BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 2417
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 12, 2000

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 
                              Carole Migden, Chairwoman

               AB 2417 (Firebaugh) - As Introduced:  February 24, 2000 

          Policy Committee:                              Human  
          ServicesVote:5-1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              Yes

           SUMMARY  

          This bill continues food stamp and SSI benefits for legal  
          immigrants who entered the U.S. after federal welfare reform was  
          enacted.  Specifically,  this bill  :

          1)Repeals the September 30, 2000, sunset date on the eligibility  
            of legal immigrants who entered the U.S. on or after August  
            22, 1996, for the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)  
            and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).  CFAP  
            provides food stamps and CAPI provides SSI benefits.

          2)Restricts the application of the current five-year income  
            deeming period to legal immigrants who entered the U.S. on or  
            after August 22, 1996, and have executed an enforceable  
            affidavit of support with the federal government.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)$5.6 million GF cost in 2000-01 and $7.5 million annually  
            thereafter to continue CFAP benefits.

          2)Unknown GF cost, probably negligible in 2000-01 but well over  
            $150,000 starting in 2001-02 and annually thereafter, to  
            continue CAPI and modify the deeming provisions.  The earliest  
            year these provisions would take effect is 2001.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  .  This bill, sponsored by the California Immigrant  
            Welfare Collaborative, continues food stamps and SSI benefits  
            for legal immigrants who entered the U.S. after the enactment  








                                                                  AB 2417
                                                                  Page  2

            of federal welfare reform on August 22, 1996.  Public Law  
            104-193 eliminated eligibility for these benefits for most  
            immigrants.  Subsequent federal law restored food stamps and  
            SSI for some immigrants entering before August 22, 1996.   
            California established the CFAP program in 1997 and the CAPI  
            program in 1998 to provide food stamps and SSI benefits for  
            legal immigrants not eligible under federal law.  In 1999, the  
            Budget Act extended CFAP and CAPI benefits to post-August 1996  
            legal immigrants for one year, until September 30, 2000.  This  
            bill would repeal that sunset, thereby continuing benefits  
            indefinitely.

           2)Value of CFAP and CAPI .  Supporters argue CFAP and CAPI  
            provide needed aid for vulnerable populations of adults and  
            children in California.  According to a 1998 study conducted  
            by California Food Policy Advocates, legal immigrant  
            households losing food stamp benefits are far more likely to  
            face hunger and food insecurity than similar households  
            maintaining food stamp benefits.  Many CFAP families are  
            working families with low incomes, while CAPI beneficiaries  
            are low-income seniors and persons with disabilities.   
            According to the author's office, there are about 8,900 CAPI  
            beneficiaries and 85,000 CFAP recipients.  An estimated 12,744  
            CFAP recipients will lose benefits on September 30, 2000.

          3)The Governor's Budget funds only the base programs for CFAP  
            and CAPI (i.e., benefits for pre-August 1996 beneficiaries),  
            but does not fund benefits for post-August legal immigrants.   
            In March, the Senate Subcommittee on Health and Human Services  
            augmented the food stamp budget by $5.6 million to continue  
            CFAP benefits.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Joyce Iseri / APPR. / (319) 319-2081