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AB-2795 CalWORKs Indian Health Clinic Program.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 09/30/2024 02:00 PM
AB2795:v94#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 2795
CHAPTER 663

An act to repeal and add Section 10553.15 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services.

[ Approved by Governor  September 27, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State  September 27, 2024. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2795, Arambula. CalWORKs Indian Health Clinic Program.
Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds to eligible states and tribes through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program. Existing state law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families.
Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to annually allocate appropriated funds to each federally recognized American Indian tribe with reservation lands or rancherias in the state that administers a federal tribal TANF grant program.
Existing law authorizes the Director of Social Services to provide funding to Indian health clinics to provide substance abuse and mental health services, and other related services authorized under the CalWORKs program to CalWORKs applicants and recipients and tribal TANF applicants and recipients living in California.
This bill would identify those funding provisions as the Indian Health Clinic Program, and would revise the definition of “applicants and recipients” for purposes of the program to include individuals who self-attest to as either having applied for, or currently receiving, CalWORKs or tribal TANF assistance. The bill also would authorize an Indian health clinic to provide services to an individual the clinic verifies is enrolled in the Medi-Cal program, or who self-attests to their enrollment. The bill would authorize an Indian health clinic, at the beginning of each state fiscal year, to request an advance payment of up to 50% of the total allocated amount, contingent upon a written request and the clinic’s timely and accurate submission, and the department’s approval within 90 days of the completed submission, of specified reports from the prior year. The bill would require the department to remit this advance payment if funds have been appropriated through the annual Budget Act, and to remit the remainder of the total allocated amount as a reimbursement when in receipt of a written request and supporting documents from the Indian health clinic.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 10553.15 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is repealed.

SEC. 2.

 Section 10553.15 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

10553.15.
 (a) The CalWORKs Indian Health Clinic Program is established to provide funding to Indian health clinics to provide substance abuse and mental health treatment services, and other related services authorized under the CalWORKs program, to CalWORKs applicants and recipients and tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) applicants and recipients living in California.
(b) For purposes of this section, “applicants and recipients” includes individuals who self-attest to an Indian health clinic as either having applied for, or currently receiving, CalWORKs or tribal TANF assistance. An Indian health clinic may also provide services under this section to an individual the clinic verifies is enrolled in the Medi-Cal program, or who self-attests to their enrollment in the Medi-Cal program. An Indian health clinic may accept self-attestation, as described in this subdivision, as conclusive proof of eligibility for services under this section, and is not required to further verify eligibility.
(c) (1) At the beginning of each state fiscal year, an Indian health clinic may choose to request an advance payment in an amount equal to not more than 50 percent of the total allocated amount, contingent upon both of the following:
(A) A written request for an advance payment from the Indian health clinic.
(B) The grantee’s timely and accurate submission within 45 days of the beginning of the fiscal year, and the department’s approval within 90 days of the completed submission, of the data reports required under the agreement, budget expenditure reports, and an annual reconciliation report, from the prior year.
(2) The department shall remit the advance payment requested pursuant to paragraph (1) if funds have been appropriated through the annual Budget Act.
(3) The department shall remit the remainder of the total allocated amount as a reimbursement when in receipt of a written request and supporting documents from the Indian health clinic.