reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18910.1.

18910.1. All CalFresh households shall be assigned certification periods that are the maximum number of months allowable under federal law for the household type unless a county is complying with subdivision (b) of Section 18910 or, on a case-by-case basis only, the household’s individual circumstances require a shorter certification period.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 25, Sec. 30. (AB 1603) Effective June 27, 2016.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18910.2.

18910.2. (a) The department shall convene a workgroup that includes, but is not limited to, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, representatives of county eligibility workers, the Statewide Automated Welfare System, and client advocates to consider changes to semiannual reporting with the goal of reducing the reporting burden on recipients and reducing the workload for county eligibility staff.
(b) The workgroup shall consider federally allowable reporting structures implemented in other states, consider recommendations in existing research reports, and receive and consider options put forth by workgroup members.
(c) (1) The consensus recommendations of the workgroup shall be submitted to the Legislature not later than October 1, 2021, and shall include details regarding potential implementation of these recommendations, including identification of those that the state may implement via state legislation or administrative guidance to counties, as well as those requiring changes in federal law or waivers of federal law. The report may also include ideas that were not consensus items with an opportunity for participating workgroup members to comment on those items.
(2) (A) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under paragraph (1) is inoperative on October 1, 2025, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
(B) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 11, Sec. 89. (AB 79) Effective June 29, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18911.

18911. (a) An application and an authorization for participation in CalFresh shall be processed within a period of not more than 30 days from the date of application.
(b) The department shall develop written information that describes the eligibility and verification requirements for expedited service, the process for applying for those benefits, and the availability of assistance in filling out the forms and gathering needed documentation.
(c) Each county human services agency shall make the material developed pursuant to subdivision (b) available to each applicant at the time the applicant initially seeks CalFresh benefits.
(d) Each county human services agency shall, upon request, make available the information developed pursuant to subdivision (b) to community action agencies, legal services offices, emergency food programs, and other community programs.
(e) (1) Each county human services agency shall, except as specified in paragraph (2), compile a list of emergency food providers in the area served by the local CalFresh office. The list shall be updated, based on information from the emergency food providers. The list shall be made available upon request, and, where needed, may be used to refer individuals to emergency food sites that may be able to provide assistance.
(2) A county human services agency may elect to refer a CalFresh applicant or recipient to the 2-1-1 dial code to access information on emergency food providers and supplemental food assistance providers, including child nutrition programs, in lieu of providing a list pursuant to paragraph (1) if the county deems that method to be the most appropriate to serve an applicant or recipient.
(f) Each county human services agency shall make available to CalFresh applicants, upon request, nonpromotional information that contains addresses and phone numbers of local legal services and welfare rights organizations.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 68, Sec. 2. (AB 323) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18912.

18912. (a) Each county welfare department shall orally inform each applicant of the availability of expedited service and assistance in filling out the application.
(b) Each county welfare department shall assist an applicant, upon request of the applicant, in filling out forms and completing the application process for expedited service.
(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 443, Sec. 2.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18913.

18913. The department shall collect, quarterly, expedited service data, on a county-by-county basis, of the number of applications and the disposition of the applications, and shall publish those statistics quarterly.
(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 443, Sec. 3.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18914.

18914. (a) In accordance with, and to the extent provided by, federal law, the county human services agency shall provide CalFresh benefits on an expedited basis as provided in subdivision (b) to households determined to be in immediate need of food assistance.
(b) Pursuant to the federal requirements of Section 273.2(i)(2) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the county human services agency shall screen all CalFresh applications for entitlement to expedited service. Applicants who meet the federal criteria for expedited service as defined in Section 273.2(i)(1) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations shall receive either a manual authorization to participate or automated card or the immediate issuance of CalFresh benefits no later than the third day following the date the application was filed. To the maximum extent permitted by federal law, the amount of income to be received from any source shall be deemed to be uncertain and exempt from consideration in the determination of entitlement for expedited service. For purposes of this subdivision, a weekend shall be considered one calendar day.
(c) The State Department of Social Services shall develop and implement for expedited issuance a uniform procedure for verifying information required of an applicant.
(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 227, Sec. 88) by Stats. 2012, Ch. 468, Sec. 1. (AB 1359) Effective January 1, 2013.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18914.5.

18914.5. (a) To the extent permitted by federal law, regulations, waivers, and directives, a resident of, or an individual on a waiting list to get into, a shelter for battered women and children who is currently included in a certified household that also contains the abuser, may apply for and, if otherwise eligible, shall be entitled to expedited services of an additional allotment of CalFresh benefits as a separate household.
(b) For purposes of this section, “shelter for battered women and children” has the same meaning as provided in Section 271.2 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 859, Sec. 2. (AB 2057) Effective January 1, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18915.

18915. All applications and public information materials shall be available to potential, present, and past CalFresh recipients in each county in Spanish as well as English plus any other non-English language prevalent in each county. It shall be within the discretion of the director to designate such other prevalent non-English languages.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 227, Sec. 90. (AB 1400) Effective January 1, 2012.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18916.

18916. The board of supervisors of each county shall have the authority to request from the United States Department of Agriculture the simultaneous operation of the federally donated foods program under the Disaster Act of 1970 as amended and any other enabling federal law.
(Added by Stats. 1973, Ch. 1216.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18917.

18917. (a) (1) The department, in consultation with stakeholders, shall identify the necessary elements of a county disaster plan, and shall issue guidance to county human services agencies informing them of the obligations to submit a disaster plan pursuant to paragraph (2), and of the necessary elements that shall be included in the plan.
(2) A county human services agency shall annually submit to the department a disaster plan that includes the creation of mutual aid regions consisting of two or more counties to ensure there are sufficient resources necessary to continue adequate access to benefits during a disaster. The disaster plan shall include elements specified in paragraph (1).
(b) The department shall offer training on Disaster CalFresh to county human services agencies and organizations, institutions, and agencies receiving federal reimbursements pursuant to Section 18904.3.
(c) The department shall maintain updated Disaster CalFresh materials, including, but not limited to, state and county disaster plans, Disaster CalFresh applications, the Disaster CalFresh Internet Web site, and a Disaster CalFresh outreach flyer in all required languages.
(d) If the President of the United States issues a major disaster declaration for individual assistance, the department and the county human services agency shall request to operate a federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) for the regions affected by the major disaster. The request shall include a waiver request to provide automatic, mass replacement benefits to eligible households and a waiver request to allow households to purchase hot, prepared foods at authorized retailers with their benefits.
(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department shall maximize the capacity of counties to maintain timely, adequate, and safe access to all applicable benefits during a disaster. In order to ensure that disaster victims are not required to travel through dangerous routes to apply for, and to receive their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card to access, Disaster CalFresh or replacement benefits, the department shall do both of the following:
(1) If requested by an affected county, provide to the county and its contracted county consortium staff support necessary for out-stationed application intake locations to support timely, adequate, and safe access to Disaster CalFresh during or following a disaster.
(2) Maintain and make available to affected counties, free of charge, technology and equipment to support the mobile issuance of EBT cards to recipients of Disaster CalFresh or replacement benefits.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 501, Sec. 6. (AB 607) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18918.

18918. Not later than January 15, 2001, the State Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the State Department of Public Health and appropriate stakeholders, shall develop and submit to the Legislature a community outreach and education campaign to help families learn about, and apply for, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, administered in California as CalFresh, and the California Food Assistance Program. At a minimum, the plan shall include the following:
(a) Specific milestones and objectives proposed to be completed for the upcoming year and their anticipated cost.
(b) A general description of each strategy or method to be used for outreach.
(c) Geographic areas and special populations to be targeted, if any, and why the special targeting is needed.
(d) Coordination with other state or county education and outreach efforts.
(e) The results of previous years’ outreach efforts.
(1) If necessary to obtain federal financial participation the CalFresh outreach plan shall be submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture not later than January 15, 2001. The state share of the funding shall be subject to appropriation in the annual Budget Act and may be funded through the General Fund or other state or local funding sources, as appropriate.
(2) After submission of the initial plan, it shall be updated annually and submitted to the Legislature by April 1 for the following year.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 227, Sec. 91. (AB 1400) Effective January 1, 2012.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18918.1.

18918.1. (a) In an effort to expand CalFresh program outreach and retention and improve dual enrollment between the CalFresh and Medi-Cal programs, county welfare departments shall, no later than January 1, 2023, complete all of the following:
(1) Ensure that Medi-Cal applicants applying in-person, online, or by telephone, and who also may be eligible for CalFresh, are screened and given the opportunity to apply at the same time they are applying for Medi-Cal or submitting information for the renewal process.
(2) Ensure the same staff that receive Medi-Cal and CalFresh applications pursuant to paragraph (1) during the Medi-Cal application, renewal, or application and renewal processes conduct the eligibility determination functions needed to determine eligibility or ineligibility to CalFresh.
(3) Designate one or more county liaisons to establish CalFresh application referral and communication procedures on outreach activities between counties and community-based organizations facilitating Medi-Cal enrollment.
(b) Upon certification to the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) can perform the necessary automation to implement this section, counties shall provide prepopulated CalFresh applications to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are apparently CalFresh eligible and not dually enrolled during the Medi-Cal renewal process.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 85, Sec. 83. (AB 135) Effective July 16, 2021.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18919.1.

18919.1. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to maximize food access for all CalFresh recipients. Many of the hungriest Californians who rely on CalFresh to eat face the most significant barriers, including the lack of kitchen facilities or means of preparing and cooking meals with groceries, special dietary needs, or specific foods required for medications, among other factors that strain the ability of traditional groceries to meet their needs. It is further the intent of the Legislature to maximize the dignity and equitable treatment of Californians using CalFresh to purchase food by maximizing food choices.
(b) The State Department of Social Services shall seek all available federal waivers and approvals necessary to maximize food choices for CalFresh recipients under federal law and guidance, including to purchase hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption, pursuant to Section 3(k) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 121, Sec. 1. (AB 712) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18920.

18920. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, an agreement between the department and a unit of local government, any other unit of state government, or a nonprofit organization that provides for a contract relating to either of the following is and shall be deemed a “cooperative agreement,” as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 38072 of the Health and Safety Code:
(1) Outreach programs related to CalFresh.
(2) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 38072 of the Health and Safety Code, for purposes of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 38070) of Division 25.2 of the Health and Safety Code, any reference to the term “department” in those provisions shall refer to the State Department of Social Services for purposes of an agreement described in subdivision (a).
(c) In addition to the authority granted the department in subdivision (a) of Section 38081.1 of the Health and Safety Code, a change of subcontracts shall not be subject to review and approval by the Department of General Services pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.
(d) The Legislature finds and declares that this section shall be applied retroactively to currently executed agreements that are described in subdivision (a).
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 25, Sec. 31. (AB 1603) Effective June 27, 2016.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18922.

18922. (a) On or before July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit a request for a federal waiver to waive the provisions of Section 273.9(b) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any other federal law, regulation, or guidance, to exclude the basic allowance for housing provided to uniformed service members pursuant to Section 403 of Title 37 of the United States Code from countable income in the determination of eligibility and benefit level for purposes of receiving CalFresh benefits.
(b) Upon federal approval of the waiver, the department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, advocates for CalFresh recipients, and the Military Department, shall issue an all-county letter instructing counties on updated eligibility requirements and benefit calculations for uniformed service members receiving a basic allowance for housing.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 877, Sec. 1. (SB 950) Effective January 1, 2023.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18923.

18923. (a) The State Department of Social Services shall submit a request to the United States Department of Agriculture for a waiver to permit a CalFresh household to retain funds in the restricted savings account as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 11155.2 and as accumulated while participating in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program. The participation requirements for this specific savings account as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 11155.2 shall apply to CalFresh. Penalties for nonqualifying withdrawal of these funds shall result in a calculation of a period of ineligibility for all persons in the CalFresh household, to be determined by dividing the balance in the account immediately prior to the withdrawal by the CalFresh allotment to which the household is entitled. The resulting whole number shall be the number of months of ineligibility. The period of ineligibility may be reduced when the divisor, which is the CalFresh allotment, increases as a result of a cost-of-living adjustment.
(b) The director may waive, with federal approval, the enforcement of specific federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program requirements, regulations, and standards necessary to implement this provision.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 227, Sec. 92. (AB 1400) Effective January 1, 2012.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18924.

18924. (a) To the extent permitted by federal law, waiver, demonstration project, or other federal authority, the department shall allow counties to utilize existing information maintained by the federal Social Security Administration regarding low-income social security benefit recipients, to simplify enrollment into the CalFresh program administered pursuant to this chapter, provided that an interested county has either the existing capacity to receive that information, or the ability to adapt its existing automation systems without significant changes or costs to the state or county.
(b) The department shall support enrollment efforts pursuant to this section by doing all of the following:
(1) Working with the Social Security Administration to target social security recipients 60 years of age and older whose income and other factors are likely to qualify them for aid through CalFresh.
(2) Developing a streamlined application and simplified enrollment process for likely eligible recipients, which may include strategies used by other states to reduce paperwork and increase federal nutrition benefits, including, but not limited to, self-certification of key eligibility factors, standardization of benefits and deductions, and automation of the application process.
(3) Seeking waivers, grants, or other federal authority and support necessary to implement this section.
(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2012.
(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 502, Sec. 2. (AB 69) Effective January 1, 2012. Section operative July 1, 2012, by its own provisions.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18926.

18926. (a) To the extent permitted by federal law, the department shall annually seek a federal waiver of the existing federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program limitation that stipulates that an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) participant is limited to three months of CalFresh benefits in a three-year period unless that participant has met the work participation requirement or is otherwise exempt.
(b) All eligible counties shall be included in and bound by this waiver.
(c) At its option, when a county is not eligible for a countywide waiver, a county may request that the department apply for the waiver described in subdivision (a) for one or more eligible subareas of the county. The department shall seek the subarea waiver within a reasonable time frame following a request made by a county, and may seek any necessary information from the county to support the waiver request.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 24, Sec. 54. (SB 89) Effective June 27, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18926.1.

18926.1. (a) To the extent not prohibited by federal law and guidance, the department shall ensure that all recipients subject to the federal ABAWD time limit described in Section 18926 are permitted to meet the work requirements of the time limit through all forms of work, including, but not limited to, volunteer work at a nonprofit organization or a public institution that the recipient chooses, if the county can verify the hours of participation using the process established by the department pursuant to subdivision (b).
(b) On or before January 1, 2018, the department, with input from the County Welfare Directors Association and advocates for CalFresh recipients, shall issue an all-county letter instructing counties as to how to verify hours of the volunteer work specified in subdivision (a).
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 24, Sec. 55. (SB 89) Effective June 27, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18926.2.

18926.2. To the extent not prohibited by federal law and guidance, a recipient who is homeless shall be deemed to be exempt from the federal ABAWD time limit described in Section 18926. For purposes of this section, a recipient who is homeless is a person who does not have a regular nighttime residence.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 24, Sec. 56. (SB 89) Effective June 27, 2017.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18926.6.

18926.6. In a county that elects to participate in the CalFresh E&T program, a veteran applying for CalFresh benefits who is required to register to work, but who is exempt from mandatory placement in the CalFresh E&T program pursuant to Section 18926.5, shall be given the opportunity to participate as a volunteer in the CalFresh E&T program, and shall be provided with a referral to the local county veterans service office and a referral to veterans’ assistance and job training agencies, if those veterans’ assistance and job training agencies are known to the county.
(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 283, Sec. 3. (SB 134) Effective January 1, 2014.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18926.8.

18926.8. (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the CalFresh E&T Workers’ Compensation Fund for the purpose of paying workers’ compensation claims resulting from CalFresh recipients’ participation in the CalFresh E&T program. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, funds deposited and maintained under this section are continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, to the State Department of Social Services for the payment of workers’ compensation claims to CalFresh E&T participants.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, income generated from the Surplus Money Investment Fund during any fiscal year shall be credited to the CalFresh E&T Workers’ Compensation Fund.
(c) In the event of an amendment to the law requiring abolition of the fund, all remaining funds shall be returned to the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 82. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18927.1.

18927.1. (a) A county shall establish a claim to recover an overissuance of CalFresh benefits due to inadvertent household error, as defined by subdivision (b) of Section 273.18 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or administrative error for which 24 months or fewer have elapsed between the month the overissuance occurred and the month the county welfare department determined the overissuance occurred. A county shall not establish a claim to recover an overissuance due to inadvertent household error or administrative error for which more than 24 months have elapsed between the month the overissuance occurred and the month the county welfare department determined the overissuance occurred.
(b) A claim established pursuant to this section shall equal the total amount of overissuance during the 24 months immediately preceding the date the overissuance due to the inadvertent household error or administrative error was discovered. A county shall not collect any portion of an overissuance that occurred more than 24 months before the date the county discovered the overissuance.
(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2022, or upon the department’s notification to the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this section, whichever date is later.
(d) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement and administer this section through all-county letters or similar instructions, which shall have the same force and effect as regulations, until regulations are adopted.
(e) The department shall adopt emergency regulations implementing this section no later than January 1, 2023. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, any emergency regulation previously adopted pursuant to this section. The initial adoption of regulations pursuant to this section and one readoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State, and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted.
(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 85, Sec. 85. (AB 135) Effective July 16, 2021. Conditionally operative July 1, 2022, or later date, as prescribed by its own provisions.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18927.5.

18927.5. (a) A county human services agency shall notify the department when a mass overissuance has been identified, and include information in the notification as to whether the mass overissuance is known to have been caused by either of the following:
(1) Negligence or fraud on the part of the county human services agency in the certification of applicant households, as defined by subdivision (h) of Section 2020 of Title 7 of the United States Code.
(2) A major systemic error by the state or county human services agency, as defined by paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 2022 of Title 7 of the United States Code.
(b) For purposes of this section, “mass overissuance” means an overissuance that is caused by the same action or inaction and impacts either 8 percent of the county CalFresh caseload, or more than 1,000 CalFresh households within the county, whichever is greater.
(c) The department shall report mass overissuances to the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, as required by federal law and guidance.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 388, Sec. 2. (SB 278) Effective January 1, 2018.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18928.

18928. For the purpose of maximizing the anti-hunger impact of Section 66027.8 of the Education Code, the department shall consult with stakeholders, including legislative staff, representatives of counties, CalFresh eligibility workers, representatives from each segment of public postsecondary education, advocates for CalFresh recipients, and other stakeholders as identified by the department, with the goals of improving coordination between the segments of public postsecondary education and CalFresh administering agencies and improving access to CalFresh for low-income public postsecondary students. To the extent possible, this consultation shall take place through existing workgroups convened by the department.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 497, Sec. 323. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2020.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18928.5.

18928.5. (a) No later than January 1, 2024, in order to assist in monitoring information about access to the CalFresh program by students enrolled in an institution of higher education, the department shall publish data specific to students’ receipt of CalFresh benefits on the department’s existing CalFresh Data Dashboard.
(b) The data shall include metrics about student applications, demographics, and exemptions as available through existing data sources, and shall exclude any personally identifiable information.
(c) The department shall update the dashboard on an annual basis and as additional data become available about the population described in subdivision (a).
(d) For purposes of this section, “enrolled in an institution of higher education” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 273.5 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 168, Sec. 1. (AB 928) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10 - CalFresh › Section 18929.

18929. To the extent permitted by federal law, regulation, or a waiver of a federal law or regulation, a county shall determine that good cause exists for purposes of the work requirement specified in Section 273.7(a)(1)(vii) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations if an applicant or recipient has voluntarily quit a job or reduced work hours based on at least one of the reasons enumerated in subdivision (a) of Section 11320.31, or because the scheduled work hours were so unpredictable that they did not allow the applicant or recipient to anticipate the amount of monthly income from the job. If the applicant or recipient reports refusing any offer of employment, reducing hours, voluntarily quitting any employment, or being discharged from any employment, the county human services agency shall provide the applicant or recipient with information regarding workplace rights generally, including information about how to file complaints with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the Civil Rights Department. This information shall be provided pursuant to the instructions developed by the workgroup specified in subdivision (d) of Section 11320.31.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 131, Sec. 234. (AB 1754) Effective January 1, 2024.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.1 - Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants › Section 18930.5.

18930.5. (a) As a condition of eligibility for assistance under this chapter:
(1) A recipient who is also receiving aid under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) of Part 3 shall be required to satisfactorily participate in welfare-to-work activities in accordance with the recipient’s welfare-to-work plan developed pursuant to Section 11325.21.
(2) A recipient who is not receiving aid under Chapter 2 shall be required to meet the work requirement under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as specified in Section 2015(o) of Title 7 of the United States Code.
(b) This section shall become inoperative on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement Section 18930.5, as added by the act that added this subdivision, and, as of January 1 of the following year, is repealed.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 85. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022. Conditionally inoperative on date prescribed by its own provisions. Repealed on January 1 following the inoperative date. See later operative date added by Sec. 86 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 50.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.1 - Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants › Section 18930.5.

18930.5. (a) A recipient of benefits under this chapter shall not be required to meet the work requirement under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as specified in Section 2015(o) of Title 7 of the United States Code, or any work registration requirements.
(b) An applicant who states that they do not have a social security number shall not be required to present a social security number in order to receive benefits under this chapter.
(c) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the State Department of Social Services may implement and administer this section through all-county letters or similar instructions without taking regulatory action until final regulations are adopted, which shall be no later than 18 months after the date upon which this subdivision becomes operative.
(d) This section shall become operative on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this section.
(Repealed (in Sec. 85) and added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 86. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022. Conditionally operative on date prescribed by its own provisions.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.1 - Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants › Section 18931.

18931. Any person who is eligible for federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, administered in California as CalFresh benefits, shall not be eligible for assistance under this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 227, Sec. 96. (AB 1400) Effective January 1, 2012.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.1 - Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants › Section 18932.

18932. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the federal and state laws and regulations governing the federal Food Stamp Program shall also govern the program provided for under this chapter.
(b) Federal deeming rules and exemptions governing the federal Food Stamp Program shall also govern the program provided for under this chapter, except that for immigrants with affidavits of support under Section 1183a of Title 8 of the United States Code who do not meet exemptions from deeming, the period for deeming of a sponsor’s income and resources shall be three years from the date of the sponsor’s execution of the affidavit of support pursuant to Section 1183a of Title 8 of the United States Code.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, immigrants who are victims of abuse by their sponsor or sponsor’s spouse shall be exempt from deeming. Abuse shall be defined in the same manner as provided in Section 11495.1 and Section 11495.12. A sworn statement of abuse by a victim, or the representative of the victim if the victim is not able to competently swear, shall be sufficient to establish abuse if one or more additional items of evidence of abuse is also provided. Additional evidence may include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) Police, government agency, or court records or files.
(2) Documentation from a domestic violence program, or from a legal, clinical, medical, or other professional from whom the applicant or recipient has sought assistance in dealing with abuse.
(3) A statement from any other individual with knowledge of the circumstances that provided the basis for the claim.
(4) Physical evidence of abuse.
(5) If the victim cannot provide additional evidence of abuse, then the sworn statement shall be sufficient if the county makes a determination documented in writing in the case file that the applicant is credible.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 147, Sec. 42. Effective July 22, 1999.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.1 - Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants › Section 18933.

18933. Benefits provided under this chapter shall be equivalent to the benefits provided under the federal Food Stamp Program.
(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 287, Sec. 1. Effective August 18, 1997.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.1 - Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants › Section 18934.

18934. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate funds in the Budget Act for the purpose of providing services under this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 147, Sec. 42.5. Effective July 22, 1999.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.1 - Food Assistance Program for Legal Immigrants › Section 18935.

18935. This chapter shall be implemented only during any period that federal benefits are provided under Section 1612(a) of Title 8 of the United States Code.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 147, Sec. 42.6. Effective July 22, 1999.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.2 - Tribal Nutrition Assistance › Section 18936.

18936. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide supplemental nutrition benefits to households that are ineligible for CalFresh benefits solely because they receive United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) foods through the federal Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) when the federal program benefits are less than those provided by the CalFresh program.
(b) The Tribal Nutrition Assistance Program is hereby established, to be administered by the State Department of Social Services.
(c) Subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, the department shall, at its discretion, award grants to eligible tribes and tribal organizations for the purpose of addressing food insecurity and inequities between CalFresh benefits, as described in Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 18900), and the federal Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, as described in Section 253.1 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(d) The department shall develop grant eligibility standards and grant rules regarding approved services and assistance in government-to-government consultation with tribes.
(e) The department shall begin awarding grants no later than July 1, 2023.
(f) Contracts or grants awarded pursuant to this chapter are exempt from the requirements of Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the Public Contract Code, and the State Contracting Manual, and are not subject to the approval of the Department of General Services.
(g) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the State Department of Social Services may implement and administer this act without adopting regulations.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 87. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.3 - Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants › Section 18937.

18937. The State Department of Social Services shall establish and supervise a county- or county consortia-administered program to provide cash assistance to aged, blind, and disabled legal immigrants who are not citizens and who successfully complete an application process. No application shall be required of individuals described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 18944. The department shall conduct the evaluations of disability for the program. If the federal government agrees to administer the program, the department shall contract with the federal government for this purpose, and the county responsibilities shall be reduced by the duties and responsibilities undertaken by the federal government.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 329, Sec. 38. Effective August 21, 1998.)
2023 California Code › Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC › DIVISION 9 - PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES › PART 6 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 10.3 - Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants › Section 18938.

18938. (a) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), an individual, upon application, shall be eligible for the program established pursuant to Section 18937 if his or her immigration status meets the eligibility criteria of the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (SSI/SSP) in effect on August 21, 1996, but he or she is not eligible for SSI/SSP benefits solely due to his or her immigration status under Title IV of Public Law 104-193 and any subsequent amendments thereto.
(2) An applicant who is otherwise eligible for the program, but who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, shall be eligible for aid under this chapter only if he or she is sponsored and one of the following conditions is met:
(A) The sponsor has died.
(B) The sponsor is disabled, as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 11320.3.
(C) The applicant, after entry into the United States, is a victim of abuse by the sponsor or the spouse of the sponsor if the spouse is living with the sponsor.
(3) An applicant who is otherwise eligible for the program but who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, and who does not meet one of the conditions of paragraph (2) shall be eligible for aid under this chapter beginning on October 1, 1999.
(4) The applicant shall be required to provide verification that one of the conditions of subparagraphs (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) has been met.
(5) (A) For purposes of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2), abuse shall be defined in the same manner as provided in Section 11495.1 and Section 11495.12. A sworn statement of abuse by a victim, or the representative of the victim if the victim is not able to competently swear, shall be sufficient to establish abuse if one or more additional items of evidence of abuse is also provided. Additional evidence may include, but is not limited to, the following:
(i) Police, government agency, or court records or files.
(ii) Documentation from a domestic violence program, legal, clinical, medical, or other professional from whom the applicant or recipient has sought assistance in dealing with abuse.
(iii) A statement from any other individual with knowledge of the circumstances that provided the basis for the claim.
(iv) Physical evidence of abuse.
(B) If the victim cannot provide additional evidence of abuse, then the sworn statement shall be sufficient if the county makes a determination documented in the case file that the applicant is credible.
(b) The department shall periodically redetermine the eligibility of each individual.
(c) The department shall take all steps necessary to qualify any benefits paid under this section to be eligible for reimbursement as federal Interim Assistance including requiring a repayment agreement.
(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 111, Sec. 53. Effective July 30, 2001.)