CalWORKs: young child special needs supplement: supportive services.

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 specifies the amounts of cash aid to be paid each month to CalWORKs recipients. This bill would require that an additional young child special needs supplement be paid in the amount of $80 per month to a child who is under 2 years of age in an assistance unit, and that this amount be adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to implement this provision through an all-county letter or similar instruction by April 1, 2015, and through regulations by July 1, 2016. Existing law provides that necessary supportive services shall be available to every participant in the CalWORKs program, including child care, as specified. This bill would give participants the option to request supportive services through the Internet Web site of the county if the county is capable of accepting those requests through its Internet Web site. If the county is not capable of accepting requests through its Internet Web site, the bill would require the county to accept those requests in the manner necessary to ensure that participants are able to request the supportive services they need. By increasing the administrative duties of counties administering the CalWORKs program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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. 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.