BILL NUMBER: AB 493	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Perea

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2011

   An act to add Section 10072.5 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to public social services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 493, as introduced, Perea. Electronic benefits transfer cards:
use restrictions.
   Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and
Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county
provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income
families.
   Existing law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, under
which nutrition assistance benefits are provided to the state by the
federal government and are distributed to eligible households by each
county. California's SNAP program is known as CalFresh.
   Existing law permits a county to elect to deliver CalWORKs and
SNAP benefits through the use of an electronic benefits transfer
(EBT) system. Existing law specifies criteria for the development and
administration of the EBT system, including issuance to a recipient
of an EBT card.
   This bill would require the EBT system to prevent use of EBT cards
by recipients to access cash benefits outside of California, except
to the extent prohibited by federal law. The bill would specify that
it would not be construed to prohibit the use of an EBT card to
access SNAP benefits, as authorized by federal law.
   To the extent that it would impose additional duties on counties
administering the CalWORKs program. 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: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 10072.5 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   10072.5.  (a) Except to the extent prohibited by federal law, the
electronic benefits transfer system designed and implemented pursuant
to this chapter shall prevent a recipient from using the electronic
benefits transfer card to access cash benefits outside of California.

   (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use
of an electronic benefits transfer card to access federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in any
manner authorized by federal law.
  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.