BILL NUMBER: SB 2013	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   MARCH 30, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Committee on Health and Human Services (Senators
Escutia (Chair), Figueroa, Hughes, Polanco, Solis, and Vasconcellos)

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2000

   An act to add Section 18901.8 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to food stamps.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 2013, as amended, Committee on Health and Human Services.  Food
Stamp Program:  application form.
   Existing law provides for the Food Stamp Program, under which each
county distributes food stamps allocated to this state by the
federal government to eligible households.
   This bill would require the State Department of Social Services,
in conjunction with affected stakeholder groups, and subject to
federal approval, to develop and implement a simplified shortened
Food Stamp Program application form.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 18901.8 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   18901.8.   (a)  To the extent feasible and
permissible under federal law, and with receipt of necessary federal
approvals, the State Department of Social Services, in conjunction
with affected stakeholder groups, shall develop and implement a
simplified and shorter enrollment form for the Food Stamp Program.
 This section shall apply both to the enrollment form used in
Food Stamp Program-only cases and to the Food Stamp Program portion
of the combined Food Stamp, Medi-Cal, and CalWorks form.   The
department shall seek any federal approvals necessary for
implementation of the form.  
   (b) The department shall, as part of the process for development
of the form required pursuant to subdivision (a), examine the
benefits of combining the form with application forms for the
CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, or other programs, and decide whether to combine
the shortened Food Stamp Program form with application forms for
other programs.  The department shall communicate its decision on
combining application forms to the Legislature not later than July 1,
2001.