California 2015-2016 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 306 — CalFresh: eligibility: work requirements.

Last action — Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2015-2016 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

(1) Existing law requires each county to provide cash assistance and other social services to needy families through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program using federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant program, state, and county funds. Existing law provides that a parent or caretaker relative shall not be eligible for CalWORKs aid when he or she has received aid for a cumulative total of 48 months. Existing law further provides that any month in which specified conditions exist shall not be counted toward that 48-month time limit. This bill would prohibit any month for which the National Bureau of Economic Research has declared the United States to be in an economic recession or economic depression from being counted toward that 48-month time limit. (2) Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, under which counties distribute food assistance benefits to eligible individuals. Existing law authorizes counties to participate in the CalFresh Employment and Training program (CalFresh E&T) , established by federal law, and requires participating counties to screen CalFresh work registrants to determine whether they will participate in, or be deferred from, the CalFresh E&T program. Existing federal law limits an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) participant to 3 months of CalFresh benefits in a 3-year period unless that participant has met specified work participation requirements. Existing law directs the State Department of Social Services to annually seek a federal waiver of this limitation, and provides that an eligible county is included in this waiver unless the county declines to participate in the waiver request. Existing law authorizes the department to implement this provision by all-county letters or similar instructions. This bill would require all counties to participate in the CalFresh E&T program, and would direct each county to provide a placement in the program for every ABAWD that requests one. The bill would provide that federal funds for serving all at-risk ABAWDs through a CalFresh E&T program be used to support the cost to the county of providing these services using a formula established by the department in consultation with the county and the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. By requiring counties to provide these employment and training services, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require all eligible counties and subcounty areas to be included in the federal waiver of the ABAWD time limitation. The bill would require a county, if the county is not eligible for the waiver, to submit a CalFresh E&T plan for state and federal approval that meets specified standards and ensures a placement for all ABAWD's required to work and unable to secure employment. The bill would require that federal funds received to serve, through a CalFresh E&T program, ABAWDs who are subject to the time limitation be used to support the cost to the counties of providing these services using a formula established by the department in consultation with county human services agencies and the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. The bill would also require those counties, if they send a notice of action to an applicant or participant subject to the ABAWD time limit, to include specified information to help the person, to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, to seek and receive assistance in securing employment or an exemption. By imposing these requirements on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also require the department to issue annual guidance to these counties regarding federal exemptions and waivers, and would authorize the department to implement the provisions of the bill by all-county letters or similar instructions and require the department to thereafter adopt regulations to implement its provisions by January 1, 2018. (3) Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. (4) 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 these statutory provisions.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. May 28 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

  3. Set for hearing May 28.

  4. May 18 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  5. Set for hearing May 18.

  6. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  7. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 816.) (April 28).

  8. Set for hearing April 28.

  9. April 14 hearing postponed by committee.

  10. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

  11. Set for hearing April 14.

  12. Referred to Com. on HUMAN S.

  13. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 26.

  14. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

  • Hertzberg · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Hertzberg

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Placed on suspense file

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Bates — Yea
Leyva — Yea
Hill — Yea
Beall — Yea
Lara — Yea
Mendoza — Yea
Nielsen — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety healthcare labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 306 do?
(1) Existing law requires each county to provide cash assistance and other social services to needy families through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program using federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant program, state, and county funds. Existing law provides that a parent or caretaker relative shall not be eligible for CalWORKs aid when he or she has received aid for a cumulative total of 48 months. Existing law further provides that any month in which specified conditions exist shall not be counted toward that 48-month time limit. This bill would prohibit any month for which the National Bureau of Economic Research has declared the United States to be in an economic recession or economic depression from being counted toward that 48-month time limit. (2) Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, under which counties distribute food assistance benefits to eligible individuals. Existing law authorizes counties to participate in the CalFresh Employment and Training program (CalFresh E&T) , established by federal law, and requires participating counties to screen CalFresh work registrants to determine whether they will participate in, or be deferred from, the CalFresh E&T program. Existing federal law limits an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) participant to 3 months of CalFresh benefits in a 3-year period unless that participant has met specified work participation requirements. Existing law directs the State Department of Social Services to annually seek a federal waiver of this limitation, and provides that an eligible county is included in this waiver unless the county declines to participate in the waiver request. Existing law authorizes the department to implement this provision by all-county letters or similar instructions. This bill would require all counties to participate in the CalFresh E&T program, and would direct each county to provide a placement in the program for every ABAWD that requests one. The bill would provide that federal funds for serving all at-risk ABAWDs through a CalFresh E&T program be used to support the cost to the county of providing these services using a formula established by the department in consultation with the county and the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. By requiring counties to provide these employment and training services, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require all eligible counties and subcounty areas to be included in the federal waiver of the ABAWD time limitation. The bill would require a county, if the county is not eligible for the waiver, to submit a CalFresh E&T plan for state and federal approval that meets specified standards and ensures a placement for all ABAWD's required to work and unable to secure employment. The bill would require that federal funds received to serve, through a CalFresh E&T program, ABAWDs who are subject to the time limitation be used to support the cost to the counties of providing these services using a formula established by the department in consultation with county human services agencies and the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. The bill would also require those counties, if they send a notice of action to an applicant or participant subject to the ABAWD time limit, to include specified information to help the person, to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, to seek and receive assistance in securing employment or an exemption. By imposing these requirements on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also require the department to issue annual guidance to these counties regarding federal exemptions and waivers, and would authorize the department to implement the provisions of the bill by all-county letters or similar instructions and require the department to thereafter adopt regulations to implement its provisions by January 1, 2018. (3) Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. (4) 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 these statutory provisions.
Who sponsors SB 306?
SB 306 is sponsored by Hertzberg.
What is the current status of SB 306?
This bill died with 2015-2016 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 306?
Track SB 306 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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