BILL NUMBER: SB 947	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 31, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Pan

                        FEBRUARY 3, 2016

   An act to amend Section 11052.5 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to public social services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 947, as amended, Pan. Public assistance: personal interviews.
   Existing law provides for protection, care, and assistance for
people of the state by providing appropriate aid and services to the
needy and distressed. Programs established for this purpose include
the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program
(CalWORKs), which provides cash assistance and other social services
to needy families, using federal Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) block grant program, state, and county funds.
Existing law prohibits an applicant from being granted public
assistance under CalWORKs until he or she is personally interviewed
by the county human services agency or state hospital staff. Existing
law also requires the county department to verify if an applicant is
incapable of acting on his or her own behalf by personal contact
with the applicant before aid is authorized.
   This bill would authorize the county human services agency to
conduct this personal interview telephonically or through electronic
means. The bill would require  an in-person personal
interview to be conducted if requested by an applicant or recipient.
By imposing a higher level of service on county human services
agencies administering the CalWORKs program, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.   a county, if that
county elects to conduct the personal interview telephonically or
through other electronic means, to conduct an in-person personal
interview if requested by an applicant.  
   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
  no  . State-mandated local program:  yes
  no  .


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

  SECTION 1.  This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the
County Option of Efficient Interviewing of CalWORKs Applicants Act of
2016.
  SEC. 2.  Section 11052.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   11052.5.  (a) An applicant shall not be granted public assistance
under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) and Chapter 5.1
(commencing with Section 13000) until he or she is first personally
interviewed by the office of the county human services agency or
state staff for patients in state hospitals.
   (b) In lieu of an in-person personal interview as required under
subdivision (a), the county may elect to conduct the interview
required by this section telephonically or through other electronic
means. If an applicant is incapable of acting in his or her own
behalf, the county department shall verify this fact  by personal
contact  with the applicant before aid is authorized. As used
in this section, the term public assistance does not include health
care as provided by Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000).
   (c) The interview conducted pursuant to this section shall occur
within seven days after the time of application unless there are
extenuating circumstances that justify further delay. 
   (d) An in-person personal interview shall be conducted if
requested by an applicant.  
   (d) If a county elects to conduct the personal interview required
under subdivision (a) telephonically or through other electronic
means, the county shall conduct an in-person personal interview in
lieu of an interview through telephonic or other electronic means if
requested by an applicant.  
  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.