Existing law requires each county to provide cash assistance and other social services to needy families through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program using federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant program, state, and county funds. Existing law establishes criminal penalties, including the imposition of specified fines, for violation of certain provisions relating to, among other offenses, willfully and knowingly making a false statement or failing to disclose a material fact in order to obtain designated public social services, including CalWORKs program benefits. Existing law authorizes counties to conduct an early fraud prevention and detection program in administering the CalWORKs program, pursuant to specified criteria, including requiring the county to make a referral for welfare fraud investigation under certain circumstances.

This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to the prosecution of persons who engage in Welfare fraud in connection with the CalWORKs program.