Amended in Senate April 30, 2015

Amended in Senate April 6, 2015

Senate Bill No. 306

Introduced by Senator Hertzberg

February 23, 2015

An act to amend Sections begin delete 11320.3, end delete 11454.5, 18900, 18926, and 18926.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 306, as amended, Hertzberg. CalFresh: eligibility: work requirements.

(1) Existing law requires each county to provide cash assistance and other social services to needy families through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program using federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant program, state, and county funds. begin delete Under existing law, with certain exceptions, every individual, as a condition of eligibility for aid under the CalWORKs program, is required to participate in welfare-to-work activities. end delete Existing law begin delete also end delete provides that a parent or caretaker relative shall not be eligible for CalWORKs aid when he or she has received aid for a cumulative total of 48 months. Existing law further provides that any month in which specified conditions exist shall not be counted toward that 48-month time limit.

This bill would begin delete excuse all CalWORKs recipients from welfare-to-work participation during any month for which the National Bureau of Economic Research has declared the United States to be in an economic recession or economic depression. The bill would also end delete prohibit any month for which the National Bureau of Economic Research has begin delete made that declaration end delete begin insert declared the United States to be in an economic recession or economic depression end insert from being counted toward that 48-month time limit.

(2) Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, under which counties distribute food assistance benefits to eligible individuals. Existing law authorizes counties to participate in the CalFresh Employment and Training program (CalFresh E&T), established by federal law, and requires participating counties to screen CalFresh work registrants to determine whether they will participate in, or be deferred from, the CalFresh E&T program.

Existing federal law limits an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) participant to 3 months of CalFresh benefits in a 3-year period unless that participant has met specified work participation requirements. Existing law directs the State Department of Social Services to annually seek a federal waiver of this limitation, and provides that an eligible county is included in this waiver unless the county declines to participate in the waiver request. Existing law authorizes the department to implement this provision by all-county letters or similar instructions.

This bill would require all counties to participate in the CalFresh E&T program, and would direct each county to provide a placement in the program for every ABAWD that requests one. The bill would provide that federal funds for serving all at-risk ABAWDs through a CalFresh E&T program be used to support the cost to the county of providing these services using a formula established by the department in consultation with the county and the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. By requiring counties to provide these employment and training services, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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The

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This bill would require all eligible counties and subcounty areas to be included in the federal waiver of the ABAWD time limitation. The bill would require a county, if the county is not eligible for the waiver, to submit a CalFresh E&T plan for state and federal approval that meets specified standards and ensures a placement for all ABAWD’s required to work and unable to secure employment. The bill would require that federal funds received to serve, through a CalFresh E&T program, ABAWDs who are subject to the time limitation be used to support the cost to the counties of providing these services using a formula established by the department in consultation with county human services agencies and the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. The bill would also require those counties, if they send a notice of action to an applicant or participant subject to the ABAWD time limit, to include specified information to help the person, to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, to seek and receive assistance in securing employment or an exemption. By imposing these requirements on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would also require the department to issue annual guidance to these counties regarding federal exemptions and waivers, and would authorize the department to implement the provisions of the bill by all-county letters or similar instructions and require the department to thereafter adopt regulations to implement its provisions by January 1, 2018.

(3) Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program.

This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill.

(4) 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:

begin delete

SECTION 1.  

Section 11320.3 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code is amended to read:

11320.3.  

(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and
(c), or if otherwise exempt, every individual, as a condition of
eligibility for aid under this chapter, shall participate in
welfare-to-work activities under this article.

(2) Individuals eligible under Section 11331.5 shall be required
to participate in the Cal-Learn Program under Article 3.5
(commencing with Section 11331) during the time that article is
operative, in lieu of the welfare-to-work requirements, and
subdivision (c) shall not apply to that individual.

(b) A recipient of aid under this chapter shall not be required
to participate in welfare-to-work activities during any month for
which the National Bureau of Economic Research has declared
the United States to be in an economic recession or economic
depression.

(c) The following individuals shall not be required to participate
for so long as the condition continues to exist:

(1) An individual under 16 years of age.

(2) (A) A child attending an elementary, secondary, vocational,
or technical school on a full-time basis.

(B) A person who is 16 or 17 years of age, or a person described
in subdivision (d) who loses this exemption, shall not requalify
for the exemption by attending school as a required activity under
this article.

(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), a person who is 16 or
17 years of age who has obtained a high school diploma or its
equivalent and is enrolled or is planning to enroll in a
postsecondary education, vocational, or technical school training
program shall also not be required to participate for so long as the
condition continues to exist.

(D) For purposes of subparagraph (C), a person shall be deemed
to be planning to enroll in a postsecondary education, vocational,
or technical school training program if he or she, or his or her
parent, acting on his or her behalf, submits a written statement
expressing his or her intent to enroll in such a program for the
following term. The exemption from participation shall not
continue beyond the beginning of the term, unless verification of
enrollment is provided or obtained by the county.

(3) An individual who meets either of the following conditions:

(A) The individual is disabled as determined by a doctor’s
verification that the disability is expected to last at least 30 days
and that it significantly impairs the recipient’s ability to be
regularly employed or participate in welfare-to-work activities,
provided that the individual is actively seeking appropriate medical
treatment.

(B) The individual is of advanced age.

(4) A nonparent caretaker relative who has primary
responsibility for providing care for a child and is either caring for
a child who is a dependent or ward of the court or caring for a
child in a case in which a county determines the child is at risk of
placement in foster care, and the county determines that the
caretaking responsibilities are beyond those considered normal
day-to-day parenting responsibilities such that they impair the
caretaker relative’s ability to be regularly employed or to participate
in welfare-to-work activities.

(5) An individual whose presence in the home is required
because of illness or incapacity of another member of the household
and whose caretaking responsibilities impair the recipient’s ability
to be regularly employed or to participate in welfare-to-work
activities.

(6) A parent or other relative who meets the criteria in
subparagraph (A) or (B).

(A) (i) The parent or other relative has primary responsibility
for personally providing care to a child six months of age or under,
except that, on a case-by-case basis, and based on criteria
developed by the county, this period may be reduced to the first
12 weeks after the birth or adoption of the child, or increased to
the first 12 months after the birth or adoption of the child. An
individual may be exempt only once under this clause.

(ii) An individual who received an exemption pursuant to clause
(i) shall be exempt for a period of 12 weeks, upon the birth or
adoption of any subsequent children, except that this period may
be extended on a case-by-case basis to six months, based on criteria
developed by the county.

(iii) In making the determination to extend the period of
exception under clause (i) or (ii), the following may be considered:

(I) The availability of child care.

(II) Local labor market conditions.

(III) Other factors determined by the county.

(iv) Effective January 1, 2013, the parent or other relative has
primary responsibility for personally providing care to one child
from birth to 23 months, inclusive. The exemption provided for
under this clause shall be available in addition to any other
exemption provided for under this subparagraph. An individual
may be exempt only once under this clause.

(B) In a family eligible for aid under this chapter due to the
unemployment of the principal wage earner, the exemption criteria
contained in subparagraph (A) shall be applied to only one parent.

(7) A parent or other relative who has primary responsibility
for personally providing care to one child who is from 12 to 23
months of age, inclusive, or two or more children who are under
six years of age.

(8) A woman who is pregnant and for whom it has been
medically verified that the pregnancy impairs her ability to be
regularly employed or participate in welfare-to-work activities or
the county has determined that, at that time, participation will not
readily lead to employment or that a training activity is not
appropriate. If a pregnant woman is unable to secure this medical
verification, but is otherwise eligible for an exemption from
welfare-to-work requirements under this section, including good
cause for temporary illness related to the pregnancy, she shall be
exempt from participation.

(d) Any individual not required to participate may choose to
participate voluntarily under this article, and end that participation
at any time without loss of eligibility for aid under this chapter, if
his or her status has not changed in a way that would require
participation.

(e) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a custodial parent who
is under 20 years of age and who has not earned a high school
diploma or its equivalent, and who is not exempt or whose only
basis for exemption is paragraph (1), (2), (5), (6), (7), or (8) of
subdivision (c), shall be required to participate solely for the
purpose of earning a high school diploma or its equivalent. During
the time that Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 11331) is
operative, this subdivision shall only apply to a custodial parent
who is 19 years of age.

(2) Section 11325.25 shall apply to a custodial parent who is
18 or 19 years of age and who is required to participate under this
article.

(f) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (e), the county
may determine that participation in education activities for the
purpose of earning a high school diploma or equivalent is
inappropriate for an 18- or 19-year-old custodial parent only if
that parent is reassigned pursuant to an evaluation under Section
11325.25, or, at appraisal is already in an educational or vocational
training program that is approvable as a self-initiated program as
specified in Section 11325.23. If that determination is made, the
parent shall be allowed to continue participation in the self-initiated
program subject to Section 11325.23. During the time that Article
3.5 (commencing with Section 11331) is operative, this subdivision
shall only apply to a custodial parent who is 19 years of age.

(g) A recipient shall be excused from participation for good
cause when the county has determined there is a condition or other
circumstance that temporarily prevents or significantly impairs
the recipient’s ability to be regularly employed or to participate in
welfare-to-work activities. The county welfare department shall
review the good cause determination for its continuing
appropriateness in accordance with the projected length of the
condition, or circumstance, but not less than every three months.
The recipient shall cooperate with the county welfare department
and provide information, including written documentation, as
required to complete the review. Conditions that may be considered
good cause include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Lack of necessary supportive services.

(2) In accordance with Article 7.5 (commencing with Section
11495), the applicant or recipient is a victim of domestic violence,
but only if participation under this article is detrimental to or
unfairly penalizes that individual or his or her family.

(3) Licensed or license-exempt child care for a child 10 years
of age or younger is not reasonably available during the
individual’s hours of training or employment including commuting
time, or arrangements for child care have broken down or have
been interrupted, or child care is needed for a child who meets the
criteria of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of
Section 11323.2, but who is not included in the assistance unit.
For purposes of this paragraph, “reasonable availability” means
child care that is commonly available in the recipient’s community
to a person who is not receiving aid and that is in conformity with
the requirements of Public Law 104-193. The choices of child care
shall meet either licensing requirements or the requirements of
Section 11324. This good cause criterion shall include the
unavailability of suitable special needs child care for children with
identified special needs, including, but not limited to, disabilities
or chronic illnesses.

(h) (1) Paragraph (7) of subdivision (c) shall be implemented
notwithstanding Sections 11322.4, 11322.7, 11325.6, and 11327,
and shall become inoperative on January 1, 2013.

(2) The State Department of Social Services, in consultation
with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, and
advocates, shall develop a process to assist clients with
reengagement in welfare-to-work activities, pursuant to subdivision
(i). Reengagement activities may include notifying clients of the
expiration of exemptions, reassessments, and identifying necessary
supportive services.

(i) (1) A recipient who was not required to participate in
welfare-to-work activities on December 31, 2012, because, in
accordance with paragraph (7) of subdivision (c), he or she is a
parent or other relative who has primary responsibility for
personally providing care to one child who is from 12 to 23 months
of age, inclusive, or two or more children who are under six years
of age shall not be required to participate until the county welfare
department reengages the recipient in welfare-to-work activities.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, reengagement in
welfare-to-work activities shall include the development of a
welfare-to-work plan in accordance with Section 11325.21 and
the provision of necessary supportive services pursuant to Section
11323.2.

(3) County welfare departments shall reengage all recipients
described in paragraph (1) by January 1, 2015, unless the recipient
is otherwise eligible for an exemption under subdivision (c).

(4) A recipient reengaged in accordance with this subdivision
who has received assistance under this chapter, or from any state
pursuant to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program
(Part A (commencing with Section 401) of Title IV of the federal
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.)), may continue
in a welfare-to-work plan that meets the requirements of Section
11322.6 for a cumulative period of 24 months commencing the
first day of the first month after he or she is reengaged, unless or
until he or she exceeds the 48-month time limitation described in
Section 11454.

(5) All months of assistance described in paragraph (4) prior to
the reengagement of the recipient shall not be applied to the
24-month limitation described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a)
of Section 11322.85.

end delete

begin delete SEC. 2. end delete
begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

Section 11454.5 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code is amended to read:

11454.5.  

(a) Any month in which the following conditions
exist shall not be counted as a month of receipt of aid for the
purposes of subdivision (a) of, and paragraph (1) of subdivision
(b) of, Section 11454:

(1) The recipient is exempt from participation under Article 3.2
(commencing with Section 11320) due to disability, or advanced
age in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section
11320.3, or due to caretaking responsibilities that impair the
recipient’s ability to be regularly employed, in accordance with
paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3.

(2) The recipient is eligible for, participating in, or exempt from,
the Cal-Learn Program provided for pursuant to Article 3.5
(commencing with Section 11331), for any period during which
the Cal-Learn Program is operative, is participating in another teen
parent program approved by the department, or, on or after January
1, 2012, is a nonminor dependent under the supervision of the
county welfare or probation department who is placed in an
approved relative’s home and is eligible for aid under this section
because he or she satisfies the conditions described in Section
11403.

(3) The cost of the cash aid provided to the recipient for the
month is fully reimbursed by child support, whether collected in
that month or any subsequent month.

(4) The family is a former recipient of cash aid under this chapter
and currently receives only child care, case management, or
supportive services pursuant to Section 11323.2 or Article 15.5
(commencing with Section 8350) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of the
Education Code.

(5) To the extent provided by federal law, the recipient lived in
Indian country, as defined by federal law, or an Alaskan native
village in which at least 50 percent of the adults living in the Indian
country or in the village are not employed.

(6) The recipient was exempt from participation under paragraph
(7) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3 and has not been
reengaged in accordance with subdivision (h) of Section 11320.3.

(7) The recipient is exempt from participating in welfare-to-work
activities because he or she has primary responsibility for
personally providing care to a child 24 months of age or younger,
pursuant to clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of
subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3.

(8) The National Bureau of Economic Research has declared
the United States to be in an economic recession or economic
depression.

(b) In cases where a lump-sum diversion payment is provided
in lieu of cash aid under Section 11266.5, the month in which the
payment is made or the months calculated pursuant to subdivision
(f) of Section 11266.5 shall count against the limits specified in
Section 11454.

(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2013.

begin delete SEC. 3. end delete
begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

Section 18900 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

18900.  

Finding that hunger, undernutrition, and malnutrition
are present and continuing problems faced by low-income
California households, and further finding that the federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Chapter 51
(commencing with Section 2011), Title 7, United States Code)
offers significant health-vital benefits, the purpose of this chapter
is to establish a statewide program to enable recipients of aid under
Part 3 (commencing with Section 11000) or Part 5 (commencing
with Section 17000) of this division and other low-income
households to receive benefits under the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program. It is the intent of the Legislature
that the CalFresh program be administered in a way that maximizes
eligibility and participation in the program, to the extent permitted
by federal law.

begin delete SEC. 4. end delete
begin insert SEC. 3. end insert   

Section 18926 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:

18926.  

(a)  Consistent with Section 18900, the department
shall maximize participation in the CalFresh program to the extent
permitted by federal law. To accomplish this intent, the department
shall annually seek for all qualifying areas of the state a federal
waiver, to the extent permitted by federal law, of the existing
federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program limitation that
stipulates that an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD)
participant is limited to three months of CalFresh benefits in a
three-year period unless that participant has met the work
participation requirement.

(b) All eligible counties and subcounty areas shall be included
in and bound by the waiver.

(c) If a county is not eligible for the waiver described in this
section, all of the following shall occur:

(1) The department shall issue annual guidance to the county
regarding the maximization of all federal exemptions and waivers
to the three-month time limit applied to ABAWDs, including the
exemptions described in Section 273.24(g) of Title 7 of the Code
of Federal Regulations.

(2) The county shall submit a CalFresh Employment and
Training program plan for state and federal approval, that meets
the standards established in Section 18926.5 and ensures a
placement for all ABAWDs required to work and unable to secure
employment. Federal funds received to serve, through a CalFresh
Employment and Training program, ABAWDs who are subject
to the time limit described in subdivision (a) shall be used to
support the cost to counties of providing these services using a
formula established by the department in consultation with county
human services agencies and the Food and Nutrition Service of
the United States Department of Agriculture.

(3) A county issuing a notice of action to an applicant or
participant subject to the ABAWD time limit shall include
information to help the person, to the maximum extent permitted
by federal law, seek and receive assistance in securing employment
or in securing an exemption to the time limit, including, but not
limited to, the name, address, telephone number, and Internet
address of a local legal services office and a statewide welfare
rights organization.

begin delete SEC. 5. end delete
begin insert SEC. 4. end insert   

Section 18926.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
is amended to read:

18926.5.  

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, “CalFresh
Employment and Training program” or “CalFresh E&T” means
the program established under Section 6(d)(4)(B) of the federal
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 2015), Section
273.7 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and associated
administrative notices published by the United States Department
of Agriculture with the purpose of assisting members of CalFresh
households in gaining skills, training, work, or experience that will
increase their ability to obtain regular employment.

(b) (1) Each county that elects to participate in the CalFresh
Employment and Training (CalFresh E&T) program, as authorized
by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. Sec. 2015),
or that is required to submit a CalFresh E&T plan pursuant to
paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 18926, shall screen
CalFresh work registrants to determine whether they will
participate in, or be deferred from, the CalFresh E&T program. If
deferred, a CalFresh work registrant may request to enroll in the
CalFresh E&T program as a voluntary participant. An individual
shall be deferred from a mandatory placement in the CalFresh
E&T program if he or she satisfies any of the criteria in Sections
273.7 and 273.24 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, if
he or she resides in a federally determined work surplus area, or
if he or she is a veteran who has been honorably discharged from
the United States Armed Forces.

(2) For purposes of this section, “deferred” has the same
meaning as exempt.

(c) (1) A county participating in CalFresh E&T shall be required
to demonstrate in its CalFresh E&T plan how it is effectively using
CalFresh E&T funds for each of the components that the county
offers, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(A) Self-initiated workfare.

(B) Work experience or training.

(C) Education.

(D) Job search.

(E) The support services or client reimbursements needed to
participate in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, as allowed by
federal law and guidance.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a county
to offer a particular component as a part of its CalFresh E&T plan.

(d) If an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) who
is subject to the three-month time limit set forth in Section 273.24
of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations requests placement
in the CalFresh E&T program, the county shall provide a placement
for the person.

(e) Nothing in this section shall limit a county’s ability to
condition the receipt of nonmedical benefits under Section 17000
on an individual’s participation in an employment and training or
workfare program of the county’s choice, even if that program is
financed in whole or in part with CalFresh E&T funds or match
funds.

(f) Nothing in this section shall restrict the use of federal funds
for the financing of CalFresh E&T programs.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a county
to provide for workers’ compensation coverage for a CalFresh
E&T participant. Notwithstanding Division 4 (commencing with
Section 3200) of the Labor Code, a CalFresh E&T participant shall
not be an employee for the purposes of workers’ compensation
coverage and a county shall have no duty to provide workers’
compensation coverage for a CalFresh E&T participant.

begin delete SEC. 6. end delete
begin insert SEC. 5. end insert   

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), the department may implement this act by all-county letters
or similar instructions. Thereafter, the department shall adopt
regulations to implement this act by January 1, 2018.

begin delete SEC. 7. end delete
begin insert SEC. 6. end insert   

No appropriation pursuant to Section 15200 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code shall be made for purposes of
implementing this act.

begin delete SEC. 8. end delete
begin insert SEC. 7. end insert   

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.