BILL NUMBER: SB 1190	CHAPTERED  10/03/01

	CHAPTER  452
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 3, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 2, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 7, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Health and Human Services (Senators
Ortiz (Chair), Chesbro, Escutia, Figueroa, Haynes, Kuehl, Polanco,
Vasconcellos, and Vincent)

                        MARCH 13, 2001

   An act to amend Section 12554 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to public social services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1190, Committee on Health and Human Services.  Assistive dog
allowance.
   Existing law specifies that an individual who has a guide, signal,
or service dog and who is a recipient of the federal Supplemental
Security Income/State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind and
Disabled (SSI/SSP) is eligible for a $50 per month allowance for dog
food and other costs related to the care and maintenance of the dog.

   Existing law also provides that an individual who has a guide,
signal, or service dog, and who is a recipient of federal Social
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits whose income and
resources are not in excess of the federal poverty level is eligible
for a $35 per month allowance for dog food and other costs related to
the care and maintenance of the dog.
   This bill would increase the allowance level for eligible SSDI
recipients to $50.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 12554 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   12554.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 12552, special circumstances
shall also include the administration and payment by the department
pursuant to this section of a recurring special need allowance to
every eligible recipient who has a guide dog, signal dog, or other
service dog, to pay for dog food and other costs associated with the
dog's care and maintenance.
   (b) For purposes of this section, the special need allowance shall
be fifty dollars ($50) per month.
   (c) The department shall mail an application for the allowance to
each recipient of benefits under the federal Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) program who is known to the department to
have a guide dog, signal dog, or other service dog, or who has
requested an application from the department, and who is a legal
resident of this state.  The application shall include a disclosure
of the applicant's resources and all sources and amounts of the
applicant's income.  The application shall be upon a standard form
prescribed by regulations of the department and containing a written
declaration that the affirmation is made under penalty of perjury
subject to prosecution as the crime of perjury under the Penal Code.
The recipient or, if the recipient is incapable, another person as
described in Section 11054 may make the affirmation.  In order to
establish eligibility pursuant to subdivision (e), the applicant
shall also be required to present a proof of income statement from
the federal Social Security Administration.  The department shall
grant the special need allowance upon the basis of the affirmation by
mailing a monthly warrant in the amount indicated in subdivision (b)
to the recipient.
   (d) The county welfare department shall cooperate in assisting the
recipient in completing his or her application for the special need
allowance authorized by this section.
   (e) For purposes of this section, "eligible recipient" means any
person legally residing in this state who is a recipient of benefits
under the federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
program, provided for pursuant to Title II of the federal Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 401, et seq.) and whose income and
resources are not in excess of the federal poverty level.  For
purposes of determining eligibility under this section, income and
resources shall be defined in the same manner as those terms are used
in determining eligibility for aid under Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 12000).