Public social services: eligibility: noncitizens.

Existing law establishes various social services programs that provide cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals, including the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program. Under existing law, an alien is eligible for aid under these programs only if he or she has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or is otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish the Food Assistance Program for certain immigrants residing in this state, including, among others, a battered immigrant spouse or a Cuban or Haitian entrant, as described in specified provisions of federal law. This bill would additionally provide that a noncitizen is eligible for aid under CalWORKs and the Food Assistance Program if he or she is lawfully present in the United States. To the extent this bill would expand eligibility for CalWORKs and the Food Assistance Program, which are administered by the counties, this 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.