Bill Text: CA AB683 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Homelessness: housing status data.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-08-16 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB683 Detail]
Download: California-2011-AB683-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 683 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 6, 2012
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 6, 2012
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 21, 2012
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 13, 2011
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 12, 2011
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 24, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ammiano
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Atkins, Hueso, and Torres)
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
An act to add Chapter 6.1 (commencing with Section 13710) to Part
3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to
homeless persons.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 683, as amended, Ammiano. Homelessness: housing status data.
Under existing law, various agencies administer programs for the
support of homeless persons. Existing law also provides for
public social services programs, such as the CalWORKs program, the
Medi-Cal program, and CalFresh.
This bill would require the Employment Development
Department, the State Department of Health Care Services
, and the State Department of Social Services to
inquire in both paper applications and electronic applications, as
prescribed, into the housing status of persons who apply for
specified benefits Medi-Cal and CalFresh benefits
to determine whether or not an applicant has stable
housing, is at risk of homelessness, or the
beneficiary or applicant is experiencing homelessness
homeless . This bill would require
those departments only to implement those provisions
the State Department of Health Care Services to refine the Medi-Cal
application questions only when there is another reason to
revise the specified applications
application, and would require the State Department of Social
Services to refine the CalFresh application questions at the next
scheduled revision of the application . This bill,
commencing at the end of the first fiscal year following the
application changes required pursuant to these provisions, would
require each department to begin including in its relevant reports to
the budget committees of the Legislature specified information
relating to homeless beneficiaries and households, as applicable.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature to
gather accurate and consistent data about Californians who lack
housing stability and how these persons use health and social
services.
SEC. 2. Chapter 6.1 (commencing with Section
13710) is added to Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code , to read:
CHAPTER 6.1. HOUSING DATA
13710. (a) The State Department of Health Care Services shall
inquire into the housing status of persons who apply for Medi-Cal
benefits.
(1) Both paper and electronic application forms for Medi-Cal
benefits shall include questions to determine whether the applicant
is homeless, as defined in Section 582.5 of Title 24 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. Questions included in the applications for
benefits shall be drafted so that an applicant is able to identify
easily with specific options offered as alternative responses and
shall, at a minimum, address the permanency and condition of the
applicant's housing.
(2) Providing answers to questions regarding housing status
specified in paragraph (1) shall be optional for Medi-Cal applicants
and shall not be required in order for an application form to be
considered complete or for the submission of an electronic
application form for Medi-Cal.
(3) The State Department of Health Care Services shall refine the
Medi-Cal application to be consistent with the definition referenced
in paragraph (1) only when there is another reason to revise an
application for benefits.
(b) At the end of the first fiscal year following application
changes required by this section, the State Department of Health Care
Services shall begin including in its relevant reports to the budget
committees of the Legislature the number of Medi-Cal beneficiaries
who are homeless, and the number of those beneficiaries who indicated
being homeless for longer than one year.
13711. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall inquire
into the housing status of persons who apply for CalFresh benefits.
(1) The State Department of Social Services shall seek any
necessary federal waivers to align the CalFresh definition of a
person who is homeless with the definition of homeless in Section
582.5 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and consistent
with the questions identified in paragraph (3).
(2) The State Department of Social Services shall, upon approval
of any necessary waivers as described in paragraph (1), and at the
next scheduled revision of the paper and online application, refine
the CalFresh application to be consistent with the definition
referenced in paragraph (1).
(3) Both paper and electronic application forms for CalFresh
benefits shall include questions to determine whether the applicant
is homeless, as defined in Section 582.5 of Title 24 of the Code of
Federal Regulations. Questions included in the applications for
benefits shall be drafted so that an applicant is able to identify
easily with specific options offered as alternative responses and
shall, at a minimum, address the permanency and condition of the
applicant's housing.
(b) At the end of the first fiscal year following application
changes required by this section, the State Department of Social
Services shall begin including in its relevant reports to the budget
committees of the Legislature the number of CalFresh households that
are homeless, the number of CalFresh households that have been
homeless for longer than one year, and the number of CalWORKS
households that have requested homeless assistance.
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature
to gather accurate, consistent data about Californians who lack
housing stability, and how these persons use social services. It is
further the intent of the Legislature to use this data to understand
and address the needs of Californians who lack housing stability.
SEC. 2. Chapter 6.1 (commencing with Section
13710) is added to Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
CHAPTER 6.1. HOUSING DATA
13710. (a) The following departments shall inquire, pursuant to
subdivision (b), into the housing status of persons who apply for the
following benefits to determine whether or not an applicant has
stable housing, is at risk of homelessness, or is experiencing
homelessness.
(1) The Employment Development Department shall inquire into the
housing status of persons who apply for unemployment insurance
benefits.
(2) The State Department of Health Care Services shall inquire
into the housing status of persons who apply for Medi-Cal benefits.
(3) The State Department of Social Services shall inquire into the
housing status of persons who apply for California Work Opportunity
and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) benefits and CalFresh.
(b) Both paper and electronic application forms for the benefits
specified in subdivision (a) shall include the following questions,
and the following answers that an applicant may select, to determine
each applicant's housing status:
(1) Do you own or rent housing, or if you do not own or rent, do
you have a permanent place to live?
(A) Own.
(B) Rent.
(C) Have a permanent place to live.
(D) Do not have a permanent place to live.
(2) If you do not have a permanent place to live, where are you
currently staying?
(A) With a friend or family member.
(B) At a transitional living facility.
(C) At a shelter or church.
(D) In a car.
(E) At a migrant camp.
(F) In a place not intended for habitation (for example, a bus
depot or train station).
(G) On the streets.
(H) Other.
(3) If you do not have a permanent place to live, how long have
you not had a permanent place to live?
(A) Less than one year.
(B) Over one year.
(C) Off and on for two or three years.
(D) Off and on for three or more years.
(c) Answers to questions regarding housing status specified in
subdivision (b) shall be optional and are not required in order for
an application form to be considered complete or for the submission
of an electronic application form.
(d) When applicable, information regarding housing status as
specified in subdivision (b) may be collected during an interview
process in lieu of an initial application or supplemental application
form.
(e) Each department identified in subdivision (a) shall implement
this section only when there is another reason to revise an
application for benefits.
