SB 206,
as amended, Emmerson. begin deleteFoster care. end deletebegin insertElectronic benefits transfer cards: prohibition of use for alcohol and tobacco purchases.end 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 insertbegin insertExisting law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which food stamps are allocated to the state by the federal government and are distributed to eligible households by each county. Federal law prohibits the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products.
end insertbegin insertExisting law authorizes 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 insertbegin insertThis bill would require the EBT system to be designed to prevent use of EBT cards by recipients for the purchase of alcohol or tobacco products. The bill would require that its provisions not be construed to prohibit the use of an EBT card to access SNAP benefits, as authorized by federal law.
end insertExisting law requires the State Department of Social Services to develop recommendations for the Legislature, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers’ Association and the County Welfare Directors Association, regarding, among other things procedures for placing siblings together when one or more siblings are in the juvenile dependency system and one or more siblings are in the juvenile delinquency systems, when those placements are appropriate.
end deleteThis bill would make nonsubstantive, technical changes to those provisions.
end deleteVote: majority.
Appropriation: no.
Fiscal committee: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert.
State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
begin insertSection 10072.6 is added to the end insertbegin insertWelfare and
2Institutions Codeend insertbegin insert, to read:end insert
(a) The electronic benefits transfer system designed
4pursuant to this chapter shall be designed to prevent a recipient
5from using an electronic benefits transfer card for the purchase
6of alcohol or tobacco products.
7(b) This section shall not be construed to prohibit the use of an
8electronic benefits transfer card to access federal Supplemental
9Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in any manner
10authorized by federal law.
Section 16004 of the Welfare and Institutions
12Code is amended to read:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that there is an
14urgent need to develop placement resources to permit sibling
15groups to remain together in out-of-home care when removed from
16the custody of their parents due to child abuse or neglect. Multiple
17barriers exist, including local ordinances and community care
18licensing standards, that limit or prevent the county placement
19agency from fulfilling its obligation pursuant to subdivision (b) of
20Section 16002 to place siblings together.
21Therefore, the Legislature declares its intent to develop specific
22placement resources to accommodate sibling groups.
P3 1(b) The State Department of Social Services shall, in
2consultation with the County
Welfare Directors Association, the
3Judicial Council, organizations representing foster youth, and other
4similar, interested organizations, make recommendations to
5increase the available sibling placement resources. The possible
6policy changes to be addressed shall include, but shall not be
7limited to, the following:
8(1) The creation of a special licensing category for sibling care,
9including sibling group foster homes.
10(2) Development of children’s villages with separate cottages
11to provide a home for each sibling group.
12(3) Funding for targeted recruitment of foster parents for large
13sibling groups.
14(4) Establishment of a higher foster care payment rate for
15caretakers who accept sibling groups.
16(5) Funding for one-time capital improvement costs to remodel
17homes to accommodate placement of siblings and provide for other
18upfront costs, including, but not limited to, vans, car seats, and
19other items.
20(6) Establishment of guidelines for placing siblings, who cannot
21be placed in the same home, within geographic proximity to each
22other and exploration of the possibility of permitting these siblings
23to have the option of enrolling in the same school district even
24when the siblings reside in different school districts.
25(c) The department shall develop recommendations for the
26Legislature, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers
27Association and the County Welfare Directors Association,
28regarding procedures for doing both of the following:
29(1) Placing siblings together when one or more siblings are in
30the juvenile dependency system and one or more siblings are in
31the juvenile delinquency systems, when those placements are
32appropriate.
33(2) Maintaining contact and sharing information between
34siblings who are placed separately in out-of-home care under the
35juvenile dependency and the juvenile delinquency systems.
36(d) The department shall submit the recommendations described
37in subdivisions (b) and (c) to the Legislature by November 1, 2001.
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