BILL NUMBER: SB 346	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Beall

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2013

   An act to add Section 10850.32 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to public social services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 346, as introduced, Beall. Public Social Services Programs:
records.
   Existing law establishes various public social services programs
to provide for protection, care, and assistance to the people of the
state in need of those services, by providing appropriate aid and
services to the needy and distressed. Counties are responsible for
administrating these programs, such as CalWORKs and Medi-Cal.
Existing law, in this regard, and with some exceptions, requires all
applications and records concerning any individual made or kept by
any public officer or agency in connection with the administration of
public social services for which grants-in-aid are received by this
state from the federal government be kept confidential, as specified.

   This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, authorize
a county welfare department to share information with other local
governmental programs, departments, or entities participating in the
administration of public medical assistance or other social services
programs in that county for the purposes of establishing a
client-centered approach to the provision of those services. The bill
would require the local governmental program, department, or entity
receiving and maintaining information pursuant to these provisions to
comply with applicable state and federal confidentiality and privacy
laws. The bill would require the applicable state department to seek
federal approval if necessary to implement this section with respect
to a particular public medical assistance or social service program.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 10850.32 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   10850.32.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a county welfare
department may, without the need to provide written documentation
that consent has been obtained from the client, share information
with other local governmental programs, departments, or entities
participating in the administration of public medical assistance or
other social services programs in that county for the purposes of
establishing a client-centered approach to the provision of those
services.
   (b) Any local governmental program, department, or entity
receiving and maintaining information pursuant to this section shall
comply with all applicable state and federal confidentiality and
privacy laws.
   (c) This section shall be implemented only to the extent permitted
by federal law.
   (d) If federal approval is necessary to implement this section
with respect to a particular public medical assistance or social
service program, the applicable state department shall seek that
approval.