BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Kevin Murray, Chairman

                                           2192 (Bass)
          
          Hearing Date:  8/17/2006        Amended: 8/7/2006
          Consultant:  John Miller        Policy Vote: Human Svcs  3 - 2
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          ____
          BILL SUMMARY: AB 2192 would permit parents who have been  
          convicted of the use or possession of drugs and who meet certain  
          criteria, to qualify for CalWORKS benefits.    
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          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2006-07      2007-08       2008-09     Fund
           CalWORKS benefits      $1,266     $1,423      $ 811     GF/FF

          Potential, off-setting savings of approx. $700,000 annually due  
          to reduced recidivism. 
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          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE 

          Existing federal law prohibits cash assistance for anyone  
          convicted of a felony related to illegal drugs unless a state  
          formally acts to opt out in whole or in part of this  
          prohibition. This bill would exempt individuals convicted of  
          possession of drugs (convictions for sale are excluded) if the  
          individuals prove completion, participation or enrollment in a  
          government recognized drug treatment program. Approximately 750  
          adults are currently denied CalWORKS benefits due to a history  
          of drug use. If one half of these adults become eligible under  
          this legislation the costs would equal roughly $1.2 million per  
          year. Twelve states have acted to opt entirely out of the  
          federal ban and another eight states have conditionally  
          permitted beneficiaries in treatment to participate in a fashion  
          similar to this bill. 

          Proponents support the bill because it increases the likelihood  
          that some drug felons will remain drug free with the support of  
          CalWORKS and resume stable life and avoid return to crime and  
          prison. Research conducted by the Little Hoover Commission did  
          find lower parole returns when women had support, and to the  










          extent that additional income helped stabilize families, reduced  
          foster care caseload. 

          AB 2192 prohibits CalWORKS eligibility for anyone convicted of  
          sales or trafficking in drugs and requires that applicants  
          enroll, complete or be placed in a recognized drug treatment  
          program, successfully pass a test for drugs and be subject to  
          quarterly testing, or produce other acceptable evidence, as  
          determined by the state, that they are drug free. This bill is  
          similar to AB 855 (Bass, 2005) which was vetoed by the Governor,  
          who felt the bill did not provide adequate assurances  
          beneficiaries abstained from drug use. The author believes the  
          treatment and testing provisions provide proof of compliance.