Bill Text: CA SB999 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: CalFresh: student eligibility.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-23 - Held in committee and under submission. [SB999 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB999-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 999	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Liu

                        FEBRUARY 13, 2014

   An act to amend Section 18926.5 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to social services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 999, as introduced, Liu.  CalFresh Employment and Training
Program.
   Existing law authorizes counties to participate in the CalFresh
Employment and Training Program (CalFresh E&T), established by
federal law with the purpose of assisting members of CalFresh
households in gaining skills, training, work, or experience that will
increase their ability to obtain regular employment. Existing law
requires participating counties to screen CalFresh work registrants
to determine whether the registrants will participate in, or be
deferred from, the CalFresh E&T program.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those
provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 18926.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   18926.5.  (a) For the purposes of this chapter, "CalFresh
Employment and Training program" or "CalFresh E&T" means the program
established under Section 6(d)(4)(B) of the federal Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 2015), Section 273.7 of Title 7
of the Code of Federal Regulations, and associated administrative
notices published by the United States Department of Agriculture with
the purpose of assisting members of CalFresh households in gaining
skills, training, work, or experience that will increase their
ability to obtain regular employment.
   (b) (1) A county that elects to participate in the CalFresh
Employment and Training (CalFresh E&T) program, as authorized by the
federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 2015), shall
screen CalFresh work registrants to determine whether they will
participate in, or be deferred from, the CalFresh E&T program. If
deferred, a CalFresh work registrant may request to enroll in the
CalFresh E&T program as a voluntary participant. An individual shall
be deferred from a mandatory placement in the CalFresh E&T program if
he or she satisfies any of the criteria in Sections 273.7 and 273.24
of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, if he or she resides
in a federally determined work surplus area, or if he or she is a
veteran who has been honorably discharged from the United States
Armed Forces.
   (2) For purposes of this section, "deferred" has the same meaning
as exempt.
   (c) (1) A county that elects to participate in the CalFresh E&T
program shall be required to demonstrate in its CalFresh E&T plan how
it is effectively using CalFresh E&T funds for each of the
components that the county offers, including, but not limited to, any
of the following:
   (A) Self-initiated workfare.
   (B) Work experience or training.
   (C) Education.
   (D) Job search.
   (E) The support services or client reimbursements needed to
participate in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, as allowed by
federal law and guidance.
   (2)  Nothing in this   This  section
shall  not  be construed to require a county to offer a
particular component as a part of its CalFresh E&T plan.
   (d)  Nothing in this section shall   This
section does not  limit a county's ability to condition the
receipt of nonmedical benefits under Section 17000 on an individual's
participation in an employment and training or workfare program of
the county's choice, even if that program is financed in whole or in
part with CalFresh E&T funds or match funds.
   (e)  Nothing in this section shall   This
section   does not  restrict the use of federal funds
for the financing of CalFresh E&T programs.
   (f)  Nothing in this   This  section
shall  not  be construed to require a county to provide for
workers' compensation coverage for a CalFresh E&T participant.
Notwithstanding Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of the
Labor Code, a CalFresh E&T participant shall not be an employee for
the purposes of workers' compensation coverage and a county shall
have no duty to provide workers' compensation coverage for a CalFresh
E&T participant.
   (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 may implement this section by all-county letters or
similar instructions. Thereafter, the department shall adopt
regulations to implement this section by October 1, 2013.