BILL NUMBER: AB 6 ENROLLED BILL TEXT PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 31, 2011 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 30, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 12, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Fuentes (Coauthors: Assembly Members Beall, Blumenfield, Dickinson, Hall, Roger Hernández, Bonnie Lowenthal, Skinner, Solorio, and Yamada) (Coauthors: Senators Padilla and Pavley) DECEMBER 6, 2010 An act to amend Sections 10830, 11372, and 18901.4 of, to amend, repeal, and add Sections 11004.1, 11020, 11265.1, 11265.2, 11265.3, 11450, 11450.12, 11450.13, 11451.5 and 18910 of, and to add Section 18901.2 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 6, Fuentes. CalWORKs and CalFresh. Existing law requires each county to provide cash assistance and other social services to needy families through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program using federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant program, state, and county funds. Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services and the California Health and Human Services Agency Data Center to design, implement, and maintain a statewide fingerprint imaging system for use in connection with the determination of eligibility for benefits under the CalWORKs program, excluding the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program, and CalFresh. Existing law, with specified exceptions, requires applicants for, and recipients of, CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits, as a condition of eligibility, to be fingerprint imaged, pursuant to the statewide fingerprint imaging system. This bill would remove the requirement that applicants for, and recipients of, CalFresh benefits, as a condition of eligibility, be fingerprint imaged and would make related conforming changes. Under existing law, the county is required to annually redetermine eligibility for CalWORKs benefits. Existing law additionally requires the county to redetermine recipient eligibility and grant amounts on a quarterly basis, using prospective budgeting, and to prospectively determine the grant amount that a recipient is entitled to receive for each month of the quarterly reporting period. Under existing law, a CalWORKs recipient is required to report to the county, orally or in writing, specified changes that could affect the amount of aid to which the recipient is entitled. Under existing law, the CalWORKs quarterly reporting system is also implemented by the State Department of Social Services in administering SNAP. This bill would make inoperative October 1, 2013, and repeal January 1, 2014, the requirements relating to quarterly reporting and prospective determination grant amounts, and would, instead, impose similar requirements for a semiannual reporting period, operative April 1, 2013, to be implemented no later than October 1, 2013. This bill would require each county to transition recipients to a semiannual reporting system simultaneously and require each county to provide a certificate to the Director of Social Services certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. The bill would also require the department to establish an income reporting threshold for CalWORKs recipients, as specified. The bill would make various related conforming changes, including revising provisions relating to the collection of CalWORKs grant overpayments. The bill would authorize counties to adopt staggered semiannual reporting requirements, as specified. This bill would prohibit administrative savings associated with the implementation of semiannual reporting from exceeding the amount necessary to fund the net General Fund costs of the semiannual reporting, and would authorize the reflection of possible additional savings in excess of this amount only to the extent that they are based on actual savings, as prescribed. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions through all-county letters until the adoption of implementing regulations, as prescribed. Existing law requires the Department of Community Services and Development to receive and administer the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program block grant. This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, require the State Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the Department of Community Services and Development, to design, implement by January 1, 2013, and maintain a utility assistance initiative. Under the bill, the State Department of Social Services would be required to grant applicants and recipients of CalFresh benefits a nominal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) service benefit, as specified, out of the federal LIHEAP block grant and any funds allocated for this purpose not expended and reinvested into the program, as prescribed. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would, instead, provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. To the extent that the bill would expand eligibility for CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. 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 these statutory provisions. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 10830 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as amended by Section 241 of Chapter 179 of the Statutes of 2008, is amended to read: 10830. (a) The department and the Health and Welfare Data Center shall design, implement, and maintain a statewide fingerprint imaging system for use in connection with the determination of eligibility for benefits under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Act (CalWORKs) program under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) of Part 3 excluding Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC). (b) (1) Every applicant for, or recipient of, aid under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) of Part 3, excluding the AFDC-FC program, other than dependent children or persons who are physically unable to be fingerprint imaged, shall, as a condition of eligibility for assistance, be required to be fingerprint imaged. (2) A person subject to paragraph (1) shall not be eligible for the CalWORKs program until fingerprint images are provided, except as provided in subdivision (e). Ineligibility may extend to an entire case of a person who refuses to provide fingerprint images. (c) The department may adopt emergency regulations to implement this section specifying the statewide fingerprint imaging requirements and exemptions to the requirements in accordance with 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 initial adoption of any emergency regulations implementing this section, as added during the 1996 portion of the 1995-96 Regular Session, shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare. Emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this subdivision shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days. (d) Persons required to be fingerprint imaged pursuant to this section shall be informed that fingerprint images obtained pursuant to this section shall be used only for the purpose of verifying eligibility and preventing multiple enrollments in the CalWORKs program. The department, county welfare agencies, and all others shall not use or disclose the data collected and maintained for any purpose other than the prevention or prosecution of fraud. Fingerprint imaging information obtained pursuant to this section shall be confidential under Section 10850. (e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the fingerprint imaging required under this chapter shall be scheduled only during the application appointment or other regularly scheduled appointments. No other special appointment shall be required. No otherwise eligible individual shall be ineligible to receive benefits under this chapter due to a technical problem occurring in the fingerprint imaging system or as long as the person consents to and is available for fingerprint imaging at a mutually agreed-upon time, not later than 60 days from the initial attempt to complete fingerprint imaging. (2) During the first nine months following implementation, recipients may be scheduled for separate appointments to complete the fingerprint imaging required by this section. Notice shall be mailed first class by the department to recipients at least 10 days prior to the appointment, and shall include procedures for the recipient to reschedule the scheduled appointment within 30 days. (f) If the fingerprint image of an applicant or recipient of aid to which this section applies matches another fingerprint image on file, the county shall notify the applicant or recipient. In the event that a match is appealed, the fingerprint image match shall be verified by a trained individual and any matching case files reviewed prior to the denial of benefits. Upon confirmation that the applicant or recipient is receiving or attempting to receive multiple CalWORKs program checks, a county fraud investigator shall be notified. SEC. 2. Section 11004.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11004.1. (a) In addition to Section 11004, this section shall apply to the CalWORKs program. (b) The amount of any CalWORKs grant overpayment shall be the difference between the grant amount the assistance unit actually received and the grant amount the assistance unit would have received under the quarterly reporting, prospective budgeting system if no county error had occurred or if the recipient had timely, completely, and accurately reported as required under Sections 11265.1 and 11265.3. No overpayment shall be established based on any differences between the amount of income the county reasonably anticipated the recipient would receive during the quarterly reporting period and the income the recipient actually received during that period, provided the recipient's report was complete and accurate. (c) No CalWORKs grant underpayment shall be established based on any differences between the amount of income the county reasonably anticipated the recipient would receive during the quarterly reporting period and the income the recipient actually received during that period. (d) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until the county certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 3. Section 11004.1 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 11004.1. (a) In addition to Section 11004, this section shall apply to the CalWORKs program. (b) The amount of any CalWORKs grant overpayment shall be the difference between the grant amount the assistance unit actually received and the grant amount the assistance unit would have received under the semiannual reporting, prospective budgeting system if no county error had occurred and if the recipient had timely, completely, and accurately reported as required under Sections 11265.1 and 11265.3. No overpayment shall be established based on any differences between the amount of income the county prospectively determined for the recipient for the semiannual reporting period and the income the recipient actually received during that period, provided the recipient's report was complete and accurate. (c) No CalWORKs grant underpayment shall be established based on any differences between the amount of income the county prospectively determined for the recipient for the semiannual reporting period and the income the recipient actually received during that period. (d) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 4. Section 11020 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11020. (a) Where a recipient under a categorical aid program other than CalWORKs has received aid in good faith but in fact owned excess property, he or she shall be considered to have been ineligible for aid during the period for which any excess property would have supported him or her at the rate of the aid granted to him or her. Under these circumstances, the recipient or his or her estate shall repay the aid he or she received during this period of ineligibility. (b) With respect to recipients under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000), overpayments shall be collected by the federal government pursuant to federal law. (c) Where a CalWORKs recipient has received aid in good faith, but in fact owned excess property, the recipient shall have an overpayment equal to the lesser of the amount of the excess property or the aid received during the period the recipient owned the excess property and the grant was not accurately determined under the quarterly reporting, prospective budgeting system due to the excess property. (d) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until it certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 5. Section 11020 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 11020. (a) Where a recipient under a categorical aid program other than CalWORKs has received aid in good faith but in fact owned excess property, he or she shall be considered to have been ineligible for aid during the period for which any excess property would have supported him or her at the rate of the aid granted to him or her. Under these circumstances, the recipient or his or her estate shall repay the aid he or she received during this period of ineligibility. (b) With respect to recipients under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of this part, overpayments shall be collected by the federal government pursuant to federal law. (c) Where a CalWORKs recipient has received aid in good faith, but in fact owned excess property, the recipient shall have an overpayment equal to the lesser of the amount of the excess property or the aid received during the period the recipient owned the excess property and the grant was not accurately determined under the semiannual reporting, prospective budgeting system due to the excess property. (d) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 6. Section 11265.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11265.1. (a) In addition to the requirement for an annual redetermination of eligibility, counties shall redetermine recipient eligibility and grant amounts on a quarterly basis using prospective budgeting. Counties shall use the information reported on a recipient' s quarterly report form to prospectively determine eligibility and grant amount for the following quarterly reporting period. (b) A quarterly reporting period shall be three consecutive calendar months. The recipient shall submit one quarterly report form for each quarterly reporting period. Counties shall provide a quarterly report form to recipients at the end of the second month of the quarterly reporting period, and recipients shall return the completed quarterly report form with required verification to the county by the 11th day of the third month of the quarterly reporting period. (c) Counties may establish staggered quarterly reporting cycles based on factors established or approved by the department, including, but not limited to, application date or case number. (d) The quarterly report form shall be signed under penalty of perjury, and shall include only information necessary to determine CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility and calculate the CalWORKs grant amount and CalFresh allotment, as specified by the department. The form shall be as comprehensible as possible for recipients and shall require recipients to provide the following: (1) Information about income received during the second month of the quarterly reporting period. (2) Information about income that the recipient anticipates receiving during the following quarterly reporting period. (3) Any other changes to facts required to be reported, together with any changes to those facts that the recipient anticipates will occur. The recipient shall provide verification as specified by the department with the quarterly report form. (e) A quarterly report form shall be considered complete if the following requirements, as specified by the department, are met: (1) The form is signed no earlier than the first day of the third month of the quarterly reporting period by the persons specified by the department. (2) All questions and items pertaining to CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility and grant amount are answered. (3) Verification required by the department is provided. (f) If a recipient fails to submit a complete quarterly report form, as defined in subdivision (e), by the 11th day of the third month of the quarterly reporting period, the county shall provide the recipient with a notice that the county will terminate benefits at the end of the month. Prior to terminating benefits, the county shall attempt to make personal contact to remind the recipient that a completed report is due, or, if contact is not made, shall send a reminder notice to the recipient no later than five days prior to the end of the month. Any discontinuance notice shall be rescinded if a complete report is received by the first working day of the first month of the following quarterly reporting period. (g) The county may determine, at any time prior to the last day of the calendar month following discontinuance for nonsubmission of a quarterly report form, that a recipient had good cause for failing to submit a complete quarterly report form, as defined in subdivision (e), by the first working day of the month following discontinuance. If the county finds a recipient had good cause, as defined by the department, it shall rescind the discontinuance notice. Good cause exists only when the recipient cannot reasonably be expected to fulfill his or her reporting responsibilities due to factors outside of the recipient's control. (h) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until the county certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 7. Section 11265.1 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 11265.1. (a) In addition to the requirement for an annual redetermination of eligibility, counties shall redetermine recipient eligibility and grant amounts on a semiannual basis in a prospective manner, using reasonably anticipated income consistent with Section 5 of the federal Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. Sec. 2014(f)(3)(A)), implementing regulations, and any waivers obtained by the department pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 11265.2. Counties shall use the information reported on a recipient's semiannual report form to prospectively determine eligibility and the grant amount for the following semiannual reporting period. (b) A semiannual reporting period shall be six consecutive calendar months. The recipient shall submit one semiannual report form for each semiannual reporting period. Counties shall provide a semiannual report form to recipients at the end of the fifth month of the semiannual reporting period, and recipients shall return the completed semiannual report form with required verification to the county by the 11th day of the sixth month of the semiannual reporting period. (c) The semiannual report form shall be signed under penalty of perjury, and shall include only the information necessary to determine CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility and calculate the CalWORKs grant amount and CalFresh allotment, as specified by the department. The form shall be as comprehensible as possible for recipients and shall require recipients to provide the following: (1) Information about income received during the fifth month of the semiannual reporting period. (2) Any other changes to facts required to be reported. The recipient shall provide verification as specified by the department with the semiannual report form. (d) A semiannual report form shall be considered complete if the following requirements, as specified by the department, are met: (1) The form is signed no earlier than the first day of the sixth month of the semiannual reporting period by the persons specified by the department. (2) All questions and items pertaining to CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility and grant amounts are answered. (3) Verification required by the department is provided. (e) If a recipient fails to submit a complete semiannual report form, as described in subdivision (d), by the 11th day of the sixth month of the semiannual reporting period, the county shall provide the recipient with a notice that the county will terminate benefits at the end of the month. Prior to terminating benefits, the county shall attempt to make personal contact to remind the recipient that a completed report is due, or, if contact is not made, shall send a reminder notice to the recipient no later than five days prior to the end of the month. Any discontinuance notice shall be rescinded if a complete report is received by the first working day of the first month of the following semiannual reporting period. (f) The county may determine, at any time prior to the last day of the calendar month following discontinuance for nonsubmission of a semiannual report form, that a recipient had good cause for failing to submit a complete semiannual report form, as described in subdivision (d), by the first working day of the month following discontinuance. If the county finds a recipient had good cause, as defined by the department, it shall rescind the discontinuance notice. Good cause exists only when the recipient cannot reasonably be expected to fulfill his or her reporting responsibilities due to factors outside of the recipient's control. (g) Administrative savings that may be reflected in the Budget Act due to the implementation of semiannual reporting pursuant to the act that added this section shall not exceed the amount necessary to fund the net General Fund costs of the semiannual reporting provisions of that act. Possible additional savings in excess of this amount may only be reflected in the Budget Act to the extent that they are based on actual savings related to the change to semiannual reporting calculated based on data developed in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA). (h) The department, in consultation with the CWDA, shall update the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature as information becomes available regarding the effects upon the program efficiency of implementation of semiannual reporting requirements set forth in Section 11004.1. The update shall be based on data collected by CWDA and select counties. The department, in consultation with CWDA, shall determine the data collection needs required to assess the effects of the semiannual reporting. (i) Counties may establish staggered semiannual reporting cycles for individual recipients, based on factors established or approved by the department, including, but not limited to, application date or case number; however, all recipients within a county must be transitioned to a semiannual reporting system simultaneously. Up to and until the establishment of a countywide semiannual system, counties shall operate a quarterly system, as established by law and regulation applicable immediately prior to the establishment of the semiannual reporting system. (j) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 8. Section 11265.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as amended by Chapter 32 of the Statutes of 2011, is amended to read: 11265.2. (a) The grant amount a recipient shall be entitled to receive for each month of the quarterly reporting period shall be prospectively determined as provided by this section. If a recipient reports that he or she does not anticipate any changes in income during the upcoming quarter, compared to the income the recipient reported actually receiving on the quarterly report form, the grant shall be calculated using the actual income received. If a recipient reports that he or she anticipates a change in income in one or more months of the upcoming quarter, the county shall determine whether the recipient's income is reasonably anticipated. The grant shall be calculated using the income that the county determines is reasonably anticipated in each of the three months of the upcoming quarter. (b) For the purposes of the quarterly reporting, prospective budgeting system, income shall be considered to be "reasonably anticipated" if the county is reasonably certain of the amount of income and that the income will be received during the quarterly reporting period. The county shall determine what income is "reasonably anticipated" based on information provided by the recipient and any other available information. (c) If a recipient reports that his or her income in the upcoming quarter will be different each month and the county needs additional information to determine a recipient's reasonably anticipated income for the following quarter, the county may require the recipient to provide information about income for each month of the prior quarter. (d) Grant calculations pursuant to subdivision (a) may not be revised to adjust the grant amount during the quarterly reporting period, except as provided in Section 11265.3 and subdivisions (e), (f), (g), and (h), and as otherwise established by the department. (e) Notwithstanding subdivision (d), statutes and regulations relating to (1) the 48-month time limit, (2) age limitations for children under Section 11253, and (3) sanctions and financial penalties affecting eligibility or grant amount shall be applicable as provided in those statutes and regulations. Eligibility and grant amount shall be adjusted during the quarterly reporting period pursuant to those statutes and regulations effective with the first monthly grant after timely and adequate notice is provided. (f) Notwithstanding Section 11056, if an applicant applies for assistance for a child who is currently aided in another assistance unit, and the county determines that the applicant has care and control of the child, as specified by the department, and is otherwise eligible, the county shall discontinue aid to the child in the existing assistance unit and shall aid the child in the applicant' s assistance unit effective as of the first of the month following the discontinuance of the child from the existing assistance unit. (g) If the county is notified that a child for whom CalWORKs assistance is currently being paid has been placed in a foster care home, the county shall discontinue aid to the child at the end of the month of placement. The county shall discontinue the case if the remaining assistance unit members are not otherwise eligible. (h) If the county determines that a recipient is no longer a California resident, pursuant to Section 11100, the recipient shall be discontinued. The county shall discontinue the case if the remaining assistance unit members are not otherwise eligible. (i) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until the county certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 9. Section 11265.2 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 11265.2. (a) The grant amount a recipient shall be entitled to receive for each month of the semiannual reporting period shall be prospectively determined as provided by this section. If a recipient reports that he or she does not anticipate any changes in income during the upcoming quarter, compared to the income the recipient reported actually receiving on the semiannual report form, the grant shall be calculated using the actual income received. If a recipient reports that he or she anticipates a change in income in one or more months of the upcoming semiannual period, the county shall determine whether the recipient's income is reasonably anticipated. The grant shall be calculated using the income that the county determines is reasonably anticipated in each of the six months of the upcoming semiannual period. (b) For the purposes of the semiannual reporting, prospective budgeting system, income shall be considered to be "reasonably anticipated" if the county is reasonably certain of the amount of income and that the income will be received during the semiannual reporting period. The county shall determine what income is "reasonably anticipated" based on information provided by the recipient and any other available information. (c) If a recipient reports that his or her income in the upcoming semiannual period will be different each month and the county needs additional information to determine a recipient's reasonably anticipated income for the following semiannual period, the county may require the recipient to provide information about income for each month of the prior semiannual period. (d) Grant calculations pursuant to subdivision (a) may not be revised to adjust the grant amount during the semiannual reporting period, except as provided in Section 11265.3 and subdivisions (e), (f), (g), and (h), and as otherwise established by the department. (e) Notwithstanding subdivision (d), statutes and regulations relating to (1) the 48-month time limit, (2) age limitations for children under Section 11253, and (3) sanctions and financial penalties affecting eligibility or grant amount shall be applicable as provided in those statutes and regulations. Eligibility and grant amount shall be adjusted during the semiannual reporting period pursuant to those statutes and regulations effective with the first monthly grant after timely and adequate notice is provided. (f) Notwithstanding Section 11056, if an applicant applies for assistance for a child who is currently aided in another assistance unit, and the county determines that the applicant has care and control of the child, as specified by the department, and is otherwise eligible, the county shall discontinue aid to the child in the existing assistance unit and shall aid the child in the applicant' s assistance unit effective as of the first of the month following the discontinuance of the child from the existing assistance unit. (g) If the county is notified that a child for whom CalWORKs assistance is currently being paid has been placed in a foster care home, the county shall discontinue aid to the child at the end of the month of placement. The county shall discontinue the case if the remaining assistance unit members are not otherwise eligible. (h) If the county determines that a recipient is no longer a California resident, pursuant to Section 11100, the recipient shall be discontinued. The county shall discontinue the case if the remaining assistance unit members are not otherwise eligible. (i) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 10. Section 11265.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11265.3. (a) In addition to submitting the quarterly report form as required in Section 11265.1, during the quarterly reporting period, a recipient shall report the following changes to the county orally or in writing, within 10 days of the change: (1) The receipt at any time during a quarterly reporting period of income, as provided by the department, in an amount that is likely to render the recipient ineligible, as provided by the department. (2) The occurrence at any time during a quarterly reporting period of a drug felony conviction as specified in Section 11251.3. (3) The occurrence, at any time during a quarterly reporting period, of an individual fleeing prosecution or custody or confinement, or violating a condition of probation or parole as specified in Section 11486.5. (b) Counties shall inform each recipient of the duty to report under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), the consequences of failing to report, and the amount of income likely to render the family ineligible for benefits no less frequently than once per quarter. (c) When a recipient reports income pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) the county shall redetermine eligibility and grant amounts as follows: (1) If the recipient reports a change for the first or second month of a current quarterly reporting period, the county shall verify the report and determine if the recipient is financially ineligible. If the recipient is determined to be financially ineligible based on this income, the county shall discontinue the recipient after timely and adequate notice in accordance with rules applicable to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (2) If the recipient reports a change for the third month of a current quarterly reporting period, the county shall not redetermine eligibility for the current quarterly reporting period, but shall redetermine eligibility and grant amount for the following quarterly reporting period as provided in Section 11265.2. (d) (1) During the quarterly reporting period, a recipient may report to the county, orally or in writing, any changes in income or household circumstances that may increase the recipient's grant. (2) Counties shall act upon changes in income reported during the quarterly reporting period that result in an increase in benefits, after verification specified by the department is received. Reported changes in income that increase the grant shall be effective for the entire month in which the change is reported. If the reported change in income results in an increase in benefits, the county shall issue the increased benefit amount within 10 days of receiving required verification. (3) (A) When a decrease in gross monthly income is voluntarily reported and verified, the county shall redetermine the grant for the current month and any remaining months in the quarterly reporting period by averaging the actual gross monthly income reported and verified from the voluntary report for the current month and the gross monthly income that is reasonably anticipated for any future month remaining in the quarterly reporting period. (B) When the average is determined pursuant to subparagraph (A), and a grant amount is calculated based upon the averaged income, if the grant amount is higher than the grant currently in effect, the county shall revise the grant for the current month and any remaining months in the quarter to the higher amount and shall issue any increased benefit amount as provided in paragraph (2). (4) Except as provided in subdivision (e), counties shall act only upon changes in household composition voluntarily reported by the recipients during the quarterly reporting period that result in an increase in benefits, after verification specified by the department is received. If the reported change in household composition is for the first or second month of the quarterly reporting period and results in an increase in benefits, the county shall redetermine the grant effective for the month following the month in which the change was reported. If the reported change in household composition is for the third month of a quarterly reporting period, the county shall not redetermine the grant for the current quarterly reporting period, but shall redetermine the grant for the following reporting period as provided in Section 11265.2. (e) During the quarterly reporting period, a recipient may request that the county discontinue the recipient's entire assistance unit or any individual member of the assistance unit who is no longer in the home or is an optional member of the assistance unit. If the recipient's request was verbal, the county shall provide a 10-day notice before discontinuing benefits. If the recipient's report was in writing, the county shall discontinue benefits effective the end of the month in which the request is made, and simultaneously issue a notice informing the recipient of the discontinuance. (f) The department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA), shall report to the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature in April 2005 regarding the effects upon program efficiency and integrity of implementation of the midquarter reporting requirement set forth in subdivision (a). The report shall be based on data collected by CWDA and select counties. The department, in consultation with CWDA, shall determine the data collection needs required to assess the effects of the specified midquarter report. (g) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until the county certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 11. Section 11265.3 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 11265.3. (a) In addition to submitting the semiannual report form as required in Section 11265.1, the department shall establish an income reporting threshold for recipients of CalWORKs. (b) The CalWORKs income reporting threshold shall be the lesser of the following: (1) Fifty-five percent of the monthly income for a family of three at the federal poverty level, plus the amount of income last used to calculate the recipient's monthly benefits. (2) The amount likely to render the recipient ineligible for federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. (3) The amount likely to render the recipient ineligible for CalWORKs benefits. (c) A recipient shall report to the county, orally or in writing, within 10 days, when any of the following occurs: (1) The monthly household income exceeds the threshold established pursuant to this section. (2) The household address has changed. (3) A drug felony conviction, as specified in Section 11251.3. (4) An incidence of an individual fleeing prosecution or custody or confinement, or violating a condition of probation or parole, as specified in Section 11486.5. (d) At least once per semiannual reporting period, counties shall inform each recipient of all of the following: (1) The duty to report under this section. (2) The consequences of failing to report. (3) The amount of the recipient's income reporting threshold. (e) When a recipient reports income exceeding the reporting threshold, the county shall redetermine eligibility and the grant amount as follows: (1) If the recipient reports the increase in income for the first through fifth months of a current semiannual reporting period, the county shall verify the report and determine the recipient's financial eligibility and grant amount. (A) If the recipient is determined to be financially ineligible based on the increase in income, the county shall discontinue the recipient with timely and adequate notice, effective at the end of the month in which the income was received. (B) If it is determined that the recipient's grant amount should decrease based on the increase in income, the county shall reduce the recipient's grant amount for the remainder of the semiannual reporting period with timely and adequate notice, effective the first of the month following the month in which the income was received. (2) If the recipient reports an increase in income for the sixth month of a current semiannual reporting period, the county shall not redetermine eligibility for the current semiannual reporting period, but shall consider this income in redetermining eligibility and the grant amount for the following semiannual reporting period, as provided in Section 11265.2. (f) Counties shall act upon changes in income voluntarily reported during the semiannual reporting period that result in an increase in benefits, only after verification specified by the department is received. Reported changes in income that increase the grants shall be effective for the entire month in which the change is reported. If the reported change in income results in an increase in benefits, the county shall issue the increased benefit amount within 10 days of receiving required verification. (g) (1) When a decrease in gross monthly income is voluntarily reported and verified, the county shall redetermine the grant for the current month and any remaining months in the semiannual reporting period by averaging the actual gross monthly income reported and verified from the voluntary report for the current month and the gross monthly income that is reasonably anticipated for any future month remaining in the semiannual reporting period. (2) When the average is determined pursuant to paragraph (1), and a grant amount is calculated based upon the averaged income, if the grant amount is higher than the grant currently in effect, the county shall revise the grant for the current month and any remaining months in the semiannual reporting period to the higher amount and shall issue any increased benefit amount as provided in subdivision (f). (h) During the semiannual reporting period, a recipient may report to the county, orally or in writing, any changes in income and household circumstances that may increase the recipient's grant. Except as provided in subdivision (i), counties shall act only upon changes in household composition voluntarily reported by the recipients during the semiannual reporting period that result in an increase in benefits, after verification specified by the department is received. If the reported change in household composition is for the first through fifth month of the semiannual reporting period and results in an increase in benefits, the county shall redetermine the grant effective for the month following the month in which the change was reported. If the reported change in household composition is for the sixth month of a semiannual reporting period, the county shall not redetermine the grant for the current semiannual reporting period, but shall redetermine the grant for the following reporting period as provided in Section 11265.2. (i) During the semiannual reporting period, a recipient may request that the county discontinue the recipient's entire assistance unit or any individual member of the assistance unit who is no longer in the home or is an optional member of the assistance unit. If the recipient's request was verbal, the county shall provide a 10-day notice before discontinuing benefits. If the recipient's report was in writing, the county shall discontinue benefits effective the end of the month in which the request is made, and simultaneously issue a notice informing the recipient of the discontinuance. (j) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 12. Section 11372 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11372. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the state-funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program implemented under this article is exempt from the provisions of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) of Part 3. (b) Any exemptions exercised pursuant to this section shall be implemented in accordance with Section 11369. SEC. 13. Section 11450 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11450. (a) (1) Aid shall be paid for each needy family, which shall include all eligible brothers and sisters of each eligible applicant or recipient child and the parents of the children, but shall not include unborn children, or recipients of aid under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000), qualified for aid under this chapter. In determining the amount of aid paid, and notwithstanding the minimum basic standards of adequate care specified in Section 11452, the family's income, exclusive of any amounts considered exempt as income or paid pursuant to subdivision (e) or Section 11453.1, averaged for the prospective quarter pursuant to Sections 11265.2 and 11265.3, and then calculated pursuant to Section 11451.5, shall be deducted from the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2). In no case shall the amount of aid paid for each month exceed the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2), plus any special needs, as specified in subdivisions (c), (e), and (f): Number of eligible needy persons in Maximum the same home aid 1.............................. $ 326 2.............................. 535 3.............................. 663 4.............................. 788 5.............................. 899 6.............................. 1,010 7.............................. 1,109 8.............................. 1,209 9.............................. 1,306 10 or more...................... 1,403 If, when, and during those times that the United States government increases or decreases its contributions in assistance of needy children in this state above or below the amount paid on July 1, 1972, the amounts specified in the above table shall be increased or decreased by an amount equal to that increase or decrease by the United States government, provided that no increase or decrease shall be subject to subsequent adjustment pursuant to Section 11453. (2) The sums specified in paragraph (1) shall not be adjusted for cost of living for the 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, and 1997-98 fiscal years, and through October 31, 1998, nor shall that amount be included in the base for calculating any cost-of-living increases for any fiscal year thereafter. Elimination of the cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11453.05, and no further reduction shall be made pursuant to that section. (b) When the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant mother for the month in which the birth is anticipated and for the three-month period immediately prior to the month in which the birth is anticipated in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the mother, and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy shall be required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this subdivision. (1) Aid shall also be paid to a pregnant woman with no other children in the amount which would otherwise be paid to one person under subdivision (a) at any time after verification of pregnancy if the pregnant woman is also eligible for the Cal-Learn Program described in Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 11331) and if the mother, and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. (2) Paragraph (1) shall apply only when the Cal-Learn Program is operative. (c) The amount of forty-seven dollars ($47) per month shall be paid to pregnant mothers qualified for aid under subdivision (a) or (b) to meet special needs resulting from pregnancy if the mother, and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. County welfare departments shall refer all recipients of aid under this subdivision to a local provider of the Women, Infants and Children program. If that payment to pregnant mothers qualified for aid under subdivision (a) is considered income under federal law in the first five months of pregnancy, payments under this subdivision shall not apply to persons eligible under subdivision (a), except for the month in which birth is anticipated and for the three-month period immediately prior to the month in which delivery is anticipated, if the mother, and the child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. (d) For children receiving AFDC-FC under this chapter, there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month which, when added to the child's income, is equal to the rate specified in Section 11460, 11461, 11462, 11462.1, or 11463. In addition, the child shall be eligible for special needs, as specified in departmental regulations. (e) In addition to the amounts payable under subdivision (a) and Section 11453.1, a family shall be entitled to receive an allowance for recurring special needs not common to a majority of recipients. These recurring special needs shall include, but not be limited to, special diets upon the recommendation of a physician for circumstances other than pregnancy, and unusual costs of transportation, laundry, housekeeping services, telephone, and utilities. The recurring special needs allowance for each family per month shall not exceed that amount resulting from multiplying the sum of ten dollars ($10) by the number of recipients in the family who are eligible for assistance. (f) After a family has used all available liquid resources, both exempt and nonexempt, in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), with the exception of funds deposited in a restricted account described in subdivision (a) of Section 11155.2, the family shall also be entitled to receive an allowance for nonrecurring special needs. (1) An allowance for nonrecurring special needs shall be granted for replacement of clothing and household equipment and for emergency housing needs other than those needs addressed by paragraph (2). These needs shall be caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the needy family. The department shall establish the allowance for each of the nonrecurring special need items. The sum of all nonrecurring special needs provided by this subdivision shall not exceed six hundred dollars ($600) per event. (2) Homeless assistance is available to a homeless family seeking shelter when the family is eligible for aid under this chapter. Homeless assistance for temporary shelter is also available to homeless families which are apparently eligible for aid under this chapter. Apparent eligibility exists when evidence presented by the applicant, or which is otherwise available to the county welfare department, and the information provided on the application documents indicate that there would be eligibility for aid under this chapter if the evidence and information were verified. However, an alien applicant who does not provide verification of his or her eligible alien status, or a woman with no eligible children who does not provide medical verification of pregnancy, is not apparently eligible for purposes of this section. A family is considered homeless, for the purpose of this section, when the family lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence; or the family has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; or the family is residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. A family is also considered homeless for the purpose of this section if the family has received a notice to pay rent or quit. The family shall demonstrate that the eviction is the result of a verified financial hardship as a result of extraordinary circumstances beyond their control, and not other lease or rental violations, and that the family is experiencing a financial crisis that could result in homelessness if preventative assistance is not provided. (A) (i) A nonrecurring special need of sixty-five dollars ($65) a day shall be available to families of up to four members for the costs of temporary shelter, subject to the requirements of this paragraph. The fifth and additional members of the family shall each receive fifteen dollars ($15) per day, up to a daily maximum of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125). County welfare departments may increase the daily amount available for temporary shelter as necessary to secure the additional bedspace needed by the family. (ii) This special need shall be granted or denied immediately upon the family's application for homeless assistance, and benefits shall be available for up to three working days. The county welfare department shall verify the family's homelessness within the first three working days and if the family meets the criteria of questionable homelessness established by the department, the county welfare department shall refer the family to its early fraud prevention and detection unit, if the county has such a unit, for assistance in the verification of homelessness within this period. (iii) After homelessness has been verified, the three-day limit shall be extended for a period of time which, when added to the initial benefits provided, does not exceed a total of 16 calendar days. This extension of benefits shall be done in increments of one week and shall be based upon searching for permanent housing which shall be documented on a housing search form; good cause; or other circumstances defined by the department. Documentation of a housing search shall be required for the initial extension of benefits beyond the three-day limit and on a weekly basis thereafter as long as the family is receiving temporary shelter benefits. Good cause shall include, but is not limited to, situations in which the county welfare department has determined that the family, to the extent it is capable, has made a good faith but unsuccessful effort to secure permanent housing while receiving temporary shelter benefits. (B) A nonrecurring special need for permanent housing assistance is available to pay for last month's rent and security deposits when these payments are reasonable conditions of securing a residence, or to pay for up to two months of rent arrearages, when these payments are a reasonable condition of preventing eviction. The last month's rent or monthly arrearage portion of the payment (i) shall not exceed 80 percent of the family's total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs for a family of that size and (ii) shall only be made to families that have found permanent housing costing no more than 80 percent of the family's total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs for a family of that size. However, if the county welfare department determines that a family intends to reside with individuals who will be sharing housing costs, the county welfare department shall, in appropriate circumstances, set aside the condition specified in clause (ii) of the preceding paragraph. (C) The nonrecurring special need for permanent housing assistance is also available to cover the standard costs of deposits for utilities which are necessary for the health and safety of the family. (D) A payment for or denial of permanent housing assistance shall be issued no later than one working day from the time that a family presents evidence of the availability of permanent housing. If an applicant family provides evidence of the availability of permanent housing before the county welfare department has established eligibility for aid under this chapter, the county welfare department shall complete the eligibility determination so that the denial of or payment for permanent housing assistance is issued within one working day from the submission of evidence of the availability of permanent housing, unless the family has failed to provide all of the verification necessary to establish eligibility for aid under this chapter. (E) (i) Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), eligibility for the temporary shelter assistance and the permanent housing assistance pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to one period of up to 16 consecutive calendar days of temporary assistance and one payment of permanent assistance. Any family that includes a parent or nonparent caretaker relative living in the home who has previously received temporary or permanent homeless assistance at any time on behalf of an eligible child shall not be eligible for further homeless assistance. Any person who applies for homeless assistance benefits shall be informed that the temporary shelter benefit of up to 16 consecutive days is available only once in a lifetime, with certain exceptions, and that a break in the consecutive use of the benefit constitutes permanent exhaustion of the temporary benefit. (ii) A family that becomes homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared natural disaster shall be eligible for temporary and permanent homeless assistance. (iii) A family shall be eligible for temporary and permanent homeless assistance when homelessness is a direct result of domestic violence by a spouse, partner, or roommate; physical or mental illness that is medically verified that shall not include a diagnosis of alcoholism, drug addiction, or psychological stress; or the uninhabitability of the former residence caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the family including natural catastrophe, fire, or condemnation. These circumstances shall be verified by a third-party governmental or private health and human services agency, except that domestic violence may also be verified by a sworn statement by the victim, as provided under Section 11495.25. Homeless assistance payments based on these specific circumstances may not be received more often than once in any 12-month period. In addition, if the domestic violence is verified by a sworn statement by the victim, the homeless assistance payments shall be limited to two periods of not more than 16 consecutive calendar days of temporary assistance and two payments of permanent assistance. A county may require that a recipient of homeless assistance benefits who qualifies under this paragraph for a second time in a 24-month period participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan as a condition of eligibility for homeless assistance benefits. The county welfare department shall immediately inform recipients who verify domestic violence by a sworn statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the availability of domestic violence counseling and services, and refer those recipients to services upon request. (iv) If a county requires a recipient who verifies domestic violence by a sworn statement to participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan pursuant to clause (iii), the plan shall include the provision of domestic violence services, if appropriate. (v) If a recipient seeking homeless assistance based on domestic violence pursuant to clause (iii) has previously received homeless avoidance services based on domestic violence, the county shall review whether services were offered to the recipient and consider what additional services would assist the recipient in leaving the domestic violence situation. (vi) The county welfare department shall report to the department through a statewide homeless assistance payment indicator system, necessary data, as requested by the department, regarding all recipients of aid under this paragraph. (F) The county welfare departments, and all other entities participating in the costs of the AFDC program, have the right in their share to any refunds resulting from payment of the permanent housing. However, if an emergency requires the family to move within the 12-month period specified in subparagraph (E), the family shall be allowed to use any refunds received from its deposits to meet the costs of moving to another residence. (G) Payments to providers for temporary shelter and permanent housing and utilities shall be made on behalf of families requesting these payments. (H) The daily amount for the temporary shelter special need for homeless assistance may be increased if authorized by the current year's Budget Act by specifying a different daily allowance and appropriating the funds therefor. (I) No payment shall be made pursuant to this paragraph unless the provider of housing is a commercial establishment, shelter, or person in the business of renting properties who has a history of renting properties. (g) The department shall establish rules and regulations ensuring the uniform application statewide of this subdivision. (h) The department shall notify all applicants and recipients of aid through the standardized application form that these benefits are available and shall provide an opportunity for recipients to apply for the funds quickly and efficiently. (i) Except for the purposes of Section 15200, the amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute part of the payment schedule set forth in subdivision (a). The amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute income to recipients of aid under this section. (j) For children receiving Kin-GAP pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 11360) or Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 11385) there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month, which, when added to the child's income, is equal to the rate specified in Sections 11364 and 11387. (k) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until the county certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 14. Section 11450 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 11450. (a) (1) Aid shall be paid for each needy family, which shall include all eligible brothers and sisters of each eligible applicant or recipient child and the parents of the children, but shall not include unborn children, or recipients of aid under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000), qualified for aid under this chapter. In determining the amount of aid paid, and notwithstanding the minimum basic standards of adequate care specified in Section 11452, the family's income, exclusive of any amounts considered exempt as income or paid pursuant to subdivision (e) or Section 11453.1, determined for the prospective semiannual period pursuant to Sections 11265.2 and 11265.3, and then calculated pursuant to Section 11451.5, shall be deducted from the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2). In no case shall the amount of aid paid for each month exceed the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2), plus any special needs, as specified in subdivisions (c), (e), and (f): Number of eligible needy persons in Maximum the same home aid 1.............................. $ 326 2.............................. 535 3.............................. 663 4.............................. 788 5.............................. 899 6.............................. 1,010 7.............................. 1,109 8.............................. 1,209 9.............................. 1,306 10 or more...................... 1,403 If, when, and during those times that the United States government increases or decreases its contributions in assistance of needy children in this state above or below the amount paid on July 1, 1972, the amounts specified in the above table shall be increased or decreased by an amount equal to that increase or decrease by the United States government, provided that no increase or decrease shall be subject to subsequent adjustment pursuant to Section 11453. (2) The sums specified in paragraph (1) shall not be adjusted for cost of living for the 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, and 1997-98 fiscal years, and through October 31, 1998, nor shall that amount be included in the base for calculating any cost-of-living increases for any fiscal year thereafter. Elimination of the cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the requirements of Section 11453.05, and no further reduction shall be made pursuant to that section. (b) When the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant mother for the month in which the birth is anticipated and for the three-month period immediately prior to the month in which the birth is anticipated in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the mother, and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy shall be required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this subdivision. (1) Aid shall also be paid to a pregnant woman with no other children in the amount which would otherwise be paid to one person under subdivision (a) at any time after verification of pregnancy if the pregnant woman is also eligible for the Cal-Learn Program described in Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 11331) and if the mother, and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. (2) Paragraph (1) shall apply only when the Cal-Learn Program is operative. (c) The amount of forty-seven dollars ($47) per month shall be paid to pregnant mothers qualified for aid under subdivision (a) or (b) to meet special needs resulting from pregnancy if the mother, and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. County welfare departments shall refer all recipients of aid under this subdivision to a local provider of the Women, Infants and Children program. If that payment to pregnant mothers qualified for aid under subdivision (a) is considered income under federal law in the first five months of pregnancy, payments under this subdivision shall not apply to persons eligible under subdivision (a), except for the month in which birth is anticipated and for the three-month period immediately prior to the month in which delivery is anticipated, if the mother, and the child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. (d) For children receiving AFDC-FC under this chapter, there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month which, when added to the child's income, is equal to the rate specified in Section 11460, 11461, 11462, 11462.1, or 11463. In addition, the child shall be eligible for special needs, as specified in departmental regulations. (e) In addition to the amounts payable under subdivision (a) and Section 11453.1, a family shall be entitled to receive an allowance for recurring special needs not common to a majority of recipients. These recurring special needs shall include, but not be limited to, special diets upon the recommendation of a physician for circumstances other than pregnancy, and unusual costs of transportation, laundry, housekeeping services, telephone, and utilities. The recurring special needs allowance for each family per month shall not exceed that amount resulting from multiplying the sum of ten dollars ($10) by the number of recipients in the family who are eligible for assistance. (f) After a family has used all available liquid resources, both exempt and nonexempt, in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), with the exception of funds deposited in a restricted account described in subdivision (a) of Section 11155.2, the family shall also be entitled to receive an allowance for nonrecurring special needs. (1) An allowance for nonrecurring special needs shall be granted for replacement of clothing and household equipment and for emergency housing needs other than those needs addressed by paragraph (2). These needs shall be caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the needy family. The department shall establish the allowance for each of the nonrecurring special need items. The sum of all nonrecurring special needs provided by this subdivision shall not exceed six hundred dollars ($600) per event. (2) Homeless assistance is available to a homeless family seeking shelter when the family is eligible for aid under this chapter. Homeless assistance for temporary shelter is also available to homeless families which are apparently eligible for aid under this chapter. Apparent eligibility exists when evidence presented by the applicant, or which is otherwise available to the county welfare department, and the information provided on the application documents indicate that there would be eligibility for aid under this chapter if the evidence and information were verified. However, an alien applicant who does not provide verification of his or her eligible alien status, or a woman with no eligible children who does not provide medical verification of pregnancy, is not apparently eligible for purposes of this section. A family is considered homeless, for the purpose of this section, when the family lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence; or the family has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; or the family is residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. A family is also considered homeless for the purpose of this section if the family has received a notice to pay rent or quit. The family shall demonstrate that the eviction is the result of a verified financial hardship as a result of extraordinary circumstances beyond their control, and not other lease or rental violations, and that the family is experiencing a financial crisis that could result in homelessness if preventative assistance is not provided. (A) (i) A nonrecurring special need of sixty-five dollars ($65) a day shall be available to families of up to four members for the costs of temporary shelter, subject to the requirements of this paragraph. The fifth and additional members of the family shall each receive fifteen dollars ($15) per day, up to a daily maximum of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125). County welfare departments may increase the daily amount available for temporary shelter as necessary to secure the additional bedspace needed by the family. (ii) This special need shall be granted or denied immediately upon the family's application for homeless assistance, and benefits shall be available for up to three working days. The county welfare department shall verify the family's homelessness within the first three working days and if the family meets the criteria of questionable homelessness established by the department, the county welfare department shall refer the family to its early fraud prevention and detection unit, if the county has such a unit, for assistance in the verification of homelessness within this period. (iii) After homelessness has been verified, the three-day limit shall be extended for a period of time which, when added to the initial benefits provided, does not exceed a total of 16 calendar days. This extension of benefits shall be done in increments of one week and shall be based upon searching for permanent housing which shall be documented on a housing search form; good cause; or other circumstances defined by the department. Documentation of a housing search shall be required for the initial extension of benefits beyond the three-day limit and on a weekly basis thereafter as long as the family is receiving temporary shelter benefits. Good cause shall include, but is not limited to, situations in which the county welfare department has determined that the family, to the extent it is capable, has made a good faith but unsuccessful effort to secure permanent housing while receiving temporary shelter benefits. (B) A nonrecurring special need for permanent housing assistance is available to pay for last month's rent and security deposits when these payments are reasonable conditions of securing a residence, or to pay for up to two months of rent arrearages, when these payments are a reasonable condition of preventing eviction. The last month's rent or monthly arrearage portion of the payment (i) shall not exceed 80 percent of the family's total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs for a family of that size and (ii) shall only be made to families that have found permanent housing costing no more than 80 percent of the family's total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs for a family of that size. However, if the county welfare department determines that a family intends to reside with individuals who will be sharing housing costs, the county welfare department shall, in appropriate circumstances, set aside the condition specified in clause (ii) of the preceding paragraph. (C) The nonrecurring special need for permanent housing assistance is also available to cover the standard costs of deposits for utilities which are necessary for the health and safety of the family. (D) A payment for or denial of permanent housing assistance shall be issued no later than one working day from the time that a family presents evidence of the availability of permanent housing. If an applicant family provides evidence of the availability of permanent housing before the county welfare department has established eligibility for aid under this chapter, the county welfare department shall complete the eligibility determination so that the denial of or payment for permanent housing assistance is issued within one working day from the submission of evidence of the availability of permanent housing, unless the family has failed to provide all of the verification necessary to establish eligibility for aid under this chapter. (E) (i) Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), eligibility for the temporary shelter assistance and the permanent housing assistance pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to one period of up to 16 consecutive calendar days of temporary assistance and one payment of permanent assistance. Any family that includes a parent or nonparent caretaker relative living in the home who has previously received temporary or permanent homeless assistance at any time on behalf of an eligible child shall not be eligible for further homeless assistance. Any person who applies for homeless assistance benefits shall be informed that the temporary shelter benefit of up to 16 consecutive days is available only once in a lifetime, with certain exceptions, and that a break in the consecutive use of the benefit constitutes permanent exhaustion of the temporary benefit. (ii) A family that becomes homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared natural disaster shall be eligible for temporary and permanent homeless assistance. (iii) A family shall be eligible for temporary and permanent homeless assistance when homelessness is a direct result of domestic violence by a spouse, partner, or roommate; physical or mental illness that is medically verified that shall not include a diagnosis of alcoholism, drug addiction, or psychological stress; or, the uninhabitability of the former residence caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the family including natural catastrophe, fire, or condemnation. These circumstances shall be verified by a third-party governmental or private health and human services agency, except that domestic violence may also be verified by a sworn statement by the victim, as provided under Section 11495.25. Homeless assistance payments based on these specific circumstances may not be received more often than once in any 12-month period. In addition, if the domestic violence is verified by a sworn statement by the victim, the homeless assistance payments shall be limited to two periods of not more than 16 consecutive calendar days of temporary assistance and two payments of permanent assistance. A county may require that a recipient of homeless assistance benefits who qualifies under this paragraph for a second time in a 24-month period participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan as a condition of eligibility for homeless assistance benefits. The county welfare department shall immediately inform recipients who verify domestic violence by a sworn statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the availability of domestic violence counseling and services, and refer those recipients to services upon request. (iv) If a county requires a recipient who verifies domestic violence by a sworn statement to participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan pursuant to clause (iii), the plan shall include the provision of domestic violence services, if appropriate. (v) If a recipient seeking homeless assistance based on domestic violence pursuant to clause (iii) has previously received homeless avoidance services based on domestic violence, the county shall review whether services were offered to the recipient and consider what additional services would assist the recipient in leaving the domestic violence situation. (vi) The county welfare department shall report to the department through a statewide homeless assistance payment indicator system, necessary data, as requested by the department, regarding all recipients of aid under this paragraph. (F) The county welfare departments, and all other entities participating in the costs of the AFDC program, have the right in their share to any refunds resulting from payment of the permanent housing. However, if an emergency requires the family to move within the 12-month period specified in subparagraph (E), the family shall be allowed to use any refunds received from its deposits to meet the costs of moving to another residence. (G) Payments to providers for temporary shelter and permanent housing and utilities shall be made on behalf of families requesting these payments. (H) The daily amount for the temporary shelter special need for homeless assistance may be increased if authorized by the current year's Budget Act by specifying a different daily allowance and appropriating the funds therefor. (I) No payment shall be made pursuant to this paragraph unless the provider of housing is a commercial establishment, shelter, or person in the business of renting properties who has a history of renting properties. (g) The department shall establish rules and regulations ensuring the uniform application statewide of this subdivision. (h) The department shall notify all applicants and recipients of aid through the standardized application form that these benefits are available and shall provide an opportunity for recipients to apply for the funds quickly and efficiently. (i) Except for the purposes of Section 15200, the amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute part of the payment schedule set forth in subdivision (a). The amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute income to recipients of aid under this section. (j) For children receiving Kin-GAP pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 11360) or Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 11385) there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month, which, when added to the child's income, is equal to the rate specified in Sections 11364 and 11387. (k) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 15. Section 11450.12 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11450.12. (a) An applicant family shall not be eligible for aid under this chapter unless the family's income, exclusive of the first ninety dollars ($90) of earned income for each employed person, is less than the minimum basic standard of adequate care, as specified in Section 11452. (b) A recipient family shall not be eligible for further aid under this chapter if reasonably anticipated income, less exempt income, averaged over the quarter pursuant to Sections 11265.2 and 11265.3, and exclusive of amounts exempt under Section 11451.5, equals or exceeds the maximum aid payment specified in Section 11450. (c) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until the county certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 16. Section 11450.12 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 11450.12. (a) An applicant family shall not be eligible for aid under this chapter unless the family's income, exclusive of the first ninety dollars ($90) of earned income for each employed person, is less than the minimum basic standard of adequate care, as specified in Section 11452. (b) A recipient family shall not be eligible for further aid under this chapter if reasonably anticipated income, less exempt income, determined for the semiannual period pursuant to Sections 11265.2 and 11265.3, and exclusive of amounts exempt under Section 11451.5, equals or exceeds the maximum aid payment specified in Section 11450. (c) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 17. Section 11450.13 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11450.13. (a) In calculating the amount of aid to which an assistance unit is entitled in accordance with Section 11320.15, the maximum aid payment, adjusted to reflect the removal of the adult or adults from the assistance unit, shall be reduced by the gross income of the adult or adults removed from the assistance unit, averaged over the quarter pursuant to Sections 11265.2 and 11265.3, and less any amounts exempted pursuant to Section 11451.5. Aid may be provided in the form of cash or vouchers, at the option of the county. (b) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until the county certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 18. Section 11450.13 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 11450.13. (a) In calculating the amount of aid to which an assistance unit is entitled in accordance with Section 11320.15, the maximum aid payment, adjusted to reflect the removal of the adult or adults from the assistance unit, shall be reduced by the gross income of the adult or adults removed from the assistance unit, determined for the semiannual period pursuant to Sections 11265.2 and 11265.3, and less any amounts exempted pursuant to Section 11451.5. Aid may be provided in the form of cash or vouchers, at the option of the county. (b) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 19. Section 11451.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11451.5. (a) Except as provided by subdivision (f) of Section 11322.6, the following income, averaged over the quarter pursuant to Sections 11265.2 and 11265.3, shall be exempt from the calculation of the income of the family for purposes of subdivision (a) of Section 11450: (1) If disability-based unearned income does not exceed two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), both of the following amounts: (A) All disability-based unearned income, plus any amount of not otherwise exempt earned income not in excess of the lesser of the following: (i) One hundred twelve dollars ($112). (ii) The amount of the difference between the amount of disability-based unearned income and two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225). (B) Fifty percent of all not otherwise exempt earned income in excess of the amount applied to meet the differential applied in subparagraph (A). (2) If disability-based unearned income exceeds two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), both of the following amounts: (A) All of the first two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225) in disability-based unearned income. (B) Fifty percent of all earned income. (b) For purposes of this section: (1) Earned income means gross income received as wages, salary, employer-provided sick leave benefits, commissions, or profits from activities such as a business enterprise or farming in which the recipient is engaged as a self-employed individual or as an employee. (2) Disability-based unearned income means state disability insurance benefits, private disability insurance benefits, temporary workers' compensation benefits, and social security disability benefits. (3) Unearned income means any income not described in paragraph (1) or (2). (c) This section shall become operative on the first day of the first month following 90 days after the effective date of the act that added this section, or June 1, 2011, whichever is later. (d) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until the county certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 20. Section 11451.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 11451.5. (a) Except as provided by subdivision (f) of Section 11322.6, the following income, determined for the semiannual period pursuant to Sections 11265.2 and 11265.3, shall be exempt from the calculation of the income of the family for purposes of subdivision (a) of Section 11450: (1) If disability-based unearned income does not exceed two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), both of the following amounts: (A) All disability-based unearned income, plus any amount of not otherwise exempt earned income not in excess of the lesser of the following: (i) One hundred twelve dollars ($112). (ii) The amount of the difference between the amount of disability-based unearned income and two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225). (B) Fifty percent of all not otherwise exempt earned income in excess of the amount applied to meet the differential applied in subparagraph (A). (2) If disability-based unearned income exceeds two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225), both of the following amounts: (A) All of the first two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225) in disability-based unearned income. (B) Fifty percent of all earned income. (b) For purposes of this section: (1) Earned income means gross income received as wages, salary, employer-provided sick leave benefits, commissions, or profits from activities such as a business enterprise or farming in which the recipient is engaged as a self-employed individual or as an employee. (2) Disability-based unearned income means state disability insurance benefits, private disability insurance benefits, temporary workers' compensation benefits, and social security disability benefits. (3) Unearned income means any income not described in paragraph (1) or (2). (c) This section shall become operative on the first day of the first month following 90 days after the effective date of the act that added this section, or June 1, 2011, whichever is later. (d) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 21. Section 18901.2 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 18901.2. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to create a program in California that provides a nominal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) service benefit, through the LIHEAP block grant, to all recipient households of CalFresh so that they are made aware of services available under LIHEAP and so that some households may experience an increase in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, as well as benefit from paperwork reduction. (b) To the extent permitted by federal law, the State Department of Social Services (DSS) shall, in conjunction with the Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), design, implement, and maintain a utility assistance initiative: the "Heat and Eat" program. (1) The nominal LIHEAP service benefit shall be funded through the LIHEAP block grant provided by the CSD to the DSS upon receipt by the CSD of the LIHEAP block grant funds from the federal funding authorities. (2) The total amount transferred shall be the product of the nominal LIHEAP service benefit established by the CSD in the LIHEAP state plan multiplied by the number of CalFresh recipient households as agreed upon annually by the CSD and the DSS. (3) Should the demand for the nominal LIHEAP service benefit exceed allocated funding established by the CSD in the LIHEAP state plan, the CSD and the DSS shall report to the Legislature and develop a plan to maintain the program as intended. (4) The total amount transferred shall be reduced by any unexpended or reinvested amounts remaining from prior transfers for the nominal LIHEAP service benefits as provided in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c). (c) In implementing and maintaining the utility assistance initiative, the State Department of Social Services shall do all of the following: (1) (A) Grant all recipient households of CalFresh benefits pursuant to this chapter a nominal LIHEAP service benefit out of the federal LIHEAP block grant (42 U.S.C. Sec. 8261 et seq.). (B) In establishing the nominal LIHEAP service benefit amount, the department shall take into consideration that the benefit level need not provide significant utility assistance. (C) Any funds allocated for this purpose not expended by CalFresh recipient households shall be recouped through the "Heat and Eat" program and reinvested into the program on an annual basis as determined by both departments. (2) Provide the nominal LIHEAP service benefit without requiring the applicant or recipient to provide additional paperwork or verification. (3) To the extent permitted by federal law and to the extent federal funds are available, provide the nominal LIHEAP service benefit annually to each recipient of CalFresh benefits. (4) Deliver the nominal LIHEAP service benefit using the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system or other nonpaper delivery system. (5) Ensure that receipt of the nominal LIHEAP service benefit pursuant to this section shall not disqualify the applicant or recipient of CalFresh benefits from receiving other nominal LIHEAP service benefits or other utility benefits for which they qualify. (d) Recipients of the nominal LIHEAP service benefit pursuant to this section shall remain subject to the additional eligibility requirements for LIHEAP assistance as outlined in the California LIHEAP state plan, developed by the CSD. (e) To the extent permitted by federal law, a CalFresh household receiving or anticipating receipt of nominal LIHEAP service benefits pursuant to the utility assistance initiative or any other law shall be entitled to use the full standard utility allowance (SUA) for the purposes of calculating CalFresh benefits. A CalFresh household shall be entitled to use the full SUA regardless of whether the nominal LIHEAP service benefit is actually redeemed. (f) The department shall implement the initiative by January 1, 2013. SEC. 22. Section 18901.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 18901.4. (a) Effective July 1, 2010, the department shall propose a Transitional Food Stamps for Foster Youth demonstration project under which independent foster care adolescents, as defined in Section 1905(w)(1) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396d(w)(1)) who are not eligible for CalWORKs or Supplemental Security Income program benefits, shall be eligible without regard to income or resources, subject to federal law authorizing demonstration projects pursuant to Section 2011 and following of Title 7 of the United States Code. (b) An individual eligible for the program proposed pursuant to this section shall receive the maximum benefit amount allotted for a household size of one for the initial certification period, which shall remain constant for the entirety of the initial certification period. The food stamp case shall be established and maintained in the county of jurisdiction designated by the terminating foster care case. (c) The demonstration project proposed pursuant to this section shall maximize access to benefits and minimize interim reporting requirements during the certification period. (d) Not later than March 1, 2010, the department shall seek all necessary federal approvals to implement this section as a demonstration project for these beneficiaries. This section shall be implemented only to the extent that federal financial participation is available. (e) The department shall implement this section by an all-county letter (ACL) or similar instruction from the director and shall adopt regulations as otherwise necessary to implement this section no later than January 1, 2011. SEC. 23. Section 18910 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 18910. (a) To the extent permitted by federal law, regulations, waivers, and directives, the department shall implement the prospective budgeting, quarterly reporting system provided in Sections 11265.1, 11265.2, and 11265.3, and related provisions regarding CalFresh, in a cost-effective manner that promotes compatibility between the CalWORKs program and CalFresh, and minimizes the potential for payment errors. (b) The department shall seek all necessary waivers from the United States Department of Agriculture to implement subdivision (a). (c) (1) A county shall comply with the quarterly reporting provisions of this section until the county certifies to the director that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (2) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2013, and, as of January 1, 2014, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2014, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. SEC. 24. Section 18910 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 18910. (a) To the extent permitted by federal law, regulations, waivers, and directives, the department shall implement the prospective budgeting, semiannual reporting system provided in Sections 11265.1, 11265.2, and 11265.3, and related provisions, regarding CalFresh, in a cost-effective manner that promotes compatibility between the CalWORKs program and CalFresh, and minimizes the potential for payment errors. (b) For CalFresh recipients who also are Medi-Cal beneficiaries and who are subject to the Medi-Cal midyear status reporting requirements, counties shall seek to align the timing of reports required under this section with midyear status reports required by the Medi-Cal program. (c) The department shall seek all necessary waivers from the United States Department of Agriculture to implement subdivision (a). (d) Counties may establish staggered, semiannual reporting cycles for individual households, based on factors established or approved by the department, including, but not limited to, application date or case number; however, all households within a county must be transitioned to a semiannual reporting system simultaneously. Up to and until the establishment of a countywide semiannual reporting system, a county shall operate a quarterly system, as established by law and regulation. (e) The requirement of subdivision (h) of Section 11265.1 shall apply to the implementation of this section. (f) (1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added this section no later than October 1, 2013. (2) Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county. (3) Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section. SEC. 25. (a) 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 and administer the changes made by this act through all-county letters or similar instructions from the director until regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt emergency regulations implementing these provisions no later than July 1, 2013. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, any emergency regulation previously adopted under this section. (b) The initial adoption of regulations pursuant to this section and one readoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted. SEC. 26. The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. SEC. 27. No appropriation pursuant to Section 15200 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall be made for purposes of this act. SEC. 28. 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.