CalFresh eligibility.

Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh (formerly the Food Stamp Program) , under which nutrition assistance benefits are distributed to eligible individuals by the counties. Existing law establishes eligibility and benefit level requirements for receipt of CalFresh benefits. This bill would require the state to submit a request to the United States Department of Agriculture, on or before December 31, 2014, to waive the requirement excluding the basic allowance for housing from countable income in the calculation of eligibility and benefit level and would require the waiver to be implemented within 6 months of being granted. Existing law authorizes counties to participate in the CalFresh Employment and Training Program (CalFresh E&T) , established by federal law, and requires participating counties to screen CalFresh work registrants to determine whether they will participate in, or be deferred from, the CalFresh E&T program. Existing law requires deferral for specified groups, including people under 16 and over 60 years of age. This bill would require participating counties to defer from the CalFresh E&T program a person who is currently serving in the United States Armed Forces or is a veteran who has been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces. The bill would require a veteran applying for CalFresh benefits who is required to register to work, but who is exempt from mandatory placement in the CalFresh Employment and Training Program, to be provided with a referral to local veterans assistance and job training agencies and be given the opportunity to participate as a volunteer in CalFresh E&T if the county participates. By requiring counties to offer referral services to veterans, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.