AB 121 — Social services.

Summary

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 and individuals. Existing law generally provides for the recovery of an overpayment of benefits. Existing law requires a county, beginning when the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) has the capability to produce a specified report identifying overpayments, to deem an overpayment uncollectible and expunge that overpayment if the individual responsible for the overpayment has not received aid under CalWORKs for 36 consecutive months or longer, except as specified. This bill would instead impose that requirement relating to overpayments beginning when SAWS can automate those provisions. Existing law generally requires a recipient of CalWORKs benefits to participate in welfare-to-work activities as a condition of eligibility for aid. Existing law requires that necessary supportive services be available to participants in welfare-to-work activities, including childcare, which is provided pursuant to the Child Care and Development Services Act. The act establishes 3 stages of childcare services. Existing law requires county welfare departments to manage the first stage of childcare, and authorizes first-stage childcare for 1 year, or until the participant is transferred to the 2nd stage of childcare. This bill would instead provide that, upon establishing initial or ongoing eligibility for first-stage childcare services, a family is considered to meet all eligibility and need requirements and be authorized for not less than 12 months, or until the participant is transferred to the 2nd stage of childcare. Existing law requires an applicant for, or a recipient of, CalWORKs benefits to be provided written notice, both at the time of application and when they sign an original or amended welfare-to-work plan, informing them of, among other things, the availability of paid childcare to allow them to be employed or participate in welfare-to-work activities and of assistance in finding and choosing a childcare provider. Existing law, commencing January 1, 2021, or the date that automation changes occur in the Statewide Automated Welfare System, whichever date is later, requires the notice to additionally inform applicants and recipients of the name and contact information for the local childcare resource and referral program, and requires the notice to be provided at additional times, including at the time of orientation and when the recipient is assigned to a program activity. This bill would instead make the requirement that the notice inform applicants and recipients of the name and contact information for the local childcare resource and referral program to be effective immediately, and would, at the above-described later date, also require the notice to be provided when the recipient reports new or increased participation in a program activity. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to work with counties and other stakeholders to modify applicable CalWORKs notices and forms about childcare to include that new information required to be in the notice and to make the modified notices and forms available at times in addition to the time of application and when an original or amended welfare-to-work plan is signed, such as at the time of orientation, when and where possible and appropriate. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions by all-county letter or similar directive until regulations are adopted. By imposing additional duties on county welfare departments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The Budget Act of 2017 appropriated $43,461,000 to the State Department of Social Services for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program to increase participation among homeless persons with disabilities who may be eligible for disability benefits programs, as specified, and made those funds available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2020. This bill would reappropriate the balance of that appropriation to the State Department of Social Services for the same purpose, and would make those funds available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2021. 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 the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 10/02/19 - Chaptered Current pdf October 02, 2019
• Enrolled 09/17/19 - Enrolled pdf September 17, 2019
• Amended 09/03/19 - Amended Senate pdf September 03, 2019
• Amended 08/27/19 - Amended Senate pdf August 27, 2019
• Introduced 12/03/18 - Introduced pdf December 03, 2018
• AB121 View text html

Action History

1. October 02, 2019

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 414, Statutes of 2019.

2. October 02, 2019

   Approved by the Governor.

3. September 24, 2019

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.

4. September 12, 2019

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 3469.).

5. September 12, 2019

   Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3466.)

6. September 12, 2019

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

7. September 12, 2019

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 32. Noes 2. Page 2902.).

8. September 11, 2019

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

9. September 10, 2019

   From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 2.) (September 10).

10. September 09, 2019

    Senate Rule 29.3(b) suspended. (Ayes 29. Noes 7. Page 2690.)

11. September 03, 2019

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. & F.R.

12. August 30, 2019

    In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

13. August 27, 2019

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. & F.R.

14. August 26, 2019

    In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

15. April 24, 2019

    Referred to Com. on B. & F.R.

16. April 11, 2019

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

17. April 11, 2019

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 54. Noes 13. Page 1188.)

18. April 08, 2019

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

19. April 04, 2019

    Ordered to second reading.

20. April 04, 2019

    Withdrawn from committee.

21. April 04, 2019

    Assembly Rule 96 suspended. (Ayes 53. Noes 15. Page 1032.)

22. January 24, 2019

    Referred to Com. on BUDGET.

23. December 04, 2018

    From printer. May be heard in committee January 3.

24. December 03, 2018

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Committee on Budget · Primary

Votes

Subjects