BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2018
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2018 (Skinner)
As Amended August 20, 2010
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |62-1 |(May 24, 2010) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 24, |
| | | | | |2010) |
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Original Committee Reference: HUM. S.
SUMMARY : Establishes an inter-county transfer (ICT) process for
food stamp recipients who move from one county to another, as
specified. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to establish a
process of inter-county transfer of eligibility for benefits
under the Food Stamp Program (FSP) when a recipient moves from
one county to another within the state; and
2)Specifies that, no later than April 1, 2011, for recipients of
FSP benefits that are:
a) Also recipients of the California Work Opportunity and
Responsibility to Kids program (CalWORKs) benefits, the
current ICT process utilized for CalWORKs shall be used; and,
b) Also recipients of MediCal benefits, but not recipients of
CalWORKs, the current ICT process utilized for MediCal shall
be used.
3)Requires that, no later than July 1, 2011, for recipients of FSP
benefits that are neither recipients of CalWORKs nor MediCal
benefits, an inter-county transfer process shall be developed,
as specified.
4)Specifies that it is the responsibility of the recipient
changing residence from one county to another within the state
to notify the county currently paying food stamp benefits of the
move.
5)Requires the recipient's prior county of residence to notify the
new county of residence of the recipient's move as soon as the
recipient's location in the new county is known, and would
require the new county of residence to be responsible for
determining the recipient's continued eligibility for benefits
AB 2018
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under FSP.
The Senate amendments :
1)Reduce:
a) From January 1, 2012 to July 1, 2011, the amount of time
given for DSS to implement the ICT process for FSP-only
recipients;
b) From July 1, 2011 to April 1, 2011, the amount of time
given for DSS to implement the ICT process for FSP recipients
that are also CalWORKs recipients; and,
c) From July 1, 2011 to April 1, 2011, the amount of time
given for DSS to implement the ICT process for FSP recipients
that are also MediCal recipients.
2)Increase, from January 1, 2012 to July 1, 2012, the amount of
time given for DSS to implement the ICT processes by All County
Letters and regulations.
3)Require DSS to adopt regulations to implement the bill no later
than July 1, 2012, as specified.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY this bill remains substantially the same
with the exception of the implementation date changes.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, one-time training costs of approximately $140,000
($53,200 General Fund) to train eligibility workers in the new
inter-county transfer process.
COMMENTS : According to the author, this bill would require county
welfare offices to facilitate an ICT of a recipient's food stamp
benefits when the recipient moves from one county to another
making the current re-application process unnecessary.
Currently, if a family on CalWORKs or MediCal moves from one
county to another, their case follows them to the new county
without a requirement to re-apply for benefits. These processes
ensure that families are not left without resources during times
of transition. Meanwhile, state law requires a household to
reapply for food stamp benefits when moving from one county to
another, leaving many without benefits while they wait for
approval in the new county. This requirement not only results in
lost benefits to vulnerable families, but in lost economic
AB 2018
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activity. Indeed, the United States Department of Agriculture
estimates that for every $1 in foods stamp benefits, a $1.84 in
economic activity is generated. Moreover, it is costly and
time-consuming process for counties to re-process the application.
The author notes that other county-administered programs such as
CalWORKs and MediCal allow ICTs. In the CalWORKs program, an ICT
places the responsibility of eligibility and cash aid
authorization on the two counties involved in the transfer. The
recipient's responsibility is to notify the county in which they
currently reside of their intended move and file a form and any
other related changes that may affect the ICT. It is not known
how many recipients this bill would assist in transferring food
stamp benefits.
Client service, administrative relief, and economic activity : It
seems that an ICT process for food stamp recipients is the next
logical step in simplifying this program for many reasons. First,
it is good for clients. They no longer have to go through the
application process to secure benefits that they already qualify
for and benefits are not interrupted exposing their families to
food insecurity. Secondly, the two other major social services
programs already have ICT processes so it seems that the absence
of one in the FSP is an obvious administrative fix. The client
service, administrative savings, and economic ripple effect
together appear to justify the need to create an ICT for food
stamp recipients.
The County Welfare Directors' Association, the sponsor of this
bill, states that "As many Californians are being forced to move
across county lines to find work, requiring them to resubmit
paperwork again and again to keep their benefits is inefficient
and increases the chances of these families losing their benefits
for which they remain otherwise eligible. Further it is not
required by federal law."
Analysis Prepared by : Frances Chacon / HUM. S. / (916) 319-2089
FN: 0006638