Amended in Assembly March 21, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 832

Introduced by Assembly Member Weber

February 21, 2013

An act begin insert to add Section 10072.2 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, end insert relating to public social services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 832, as amended, Weber. begin delete CalFresh. end delete begin insert Electronic benefits transfer cards: state college campuses. end insert

Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which nutrition assistance benefits, formerly referred to as food stamps, are allocated to each state by the federal government for the purchase of certain eligible foods at approved retail food stores. begin delete Under existing state law, pursuant to CalFresh, California’s federal allocation is distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law authorizes a county to deliver CalFresh benefits through the use of an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system and also prohibits recipients from purchasing certain items with their CalFresh benefits. end delete

begin insert

Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families.

end insert begin insert

Existing law permits a county to elect to deliver CalWORKs and SNAP benefits through the use of an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system. Existing law specifies criteria for the development and administration of the EBT system, including issuance to a recipient of an EBT card.

end insert

This bill would begin delete state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would allow the use of a CalFresh electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card on a college or university campus for the purchase of food. end delete begin insert require all convenience stores and bookstores on any campus of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges to accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards. The bill would also make related legislative findings and declarations. end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert . State-mandated local program: no.

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

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following: end insert

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(a) Participation in the California Work Opportunity and
Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program and the federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in
California as CalFresh, has increased in recent years. From July
2007 through June 2012, CalWORKs enrollment increased by
24.37 percent. From July 2007 through October 2012, CalFresh
enrollment has more than doubled. As of February 2013, the
CalFresh caseload includes 1.8 million households. College
students enrolled in state colleges and universities are a group
that benefits from both programs.

end insert begin insert

(b) Benefits under both programs are accessible with the use
of an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. EBT cards are
accepted at point of service machines and ATMs at many retailers,
including grocery stores, convenience stores, and gas stations.
However, EBT cards are not currently accepted at convenience
stores or bookstores on college and university campuses.

end insert begin insert

(c) When student EBT card holders are denied accessibility on
campus, they must either travel off campus to find another retailer
or locate an ATM for cash where they are usually issued a
surcharge for the transaction. The surcharge forces the goods to
cost more and takes away benefits that could be used on other
necessities. According to the Department of Social Services, the
annual amount of surcharges and fees paid by CalWORKs
recipients to withdraw basic need grants is approximately $20
million. Allowing low-income students to use their EBT cards on
campus will allow them to save their benefits and time.

end insert begin insert

(d) CalFresh benefits on an EBT card may only be used for food
support. By allowing the students to use these benefits on campus,
students would be able to acquire healthy meals and snacks, which
may benefit their well-being and have a positive effect on their
grades since their bodies and brains would be nourished.

end insert begin insert

(e) State college and university campus participation in the EBT
system will benefit those institutions by allowing them to acquire
a new form of revenue to assist with their budget and will not be
a cost to them since retailers may obtain free state-provided EBT
equipment. It would also eliminate discrimination at campuses
against low-income students who have previously been denied
access to their benefits because of the way the benefits are
distributed.

end insert begin insert

(f) California state colleges and universities are comprised of
a diverse class of students who utilize various methods to cover
financial obligations on campus. It is vital to require the state’s
public higher education institutions to accept the use of EBT cards
on their campuses to allow students to purchase food at campus
convenience stores and other necessary items for their well-being
at campus bookstores.

end insert

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begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 10072.2 is added to the end insert begin insert Welfare and Institutions
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 10072.2. end insert   

All convenience stores and bookstores located on any
campus of the University of California, the California State
University, and the California Community Colleges shall accept
the use of electronic benefits transfer cards.

end insert

begin delete

SECTION 1.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would allow the use of a CalFresh electronic benefit
transfer (EBT) card on a college or university campus for the
purchase of food.

end delete