BILL NUMBER: AB 1914	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 5, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Davis

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2010

   An act  to amend Section 18914 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code,  relating to public social services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1914, as amended, Davis. Public social services: emergency food
stamp benefits.
   Existing law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP), under which food stamps are allocated to the state by
the federal government and are distributed to eligible households by
each county. Existing law requires, to the extent provided by
federal law, that food stamp benefits be provided on an expedited
basis to households determined to be in immediate need of food
assistance. 
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would require the state to provide emergency food
stamp benefits to those waiting for their unemployment benefits or an
extension of unemployment benefits to become available. 

   Existing law provides for the payment of unemployment compensation
benefits to eligible individuals who are unemployed through no fault
of their own.  
   This bill additionally would require expedited food stamp benefits
to be provided to persons awaiting receipt of unemployment
compensation benefits, as specified, and would require the State
Department of Social Services to seek any federal waivers necessary
to implement the bill.  
   To the extent that it would increase the duties if counties in
administering the SNAP, this bill would impose a state-mandated local
program.  
   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:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no
  yes .


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 18914 of the   Welfare
and Institutions Code   , as amended by Section 4 of
Chapter 443 of the Statutes of 1990, is amended to   read:

   18914.  (a) To the extent provided by federal law, the county
welfare department shall provide food stamp benefits on an expedited
basis to  households determined to be in immediate need of
food assistance.   both of the following:  
   (1) Households determined to be in immediate need of food
assistance.  
   (2) Persons awaiting receipt of unemployment compensation benefits
under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1251) of Part 1 of Division
1 of the Unemployment Insurance Code. The State Department of Social
Services shall seek any necessary waivers from the United States
Department of Agriculture to implement this paragraph. 
   (b) At the time an applicant initially seeks assistance, the
county welfare department shall screen all expedited service
applications on a priority basis. Applicants who meet the federal
criteria for expedited service shall receive either a manual
authorization to participate or automated card or the immediate
issuance of food stamp coupons no later than the third day following
the date the application was filed. To the maximum extent permitted
by federal law, the amount of income to be received from any source
shall be deemed to be uncertain and exempt from consideration in the
determination of eligibility for expedited service. For purposes of
this subdivision, a weekend shall be considered one calendar day.
   (c) The State Department of Social Services shall develop and
implement for expedited issuance a uniform procedure for verifying
information required of an applicant.
   SEC. 2.    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.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would require the state to provide
emergency food stamp benefits to those waiting for their unemployment
benefits or an extension of unemployment benefits to become
available.