BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1322
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1322 (Liu)
As Amended August 16, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :36-0
HUMAN SERVICES 4-2 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Beall, Ammiano, Hall, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Bradford, |
| |Portantino | |Huffman, Coto, Davis, De |
| | | |Leon, Gatto, Hall, |
| | | |Skinner, Solorio, |
| | | |Torlakson, Torrico |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Tom Berryhill, Logue |Nays:|Conway, Harkey, Miller, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby |
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SUMMARY : Allows participants in the Food Stamp Employment and
Training (FSET) program to fulfill their work requirement
through a public service placement in a public or private
nonprofit agency. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires a county that operates an FSET program to screen food
stamp work registrants to determine if they are mandated to
work or be deferred due to an existing exemption.
2)Allows deferred work registrants to participate in the
self-initiated workfare option as a voluntary participant.
3)Allows, starting on October 1, 2011, work registrants who are
mandatorily placed in the FSET program to meet their work
requirements through self-initiated workfare.
4)Defines self-initiated workfare, as specified.
5)Requires a county that participates in the FSET program to
demonstrate it is effectively using FSET funds, as specified.
6) Requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to adopt
implementing regulations by October 1, 2012.
SB 1322
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FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, unknown, but potentially significant state mandate
costs associated with requiring FSET counties to offer
self-initiated workfare to their participants if the Commission
on State Mandates determines this constitutes a reimbursable
mandate. Currently, activities offered in a county FSET program
are largely contingent upon the county's FSET budget
(federal/county funds). However, this bill would require FSET
counties to offer self-initiated workfare for their FSET
participants.
Although FSET counties could choose to no longer offer other
activities they were previously offering to accommodate
self-initiated workfare, it is likely that counties would
instead add self-initiated workfare to their list of activities
since this would be a state mandate, and they would be able to
ask for state reimbursement. These reimbursement costs would
include costs for case management, transportation, and
ancillary.
COMMENTS : The Food Stamp Program (FSP) rules require all
recipients, unless exempted by law, to register for work in
county welfare offices, participate in an employment and
training program if assigned by a state or local administering
agency, and accept an offer of suitable employment.
The FSET program delivers employment and training services to
people who receive food stamp benefits, but are not on the
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program
(CalWORKs), the state's temporary financial assistance and
employment services program for families with children. FSET is
administered by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, DSS, and
participating counties. Funding helps participants acquire
skills to exit the food stamp program or to fulfill federal work
requirements that are necessary to continue receiving food
stamps. However, not all counties participate in FSET and not
all FSET programs are the same, or apply the same rules. In
California, more than 20 counties participate in the FSET
program.
According to the author, in California, approximately 30,000
food stamp recipients are registered as new work registrants per
month. According to federal law, certain food stamp recipients
SB 1322
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are required to register for work and, depending on state law,
may be required to participate in mandatory work programs. This
is true even during periods of high unemployment. Through 2009,
as the federal government waived work rules in the Food Stamp
Program throughout the country due to high unemployment,
California continued to require work registrants to participate
in job search and other work programs in order to continue
receiving food stamps. These policies contribute to the average
15-20,000 work registrants losing their food stamp benefits each
month. This bill would add an additional way for work
registrants to fulfill their work requirements through an option
called self-initiated workfare. This option allows work
registrants to find voluntary work with a public or private
non-profit entity resulting in these individuals ability to meet
their work requirements, continue to receive food assistance,
and build or strengthen their work experience during economic
times when paying jobs are extremely difficult to obtain.
Prioritizing FSET funding : This bill also requires counties to
demonstrate that they are effectively using FSET funding for
various program components. The author's intent is to provide
flexibility, little cost, and having FSET counties be more
thoughtful about their programs and developing components that
really help people improve their skills and get off aid.
Analysis Prepared by : Frances Chacon / HUM. S. / (916)
319-2089
FN: 0006063