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AB-2115 CalFresh: school meals.(2013-2014)

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Amended  IN  Senate  August 04, 2014
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 08, 2014
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 01, 2014

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2013–2014 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2115

Introduced by Assembly Member Bradford

February 20, 2014

An act to amend Section 18911 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to CalFresh.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2115, as amended, Bradford. CalFresh: school meals.
Existing law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing federal law requires that a child receiving benefits under SNAP be certified as eligible for free lunches and free breakfasts without further application. Existing law requires a county welfare department to compile a list of emergency food providers and make that list available upon request.
This bill would additionally require a county human services agency to compile a list of emergency and supplemental food assistance providers, as specified. The bill would also require a county human services agency to provide an applicant household that has children with information about how to enroll the children in the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program) and the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs while the CalFresh application is pending and to inform the household that if the household is certified for CalFresh, specified children in the household are income-eligible for the WIC Program and all children in the household are directly certified for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs without further application. The bill would require the department to implement these provisions by all-county letters or similar instructions beginning no later than May 1, 2015, until regulations are adopted, and would require the department to adopt regulations on or before October 1, 2017.
By increasing the duties of county human services agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 18911 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

18911.
 (a) An application and an authorization for participation in CalFresh shall be processed within a period of not more than 30 days from the date of application.
(b) The department shall develop written information that describes the eligibility and verification requirements for expedited service, the process for applying for those benefits, and the availability of assistance in filling out the forms and gathering needed documentation.
(c) A county human services agency shall make the material developed pursuant to subdivision (b) available to an applicant at the time the applicant initially seeks CalFresh benefits.
(d) A county human services agency shall, upon request, make available the information developed pursuant to subdivision (b) to community action agencies, legal services offices, emergency food programs, and other programs.
(e) A county human services agency shall compile a list of emergency and supplemental food assistance providers, including local nutrition assistance programs authorized by Chapter II (commencing with Section 210.1) of Subtitle B of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, in the area served by the local CalFresh office. The list shall be updated, based on information the county receives from emergency and supplemental food assistance providers, cities, school districts, summer lunch providers, the California Department of Education, and California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program). The list shall be made available to households applying for CalFresh. A county human services agency shall provide an applicant household that has children with information about how to enroll the children in the WIC Program and the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs while the CalFresh application is pending and shall inform the household that if the household is certified for CalFresh, children under five years of age in the household are income-eligible for the WIC Program, pursuant to Section 246.7 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and all children in the household are directly certified for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs without further application, pursuant to Section 245.6 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(f) A county human services agency shall make available to CalFresh applicants, upon request, nonpromotional information that contains addresses and phone numbers of local legal services and welfare rights organizations.
(g) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department shall implement this section by all-county letters or similar instructions beginning no later than May 1, 2015, until regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt regulations implementing this section on or before October 1, 2017.

SEC. 2.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.