BILL NUMBER: SB 672	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  568
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 4, 2013
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 4, 2013
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 5, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 28, 2013
	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, 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 dependent care expense deductions
necessary to determine a household's eligibility for, or the benefit
level of, CalFresh. The bill would require that the guidance
establish that dependent care expenses shall be considered verified
upon receipt of a self-certified statement of monthly dependent care
expenses, unless federal law requires, or the county human services
agency requests, additional documentation, as specified. The bill
would authorize the department to implement these provisions by
all-county letters or similar instructions until regulations are
adopted, and would require the department to adopt regulations on or
before January 1, 2015.


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
simplifying the verification of their dependent care expenses.
  SEC. 2.  Section 18901.1 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   18901.1.  (a) The department shall issue guidance to simplify the
verification of dependent care expense deductions necessary to
determine a household's eligibility for, or the benefit level of,
CalFresh. The guidance shall establish that dependent care expenses
shall be considered verified upon receipt of a self-certified
statement of monthly dependent care expenses, unless federal law or
guidance requires additional documentation.
   (b) This section shall not preclude the county human services
agency from requesting additional documentation to verify a dependent
care expense deduction if the verification received is questionable.

   (c) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the
Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section
11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code),
until regulations are adopted, the department may implement this
section through all-county letters or similar instructions. The
department shall adopt regulations implementing this section on or
before January 1, 2015.