BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1930
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Date of Hearing: May 21, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1930 (Skinner) - As Amended: May 13, 2014
Policy Committee: Human
ServicesVote:5 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: Yes
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to
establish a protocol to screen CalFresh applicants for all
potential exemptions to the CalFresh student work rule and
requires county human services agencies to screen students
applying for CalFresh for all potential exemptions to the
student work requirement pursuant to the newly established
protocol.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Minor and absorbable costs to DSS to develop the applicant
screening protocols.
2)Potentially reimbursable costs to counties, likely minor, to
perform additional screening duties regarding CalFresh
applicants.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . This bill seeks to ensure needy students who are
actively participating in their education plans, and who meet
all other eligibility requirements for CalFresh, are
adequately screened for exemptions from federal work
requirements for students applying for or receiving
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The author believes this bill will result in fewer CalFresh
denials of eligible low-income college students, not only
reducing hunger, but bringing in much needed federal food
assistance to support disadvantaged students and reinforce our
state's investment in their education.
AB 1930
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2)CalFresh . Nutrition benefits provided through the CalFresh
program are funded entirely by the federal government through
SNAP. The United States Department of Agriculture sets
specific eligibility requirements for SNAP programs across the
United States, including gross and net income tests, work
requirements, and other documentation requirements. CalFresh
is administered locally by county human services agencies, and
the federal, state, and county governments share in the cost
of administration of the program.
The maximum allowable gross income for CalFresh is 130% of the
federal poverty level, and households with elderly or disabled
members are not subject to gross income criteria but must have
a net monthly income at or below 100% of the FPL. Other
households must meet both gross and net monthly income tests.
The average monthly benefit for a CalFresh recipient is
$153.13 per month, or $5.10 per person per day.
3)SNAP student work rule : Federal law prohibits students
enrolled at least half-time in a college or university from
receiving SNAP benefits unless they qualify for an exemption,
even when they meet all other eligibility requirements. In
general, students are exempt from the prohibition if they are
physically or mentally disabled, receiving CalWORKs benefits,
participating in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills
program, employed in a paid position for a minimum of 20 hours
per week, participating in a state- or federally-financed work
study program or an on-the-job training program, responsible
for the care of a dependent household member, or participating
in a program under the Workforce Investment Act.
This work rule was originally developed to ensure that
benefits intended for hungry, low-income students don't go to
students who receive support from their families and who
wouldn't meet eligibility requirements if they weren't living
away from home and considered to be a household of one. The
work requirement assumes that students who are actually needy
will engage in work programs to receive an income and be able
to better provide for themselves.
This bill seeks to ensure that CalFresh applicants are
informed of these work rule exemptions so that eligible
college students are not inappropriately denied food
assistance.
AB 1930
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Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081