CalWORKs and CalFresh: reporting.

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 (TANF) block grant program, state, and county funds. Existing law, in addition to annual redetermination of eligibility for CalWORKs benefits, requires counties to redetermine recipient eligibility and grant amounts on a quarterly basis, using prospective budgeting. Under existing law, if a recipient fails to submit a complete quarterly report form, as defined, by a specified time, the county is required to notify the recipient that benefits will be terminated at the end of the month, pursuant to specified notice procedures. Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which nutrition assistance benefits, formerly referred to as food stamps, are allocated to each state by the federal government. Under existing state law, pursuant to CalFresh, California's federal allocation is distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, to the extent permitted by federal law, regulations, waivers, and directives, to implement the prospective budgeting, quarterly reporting system provided for under the CalWORKs program for the administration of CalFresh benefits. This bill would require a county to restore a recipient's benefits, on a prorated basis, if the recipient submits a complete report form within the month following the discontinuance for nonsubmission of a prescribed report form, as specified. This bill would impose a state-mandated local program by requiring the county to restore the recipient's benefits, on a prorated basis, if the recipient submits a completed report within that designated time. Existing law requires, to the maximum extent allowable by federal law, that each county welfare department provide transitional CalFresh benefits to households terminating their participation in the CalWORKs program. The bill would prohibit a recipient of transitional CalFresh benefits from receiving prorated CalFresh benefits during the same month. This bill would provide that these provisions shall become operative on July 1, 2012, and would prohibit implementation of these provisions until the department has obtained specified federal approval. 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.