BILL NUMBER: SB 672	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 11, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Leno

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to add Section 18901.1 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to CalFresh.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 672, as amended, Leno. CalFresh: eligibility: guidelines.
   Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), under which nutrition assistance
benefits are allocated to each state by the federal government.
Under existing state law, the CalFresh program, California's federal
allocation is distributed to eligible individuals by each county.
Existing law requires that the eligibility of households be
determined to the extent permitted by federal law, and requires the
State Department of Social Services to establish a program of
categorical eligibility for CalFresh in accordance with federal law.
Existing law requires each county welfare department to carry out the
local administrative responsibilities of this program, subject to
the supervision of the department and to rules and regulations
adopted by the department.
   This bill would require the department to issue guidance to
simplify the verification of earned income and dependent care for
purposes of verifying deductions necessary to determine eligibility
for  ,  or the benefit level of  ,  CalFresh, to
the extent permitted by federal law. The bill would require that the
guidance include certain requirements, including that a county that
uses an electronic database for earned income verification 
is required to  inform applicants and recipients of their
right  , if any,  to request a copy of their electronic
employment and wage data maintained in the database and to correct
errors in the database, as specified. By requiring the department to
issue guidance that would impose new duties on counties that
administer CalFresh, this bill would impose 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.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to support an
increase in CalFresh benefits for low-income working families by
using state options, including the option provided in Section 273.2
of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, to increase
eligibility for families  with earnings and income of up to
200 percent of the federal poverty line and to simplify 
 by simplifying the  verification of dependent care and
wages.  It is also the intent of the Legislature to educate 
 applicants for and recipients of CalFresh of their rights to
receive a report and to correct errors in a report issued by a
federally regulated reporting agency when the services of that agency
are purchased by the state or a county human services agency to
determine eligibility or benefit level for CalFresh. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 18901.1 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   18901.1.  The department shall issue guidance to simplify the
verification of earned income and dependent care for purposes of
verifying deductions necessary to determine eligibility for, or the
benefit level of, CalFresh, to the extent permitted by federal law.
The guidance shall require all of the following:
   (a) Dependent care expenses shall be considered verified upon
receipt of a statement of monthly expenses that includes the federal
taxpayer identification number of the dependent care provider or
other form of verification allowed by federal law. 
   (b) Cash payment of wages shall be considered verified upon
receipt of a statement by the employee.  
   (c) 
   (b)  If a county uses an electronic database for earned
income verification to determine eligibility, the county shall do
both of the following:
   (1) Use the electronic data to verify income instead of requiring
paper verification at the time of application or reapplication for
benefits.
   (2) Inform applicants and recipients of their right  , if any,
 to request a copy of their electronic employment and wage data
maintained in the database and to correct errors in the database.
This notice shall be provided when the information in the database is
used to determine eligibility or benefit level or to verify income
at any time.
  SEC. 3.  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.