Bill Text: CA SB465 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Refugees.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 399, Statutes of 2023. [SB465 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB465-Chaptered.html

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Senate Bill No. 465

CHAPTER 399

An act to add Section 10609.98 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services.

[ Approved by Governor  October 07, 2023. Filed with Secretary of State  October 07, 2023. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 465, Wahab. Refugees.

Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to allocate federal funds appropriated for refugee social services programs to each eligible county, and authorizes the department, to the extent permitted by federal law, to contract with or award grants to a qualified nonprofit organization for the purpose of administering refugee social services within a county.

This bill would require each county human services agency to post a single page on its internet website with a list of resources available for refugees that includes, among other things, public transportation, financial literacy information, and affordable housing and rental assistance programs. By imposing new duties on counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also require the department to post a single page on its internet website with a list of available state resources available for refugees and a link to the internet website of each county human assistance agency.

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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 10609.98 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

10609.98.

 (a) The State Department of Social Services shall post a single page on its internet website with a list of available state resources for refugees and a link to the internet website of each county human assistance agency.

(b) Each county human services agency shall post a single page on its internet website with a list of available resources for refugees that may include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Public transportation, including, but not limited to, schedule information and free or discounted rate information.

(2) Financial literacy information.

(3) Resources for establishing credit.

(4) Job orientation and training programs.

(5) Mental health services.

(6) Affordable housing and rental assistance programs.

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.