BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 134
Author: Hueso (D)
Amended: 5/28/13
Vote: 21
SENATE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE : 6-0, 4/23/13
AYES: Yee, Berryhill, Emmerson, Evans, Liu, Wright
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 5/6/13
AYES: De León, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
SUBJECT : CalFresh eligibility
SOURCE : MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
DIGEST : This bill requires participating counties to exempt
from the CalFresh Employment and Training (CalFresh E&T) program
a veteran who has been honorably discharged from the United
States Armed Forces. This bill requires, in a county that
elects to participate in the program, that a veteran applying
for CalFresh benefits who is required to register to work, but
who is exempt from placement in the CalFresh E&T program, be
provided with a referral to local veterans' assistance and job
training agencies and given the opportunity to participate as a
volunteer in the CalFresh E&T program.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
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1. Establishes under federal law the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of
1964.
2. Establishes in California statute the Cal Fresh program to
administer the provision of federal SNAP benefits to families
and individuals meeting specified criteria.
3. Establishes in federal law income eligibility standards that
define participants as those whose incomes are determined to
be a substantial limiting factor in permitting them to obtain
a more nutritious diet, as specified. Permits some forms of
assistance to be excluded from the calculation of income for
the purposes of eligibility for SNAP.
4. Prohibits the exclusion of third-party payments to a
household for the purpose of income calculation.
5. DSS to apply for federal waivers to implement various
exemptions to federal SNAP requirements, as specified.
6. Establishes in California law the CalFresh E&T program,
pursuant to federal law, which requires participating
counties to screen CalFresh applicants to determine whether
they will participate in a work training program, as
specified.
7. Permits counties to defer from placing participants in the
CalFresh E&T program who reside in a federally determined
work surplus area.
This bill
1. Establishes legislative intent to limit barriers to food
assistance for low-income veterans and their families, to
increase referrals to veteran-oriented job training programs,
and to work with the federal government to remove barriers to
food assistance for military families.
2. Adds to the exemptions for CalFresh E&T, a veteran who has
been honorably discharged from the United States Armed
Forces.
3. Requires, in a county that elects to participate in the
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CalFresh E&T program, a veteran applying for CalFresh
benefits who is required to register to work, but who is
exempt from mandatory placement in the CalFresh E&T program,
as defined, to be provided with a referral to local veterans'
assistance and job training agencies and be given the
opportunity to participate as a volunteer in the CalFresh E&T
program.
Background
SNAP and CalFresh . Approximately 1.8 million households, or
nearly four million low-income Californians, receive CalFresh
benefits. CalFresh benefits are 100% funded by the federal SNAP
program, although administrative costs are shared by the federal
government, state and counties. In 2011, the average benefit
amount received per household was about $315 per month per
family, and the average recipient family size was 2.3 people.
More than one in five recipients received income from job
earnings.
Income eligibility . To qualify for CalFresh benefits, a
recipient must meet both gross and net income eligibility.
Gross income includes all income from any source including
earned income and all unearned income, as defined in federal
code (with specified exemptions discussed below). The maximum
gross income that is allowed is 130% of the federal poverty
level or 165% of the federal poverty level if the household has
an elderly or disabled person.
Military Housing Allowances and Basic Sustenance . California
had 117,806 active duty service members in 2009, according to US
Census Data information. Active service members can either
receive housing and food on base, or, if housing is not
available, they can receive a stipend from the U.S. military to
pay for off-base housing. This is more common among active
military members with families. The Basic Allowance for Housing
is calculated either for single military members, or for those
with dependents, regardless of the number of dependents.
Housing allowance is determined by ZIP code.
CalFresh E&T . To qualify for CalFresh benefits, households must
meet income tests, and some households must meet specified work
requirements. SNAP requires all recipients, unless exempted by
law, to register for work at the appropriate employment office,
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participate in an employment and training program if assigned by
a state or local administering agency, and accept an offer of
suitable employment. CalFresh E&T is a voluntary program for
counties, but should a county choose to implement the program,
those participants who are deemed eligible must participate in
order to receive CalFresh benefits.
Prior legislation
SB 43 (Liu, Chapter 507, Statutes of 2011) requires counties
that elect to participate in the CalFresh E&T program to screen
participants for participation or deferral.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
CalFresh E&T Exemption
Ongoing, non-reimbursable county administrative costs (Local)
to screen all CalFresh applicants for veteran status and
provide a referral to local veterans' assistance and job
training agencies, as specified.
Potential future substantial increase in CalFresh benefits
(Federal) and administration costs (Federal/General/County) in
participating CalFresh E&T counties due to the exemption from
mandatory placement in CalFresh E&T for both active military
personnel and honorably discharged veterans. For every 5,000
persons who would otherwise have been sanctioned for six
months if not for the exemption, increased CalFresh benefits
of $8.9 million (Federal), administration of $0.8 million
($0.4 million General Fund), and economic benefit of $150,000
(General Fund).
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/28/13)
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger (source)
American Red Cross WIC Program
California Association of Food Banks
Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank
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Service Employees International Union
Western Center on Law and Poverty
JL:d 5/28/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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