Federal Earned Income Tax Credit: community outreach.

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 the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, state, and county funds. Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to maximize the ability of CalWORKs recipients to benefit from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) , and to educate and empower recipients to save or invest all or part of their credits in specified instruments. Existing law establishes the Department of Community Services and Development, which has prescribed duties relating to the administration and coordination of certain antipoverty programs. This bill would designate the department as the lead agency responsible for implementing federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach programs, with specified exceptions. This bill would require the department to coordinate its federal EITC outreach efforts with prescribed entities, as specified, to increase the number of eligible persons in this state who apply for and receive the federal EITC.