BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
SB 947 (Pan) - Public assistance: personal interviews
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|Version: March 31, 2016 |Policy Vote: HUMAN S. 3 - 0 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: Yes |
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|Hearing Date: May 27, 2016 |Consultant: Jolie Onodera |
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Bill
Summary: SB 947 would authorize county human services agencies
to conduct personal interviews for CalWORKs eligibility
applicants telephonically or through electronic means. This bill
would provide that an in-person personal interview shall be
conducted if requested by an applicant, and would remove the
requirement for a county to verify "by personal contact" that an
applicant is incapable of acting on his or her own behalf before
CalWORKs aid is authorized.
*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE ***********
The following information is revised to reflect amendments
adopted by the committee on May 27, 2016
Fiscal
Impact:
Interviews via telephonic/electronic means : Potentially
significant one-time and near-term non-reimbursable local
costs for equipment, staffing, and/or training to implement
SB 947 (Pan) Page 1 of
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new processes. To the extent conducting interviews by
telephone or electronic means results in administrative
efficiencies could result in significant ongoing future cost
savings.
CalWORKs benefits/administration : Potential increases or
decreases in CalWORKs benefits and administration costs
(General Fund) to the extent conducting interviews by
telephone or electronic means results in a greater or lesser
number of applications for aid granted. To the extent the bill
removes barriers and/or delays in applying for and being
granted aid, CalWORKs program costs could increase. However,
to the extent reduced utilization of in-person interviews
prevents or delays the receipt of verification and/or
clarification, applications that otherwise may have been
approved could potentially be delayed or denied.
Author
Amendments:
1. Remove the potential state-reimbursable mandate created
by requiring a county to provide an in-person personal
interview at the request of an applicant:
On page 2, strike out lines 23-24 and insert:
WIC 11052.5 (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 electronic means if requested by an
applicant.
2. Re-inserts the requirement that verification be made by
personal contact with an applicant incapable of acting in
his or her own behalf, as follows:
SB 947 (Pan) Page 2 of
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On page 2, in line 17 after "fact" insert:
WIC 11052.5 (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 in Chapter 7.
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