligibility rules, such as those in workstudy programs, technical education, or who have employment. It includes guidelines for verifying exemptions and encourages easy access to necessary documents.

The statute does not mandate county agencies to provide additional services for exempt students, nor does it change the use of federal funds for CalFresh. Finally, it defines a "student" as anyone enrolled in higher education, either part-time or full-time, including various types of educational institutions.

This law requires the California Department of Social Services to issue guidance by May 31, 2022, to clarify how campus-based programs can qualify as state-approved educational programs that increase employability for CalFresh eligibility. Community colleges, CSU, and UC campuses are expected to submit certification applications for eligible programs by September 1, 2022. New programs that meet the eligibility criteria after this date have six months to submit their applications. Once applications are received, the department will approve programs that qualify. By September 1, 2023, and annually through 2030, the department must report to legislative committees on the status of these programs, including approvals, pending, and denied applications. This can be implemented through guidance letters with the same effect as formal regulations.

This law requires the California Department of Social Services to create a workgroup that includes various educational and welfare representatives. Their goal is to figure out how to handle the surge of CalFresh food assistance applications from students at large public universities and colleges at the start of school terms. The group can use existing members and processes if applicable.

By April 2023, the department must report to the Legislature outlining the necessary steps and potential costs for a smooth application process. The report should consider regional partnerships between counties and adhere to existing legal guidelines.

This law says that the California Department of Social Services must give guidance to counties regarding how to handle shelter cost deductions for CalFresh applications. It says that applicants reporting their shelter costs on their application form or a semiannual report is enough to calculate their shelter cost deductions, unless the costs seem questionable. Counties can't ask for more documents to verify these costs unless there's suspicion something's wrong. The department can communicate these rules through letters or instructions without needing to go through a formal rulemaking process.

The Safe Drinking Water Supplemental Benefit Pilot Program is a California initiative providing extra CalFresh benefits to purchase safe drinking water for areas with unreliable water quality. The program, funded by the state, targets disadvantaged communities with public water systems that fail to meet standards. It gives time-limited financial help to buy water, separate from regular CalFresh food assistance.

The State Department of Social Services will identify eligible households in priority communities using certain databases. Priority is given to CalFresh recipients in areas with noncompliant water systems or those needing emergency water benefits according to the State Water Resources Control Board.

Benefits are distributed electronically and aren't considered income for other programs. Funding depends on the state's budget, and counties aren't required to use their own money for this program. The pilot program will run until its allocated funds are exhausted or until September 30, 2025, whichever is later.

The law creates the CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit (MNB) Pilot Program, which aims to give certain households additional state-funded nutrition benefits for 12 months so that their total benefits reach at least $50 per month. These are meant to supplement federal CalFresh benefits when they fall below this threshold.

The program uses state funds to ensure eligible households receive the extra amount needed each month to reach this $50 minimum. Eligibility is determined based on households receiving less than $50 from CalFresh and who are selected to participate in the pilot program.

The program will follow federal rules from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and benefits are provided through the electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system. These benefits are not counted as income for other assistance programs. It will be implemented once the necessary systems are in place, and the department can issue guidelines without a formal rulemaking process.

This law requires the California Department of Social Services to issue guidelines by September 1, 2022, for county human services agencies to collaborate with prisons and jails. The goal is to help eligible people enroll in the CalFresh program before they leave prison or jail. The guidelines should include benefits of enrolling, acceptable identification, verification for expedited services, and connecting released individuals to employment opportunities. It encourages counties to have workers visit prisons and jails to assist with applications. If needed for better outcomes, the department may request a federal regulation waiver to allow preenrollment.

This law requires the establishment of a CalFresh workgroup by February 1, 2028, to help individuals transitioning from prison or jail get CalFresh benefits. The group will include representatives from social services, corrections, health agencies, and individuals who were previously CalFresh recipients.

Their goal is to improve CalFresh enrollment for eligible individuals so that benefits start when they reenter their communities. The team will study federal programs and waivers to reduce food insecurity for these individuals. Meetings will happen quarterly.

By August 31, 2029, and every year until 2032, the group will report its findings and recommendations to the legislature. By January 2026, the department must seek federal waivers to allow prerelease enrollment of benefits, overcoming specific logistical hurdles.

The department will partner with correctional facilities to aid in this prerelease enrollment, pending certain conditions. The section becomes operative when necessary automation systems are in place.

This law requires counties in California to determine if children, whose information is shared under the Education Code, are eligible for the CalFresh program, a food assistance initiative. If a child's application for the School Lunch Program shows they are eligible for CalFresh, the county should treat it as a CalFresh application and proceed with enrollment if not already enrolled. The process includes assessing household income and notifying parents if their child qualifies.

If eligibility cannot be determined from the application, the county must contact parents for more information. If families are ineligible, they will be notified. Counties also require parents to submit further documents to maintain benefits. If these documents aren't provided, CalFresh benefits may be denied or discontinued according to the rules.

This law directs California’s education, health care, and social services departments to collaborate with various stakeholders to find ways to boost CalFresh enrollment among families eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. The goal is to streamline the enrollment process by using data from related programs like school meals, Medi-Cal, and electronic benefits systems.

The departments must look at data to estimate eligible children, research past enrollment efforts, and address issues such as data system compatibility. They are tasked with exploring solutions such as accelerated enrollment, increased outreach, and federal or state law changes that might be necessary. By August 31, 2020, these departments are required to submit their recommendations to the Legislature.

This law requires the department to work with the State Department of Education to ensure as many children as possible benefit from the federal Summer EBT program, which helps provide food assistance during the summer months.

This law requires the California Department of Social Services to create a system by July 1, 2026, for estimating how many eligible people aren't using CalFresh benefits, a food assistance program. The system will consider factors like race, language, age, and location.

The department will use existing data, if available, and will publish annual participation rates. Additionally, they'll use this information to create outreach strategies to ensure more eligible people receive benefits, aiming to make the most of federal funding for this purpose.

By July 1, 2027, a plan must be developed to execute these strategies effectively. An executive-level employee will oversee the implementation of these efforts and report to the Director of Social Services.

This law allows California's Department of Social Services to share information with other state and local agencies to better manage and promote the CalFresh program, which helps low-income people get food assistance. By exchanging data, these entities aim to boost CalFresh participation, track its impact, and improve access to important health and financial services for those in need.

It clarifies that data can be shared, as long as it's permitted by federal law, with various departments related to health, education, employment, housing, justice, and veterans' services. Additionally, an executive-level employee will oversee the implementation of these data-sharing initiatives and report to the Director of Social Services.

This law states that each county's welfare department is in charge of managing local tasks related to this chapter, but they must do so under the guidance and rules set by a higher department.

Counties in California can run early fraud prevention programs to catch and stop welfare fraud before it happens. However, a county won't get funding for these programs if they’re not cost-effective or if their plan isn't approved by the state. Counties must follow strict rules: applicants can’t be intimidated, investigations can't delay aid, and all investigations must meet specific standards. They need a legitimate reason to suspect fraud before starting an investigation, such as false statements, failure to disclose important information, or accepting benefits when ineligible. Counties can't use uniformed investigators and must protect applicant privacy. Referrals for investigation must be based on solid evidence like overpayments, questionable behavior, or conflicts in information that suggest possible fraud.

This law allows a state department to make necessary agreements with the U.S. Government related to the chapter's requirements. Essentially, the department can handle any contract or agreement that aligns with federal rules.

This section of the law says that any rules, directives, or standards that are meant to put the related law into practice must follow the procedure outlined in Section 10554. It also states that the director must ensure the use of two specific methods described in Section 18904.1.

This law section mandates that the director must set up a system for distributing CalFresh benefits in the most efficient way possible while minimizing costs, ensuring that low-income households receive necessary nutritional support.

Until all counties in the state transition to an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system, the director must provide CalFresh benefits through over-the-counter or mail methods. This ensures that households in urgent need of food assistance or those needing replacement benefits have access.

This law allows the department to run outreach programs and set up rules so that counties can also create outreach programs. These activities should comply with federal law and be eligible for federal funding.

This law explains how private nonprofits, public colleges, and local or state agencies can get partial federal reimbursement for CalFresh outreach activities. If they follow state and federal contracting rules and their plan is approved by the USDA, the state department will receive the federal reimbursement on their behalf.

If any federal funding is reduced due to audits of these outreach efforts, the cut will affect the local government that managed the outreach contracts.

This law requires the development of information on expedited CalFresh services for the homeless, including unaccompanied children and youth, as well as victims of domestic violence. The information should be shared with shelters and organizations that help these groups.

Counties must offer training on how to apply for CalFresh to people who run homeless shelters, including details on how unaccompanied children and youth can qualify. They must also provide relevant application parts to these shelters.

When a homeless youth under 18 applies for CalFresh, the county evaluates if they can apply on their own or with household members they regularly share meals with. If denied, the youth receives written reasons for the denial.

Once a final plan for promoting CalFresh is approved, the department will prioritize requesting federal matching funds for the outreach activities that follow this plan.

This law states that if the federal government decides to cut funding for CalFresh (California's version of the SNAP program) because of mistakes or poor management by a county, that county has to pay back the amount that was cut. The liability is determined based on rules set by the Director of Social Services.

This law says the department cannot add extra rules for checking if someone qualifies for expedited service, except for what federal law already requires.

This law requires the state department to create and manage a plan called the County Administrative Cost Control Plan. This plan is designed to control how much money counties spend on administering the CalFresh program each year. The plan includes specific standards and performance criteria that counties must follow, such as how much work they need to do and how efficient they must be. The plan is part of a broader strategy that also covers administration costs for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Medi-Cal programs. Each county receives a budget based on this plan, and if a county spends more than its budget because it failed to meet the plan's standards, it won't receive additional state funds. Both the department and the State Department of Health Care Services must manage and allocate these funds in a uniform way.

This law describes how costs for administering certain federal and state assistance programs are shared between the state of California and its counties. Specifically, the state covers 70% of the costs for CalFresh, which is California's version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), while counties pay the rest. For investigating fraud in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, the state pays 85% of the costs, and counties cover the remaining portion.

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture permits California to keep some of the money collected from claims, California keeps half of that money. The other half is given to counties, with each county receiving an amount based on how much they collected in claims.

This law states that the state will cover all costs that aren't federally funded for running a program aimed at preventing and detecting fraud early in the process outlined by a related section. This is only applicable under certain conditions described in another section.

This law allows the state to cover all the administrative costs, excluding federal ones, for follow-up activities in the Income Eligibility and Verification System, but only if the state finds it cost-effective.

This law ensures that when deciding who is eligible for CalFresh benefits, discrimination cannot occur based on someone's marital status, political beliefs, or any characteristic outlined in Section 11135 of the Government Code, as long as it doesn't conflict with federal law.

This law states that if you receive CalFresh benefits, your other aid like federal supplemental security income, state supplemental security program benefits, public assistance, and county aid benefits should not be reduced because of it, as long as federal law allows. Basically, getting CalFresh shouldn't cut into the other benefits you're entitled to.

This section states that the rules for keeping information about people who receive public assistance confidential, as outlined in Section 10850, also apply to any information gathered under this chapter.

This law focuses on CalFresh’s semiannual reporting system to streamline client's interactions with the program and ensure it aligns with the CalWORKs program, while minimizing payment errors. It encourages counties to synchronize CalFresh and Medi-Cal midyear reports to ease clients' reporting loads, but excludes households where all adults are elderly or disabled with no income. The state aims to eliminate change reporting, a different type of reporting requirement, in favor of this system. Counties can establish staggered reporting cycles for households under this system, but they must transition all households simultaneously. Counties were required to implement this system by October 1, 2013, and certify their compliance afterward. Also, the state must secure any necessary federal waivers to support this implementation.

This law mandates that all households receiving CalFresh benefits in California should have certification periods set for the maximum months allowed under federal guidelines unless certain exceptions apply.

Exceptions include counties following a specific provision or cases where individual household circumstances require a shorter period.

This law mandates the creation of a workgroup by the department to explore how to reduce the reporting burden on welfare beneficiaries and county staff. The group will include county welfare directors, eligibility workers, the Statewide Automated Welfare System, and client advocates.

The group will review other states' federally approved reporting methods, consider existing research, and evaluate options from members. Their recommendations, highlighting what can be implemented via state legislation or administrative measures, must be submitted to the Legislature by October 1, 2021. The included report will specify those recommendations requiring changes in federal law. This reporting obligation ends on October 1, 2025.

This law requires that everyone applying for CalFresh (formerly known as food stamps) should have their application processed within 30 days. It mandates the development of clear information about how to apply for expedited services and the required documents, ensuring applicants understand the process. County human services must provide this information to applicants and make it available to community programs like legal services and food assistance programs. They also need to keep and update a list of emergency food providers or refer individuals to resources like the 2-1-1 dial code for support. Additionally, applicants can request information about local legal services and welfare rights organizations.

This law section mandates that county welfare departments in California must inform applicants about expedited services and help them with their applications if they ask for assistance. This includes both explaining what's available and helping fill out forms if the applicant requests it.

This law requires the department to gather and report data every three months about how many expedited service applications were submitted and what happened to each application. This data is collected for each county and published quarterly.

This section mandates that California's county human services agencies must rapidly provide CalFresh food assistance to households in urgent need. If someone qualifies for expedited CalFresh benefits under federal rules, the agency must issue the benefits within three days of application. During this fast-track process, income anticipated from any source is not counted, given federal rules allow this. Also, weekends count as just one day when calculating deadlines. The state will create a standard method to verify applicant information quickly and efficiently.

This law allows a person living in or waiting to get into a shelter for battered women and children to receive fast-tracked CalFresh benefits, separate from their abuser's household, if they qualify. The term 'shelter for battered women and children' is defined by federal regulations.

This law mandates that all applications and public information materials for CalFresh recipients be available in Spanish, English, and any other common non-English languages in each county.

The director has the power to decide which other non-English languages are considered prevalent in a county and require translations.

This law allows the county board of supervisors to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture to run the federally donated foods program using rules from the Disaster Act of 1970, along with any other federal laws that allow it.

This law requires the California Department of Social Services to work with stakeholders to create guidance for county human services on preparing disaster plans. These plans must include forming mutual aid regions with multiple counties to ensure access to benefits during disasters, and they must be updated yearly. The department is also tasked with providing Disaster CalFresh training and maintaining updated disaster materials.

If the President declares a major disaster, the department and county agencies should request to operate a federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) to provide benefits swiftly. They must also request waivers for mass benefit replacement and allow hot food purchases with benefits.

The law emphasizes the importance of continuing benefit access safely during disasters and outlines that the department should help with mobile application intake and EBT card distribution if needed. Technology for mobile EBT card issuance must be provided freely to counties.

This law states that when a major disaster is declared by either the Governor of California or the President of the United States, the California State Department of Social Services and county human services agencies will need extra funding. This is to help them with the costs of preparing for and responding to the disaster. It includes efforts to get as much help as possible from federal nutrition assistance programs like Disaster CalFresh. The law allows up to $300,000 to be set aside from the state's General Fund to pay for these services each time such a disaster is declared.

This law mandates that by January 15, 2001, the State Department of Social Services, together with the State Department of Public Health and key stakeholders, must create and present to the California Legislature a detailed plan for a community outreach and education campaign. The purpose is to help families understand and apply for CalFresh and the California Food Assistance Program, which are parts of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

This plan should include specific goals, methods of outreach, targeted areas or populations, coordination with other outreach efforts, and results of past campaigns. Additionally, if federal funding is needed, the plan should also be submitted to the USDA by the same deadline. This initiative requires state funding which may come from the General Fund or other sources. After the initial submission, updates must be submitted to the Legislature annually by April 1 for each coming year.

This law requires county welfare departments to improve the process of enrolling people in both the CalFresh and Medi-Cal programs simultaneously. By January 1, 2023, counties must screen Medi-Cal applicants for CalFresh eligibility and allow them to apply for both programs at the same time. The same staff should handle the eligibility checks for both programs. Counties need designated liaisons to work with community organizations on outreach efforts for these programs.

Once the technology is ready, counties must give prefilled CalFresh applications to Medi-Cal recipients who are likely eligible but not yet enrolled in both programs during their Medi-Cal renewal process.

This law explains how the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) works in California. It requires the state to annually issue guidance on which areas can participate based on federal rules. The program allows eligible CalFresh recipients to use their benefits at approved restaurants, which must have proper health licenses and meet safety standards. Counties can decide how many restaurants and which types to include in the program to suit local needs. A statewide RMP is being established with input from various stakeholders, and this effort can bypass usual rulemaking protocols. The law also supports agreements to help homeless, elderly, or disabled college students access the program through campus facilities. Eligible restaurants can include campus food services, eat-in spots, deli counters, and takeaway places not excluded by federal law.

This law aims to make it easier for people who receive CalFresh, California's version of food stamps, to access all types of food, especially for those facing significant challenges like lacking kitchen facilities or needing specific diets. The Legislature wants to ensure these individuals can purchase the food they need with dignity and fairness.

The law directs the State Department of Social Services to obtain federal permissions that would allow CalFresh recipients to have more choices, like buying hot and ready-to-eat meals, which is usually restricted. This is in line with the guidelines of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

This law makes it easier for the California Department of Social Services to create agreements with local governments or non-profits for outreach and education programs related to CalFresh and nutrition. These agreements are classified as 'cooperative agreements,' allowing for certain flexibilities. For these specific agreements, any reference to the 'department' within a related section should be understood to mean the State Department of Social Services. The law also says that subcontract changes under these agreements don't need to be reviewed by the Department of General Services. This rule applies to both new and currently existing agreements.

This law requires the California Department of Social Services to ask the federal government every year to exclude the basic housing allowance received by military members from being counted as income when determining eligibility and benefit levels for CalFresh, California's food assistance program. If the federal government approves this request, the department will work with relevant organizations to inform counties about the new rules for calculating benefits for military members receiving this housing allowance.

This law allows California's Department of Social Services to request permission from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to let CalFresh (food assistance) beneficiaries keep money in a special savings account, similar to one used in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program. If beneficiaries withdraw money from this account for unapproved reasons, they'll face a temporary suspension from CalFresh. The length of this suspension depends on how much was withdrawn compared to their CalFresh benefits. If CalFresh benefits increase, the suspension period could be shortened. Additionally, the state director can, with federal approval, modify certain federal rules to make this law work.

This law allows counties in California to use existing information from the federal Social Security Administration to simplify the process of enrolling people into the CalFresh program, which helps low-income individuals get food assistance. Counties can do this as long as they can handle the information without major changes or costs. The Department of Social Services will assist these efforts by collaborating with the Social Security Administration to focus on older social security recipients who likely qualify, developing a simplified application process, and pursuing necessary waivers and support from the federal government. This initiative started on July 1, 2012.

This law requires California to make it easier for people who receive CalFresh benefits to also enroll in Medi-Cal and the Healthy Families Program. It involves creating a simplified process to identify those eligible but not yet enrolled. County welfare departments must compile a list of family members in CalFresh households who are not enrolled in these health programs. Each year during CalFresh recertification, counties must notify these individuals of their potential eligibility for health benefits and ask permission to use their information to determine eligibility. Notifications must be understandable and provide clear instructions on how to apply. Once a recipient's signed notice is received, the county will check eligibility using existing information, and if needed, request additional details. If an applicant qualifies for Medi-Cal, enrollment proceeds, and if not eligible, their information may be forwarded to potentially qualify them for the Healthy Families Program. The costs associated with this process should be included in the counties' budget requests, and this provision has been in effect since July 1, 2003, if federal funds are available.

This law requires that every year, California's department in charge of benefits apply for federal permission to waive the rule limiting CalFresh benefits—a food assistance program—to three months over three years for able-bodied adults without dependents unless they meet work requirements or are exempt. All eligible counties must participate in this waiver.

If an entire county does not qualify for this waiver, a county can request the state department to apply for waivers for certain areas within the county. The department is expected to act reasonably quickly on such requests and may require information from the county to support the application.

This California law allows people who receive CalFresh benefits and are subject to federal work time limits to meet these requirements through any form of work, including volunteering at nonprofits or public institutions, as long as the county can verify their work hours. The law also requires that by January 1, 2018, the responsible department must provide counties with guidance on how to verify these volunteer hours.

This law states that if you are homeless, you are naturally exempt from a federal rule that limits the amount of time you can receive certain benefits. This only applies if federal law allows it. Being homeless here means not having a regular place to sleep at night.

The CalFresh Employment and Training (E&T) program is designed to help people in CalFresh households improve their job skills and employment opportunities. Counties opting into this program must evaluate whether individuals will participate or be exempted. Exemptions include veterans, victims of domestic violence, and those living in areas with surplus work, among others.

Participating counties need to show how they use CalFresh E&T funds on various activities like job training, education, or job searches. They are not required to offer every component. The state will seek federal reimbursement to support some of these activities, especially for specific groups. Counties aren't obligated to provide workers' compensation to participants in the program.

The law allows for flexibility in implementing and funding CalFresh E&T and lets the state work with other organizations to receive federal support for these programs. Changes can be initially implemented through letters or directives, with formal regulations expected by 2019.

If a county participates in the CalFresh Employment and Training (E&T) program, a veteran applying for CalFresh benefits—who must register to work but doesn't have to join the E&T program—can choose to volunteer in it. Additionally, they should receive a referral to the local veterans service office and any known veterans' aid and job training agencies to further support them.

This law allows the California department to contract with organizations that provide regional or statewide services related to the CalFresh Employment and Training (E&T) program. These organizations, which can receive partial federal reimbursement, must help participants overcome employment barriers and offer proven skills training to increase their job and earnings potential. Potential partners include employment social enterprises, nonprofits, and public educational institutions.

The department is required to coordinate with counties on implementation and ensure any contracted entities comply with state and federal rules, while sharing any special considerations with counties partnering with employment social enterprises by June 1, 2018.

An 'employment social enterprise' involves a corporation focused on social purposes, earning most of its revenue from production or services, and devoting its mission to training a workforce primarily consisting of individuals facing employment challenges. These individuals might include those from multiple disadvantaged groups, the homeless, and out-of-school youth.

This law establishes the CalFresh E&T Workers’ Compensation Fund in the State Treasury. The fund pays for workers' compensation claims from people participating in the CalFresh employment and training program.

The money in this fund can be used continuously without being limited to a fiscal year. Any income made from investing the funds is credited back to the fund. If there's ever a change in the law that requires this fund to be closed, any remaining money will go back to the Food and Nutrition Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This section deals with how CalFresh benefits, which are California's food assistance benefits, are reduced to recover overpaid benefits due to various errors or violations. If benefits were issued by mistake or fraud, future benefits will be reduced to correct this overissuance. Different reduction rates apply depending on whether the overissuance was because of administrative error, household mistake, or intentional fraud.

Households must be properly notified with details about the overissuance before their benefits are reduced. For administrative errors, benefits can reduce by no more than 5% or $10 a month; for household errors, it's 10% or $10; and for fraud, reductions are 20% or $20. If a household is no longer getting benefits, small overissuance amounts (less than $400) may not be collected.

The state will eventually implement a policy to ease the burden on households with elderly or disabled members. When collecting overpayments, practical methods that don't exceed reasonable costs must be used. Counties are allowed to write off debts under certain federal guidelines. The details of this section can be updated through directives instead of formal rulemaking processes to better align with tech updates.

This law outlines when a county can claim back overpaid CalFresh benefits due to errors by households or administrative mistakes. The crucial point is that the county can only try to recover these overpaid benefits if the error was discovered within 24 months from when it occurred. They can't reclaim any benefits if the mistake happened over 24 months before it was identified.

The law became effective either on July 1, 2022, or when the necessary state systems could support it. The California Department of Social Services can issue guidelines even before formal regulations are set. Emergency rules should be in place by January 1, 2023, to guide the recovery process, and these can be renewed once, lasting up to 180 days each until permanent rules are established.

If a county human services agency identifies a mass overissuance, which means they gave too many benefits to a large number of people due to either negligence, fraud, or a major error, they must notify the state department. This notification should specify whether the issue was due to the agency's or the state's mistake. A 'mass overissuance' impacts either at least 8% of the county's CalFresh users or over 1,000 households. The state department is then responsible for reporting these mass overissuances to the USDA.

This law aims to enhance efforts to fight hunger among public college and university students by improving their access to CalFresh, a program that helps low-income individuals buy food. The department is instructed to work with various stakeholders, like legislative staff, county reps, and CalFresh workers, to better coordinate between educational institutions and CalFresh benefits administration. Consultation will happen through existing department workgroups when possible.

By January 1, 2024, the department must post data about college students receiving CalFresh benefits on an online platform called the CalFresh Data Dashboard.

This data should show student application metrics, demographics, and exemptions without including any personal information.

The department is required to update this information every year, or more often if new relevant data becomes available.

When the law mentions students 'enrolled in an institution of higher education', it refers to the definition in federal regulations.

This law says that if you're applying for or receiving certain benefits, a county in California can determine there's a valid reason, or 'good cause,' for quitting a job or reducing work hours if it's for one of the reasons listed in another section of the law or if your work hours were too unpredictable. If you report refusing a job, cutting your hours, quitting, or getting fired, the county has to give you info about your workplace rights and how to complain to the right agencies.