CalWORKs eligibility: domestic violence.

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 authorizes each county to waive a program requirement at any time for a recipient who is a past or present victim of abuse, as specified. This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to establish a standard, statewide notice and process to ensure that applicants for, or recipients of, CalWORKs aid who are past or present victims of domestic violence are not placed at further risk or unfairly penalized by program requirements or procedures. The bill would also require, with specified verification, the county to waive, for applicants or recipients, program requirements that make it more difficult for the victim to escape domestic violence, unfairly penalize the victim or family, or place them at further risk or encourage them to remain with the abuser. The bill would require counties to use the standard, statewide notice and process to inform all CalWORKs applicants and recipients of their rights and how to secure a waiver and to review the waivers, as specified. By increasing the duties of county human services agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law makes sworn statements by a victim of past or present abuse sufficient to establish abuse unless the county human services agency finds the person not credible and allows other specified forms of evidence, including official reports or documentation. This bill would make a sworn statement by the person sufficient to establish abuse is occurring or has occurred within the past 12 months unless the county human services agency finds the person not credible and other prescribed forms of evidence are not available. The bill would require additional prescribed evidence if the abuse occurred more than 12 months in the past. 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.