AB323:v96#DOCUMENTBill Start
Assembly Bill
No. 323
CHAPTER 68
An act to amend Section 18911 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to CalFresh.
[
Approved by
Governor
July 17, 2017.
Filed with
Secretary of State
July 17, 2017.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 323, Berman.
CalFresh: emergency food provider referrals.
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 law requires a county welfare department to compile a list of emergency food providers and make that list available upon request.
This bill, to be known as the County Human Services Information and Referral Modernization Act of 2017, would authorize a county human services agency to refer a CalFresh
applicant or recipient to the 2-1-1 dial code to access information on emergency food providers and supplemental food assistance providers in lieu of providing a list if the county deems that method to be the most appropriate to serve an applicant or recipient.
Digest Key
Vote:
MAJORITY
Appropriation:
NO
Fiscal Committee:
NO
Local Program:
NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the County Human Services Information and Referral Modernization Act of 2017.SEC. 2.
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) Each county human services agency shall make the material developed pursuant to subdivision (b) available to each applicant at the time the applicant initially seeks CalFresh
benefits.
(d) Each 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 community programs.
(e) (1) Each county human services agency shall, except as specified in paragraph (2), compile a list of emergency food providers in the area served by the local CalFresh office. The list shall be updated, based on information from the emergency food providers. The list shall be made available upon request, and, where needed, may be used to refer individuals to emergency food sites that may be able to provide assistance.
(2) A county human services
agency may elect to refer a CalFresh applicant or recipient to the 2-1-1 dial code to access information on emergency food providers and supplemental food assistance providers, including child nutrition programs, in lieu of providing a list pursuant to paragraph (1) if the county deems that method to be the most appropriate to serve an applicant or recipient.
(f) Each 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.
SEC. 3.
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 may implement this act by all-county letters or similar instructions from the director.