BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 2013
                                                                  Page  1

          SENATE THIRD READING
          SB 2013 (Escutia)
          As Amended June 21, 2000
          Majority vote 

           SENATE VOTE  :38-1  
           
           HUMAN SERVICES      6-0         APPROPRIATIONS      20-1        
           
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |Ayes:|Aroner, Ashburn, Bock,    |Ayes:|Migden, Alquist, Aroner,  |
          |     |Brewer, Dutra,            |     |Ashburn, Brewer,          |
          |     |Strom-Martin              |     |Campbell, Cedillo,        |
          |     |                          |     |Corbett, Davis, Kuehl,    |
          |     |                          |     |Maldonado, Papan, Romero, |
          |     |                          |     |Runner, Shelley, Thomson, |
          |     |                          |     |Wesson, Wiggins, Wright,  |
          |     |                          |     |Zettel                    |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
          |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
          |     |                          |Nays:|Ackerman                  |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
           ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
           SUMMARY:   Requires the food stamp application form to be  
          simplified and shortened.  Specifically,  this bill  requires the  
          Department of Social Services (DSS) to:

          1)Obtain necessary federal approvals and work with relevant  
            stakeholders in developing the form and evaluate using the  
            form for Medi-Cal and the California Work Opportunity and  
            Responsibility to Kids programs.

          2)Provide counties adequate time to reprogram automated systems  
            before implementing the simplified form.  

          3)Report to the Legislature by July 1, 2001, on its progress  
            implementing the simplified form.

           EXISTING LAW  establishes the federal food stamp program under  
          federal law and requires DSS to establish a program for issuing  
          food stamps to eligible, low-income individuals.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   According to the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee analysis, minor absorbable costs to DSS and unknown  
          reimbursable one-time costs to counties, likely over $200,000  








                                                                 SB 2013
                                                                  Page  2

          (General Fund) spread over two to four fiscal years.

           COMMENTS  :  According to the sponsor, California Food Policy  
          Advocates, California has historically had one of the lowest  
          food stamp participation rates in the United States (U.S.).   
          Supporters of this bill attribute the low participation rate to  
          the cumbersome paperwork and administrative requirements,  
          including a nine-page application form.  According to the  
          sponsor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that  
          completing the current food stamp application process takes  
          individuals five hours.  


           Analysis prepared by:   Kirsten Deichert / HUM. S. / (916)  
          319-2247
                                                                FN: 0005640