CalWORKs: eligibility.

(1) Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to eligible states. Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Existing law specifies criteria for eligibility for the CalWORKs program, and limits the receipt of aid to families with related children under 18 years of age, as specified. Existing law prohibits a child from receiving aid while he or she is a patient in a public hospital, except with respect to temporary medical or surgical care not exceeding two calendar months, as provided. This bill would instead require that a child who is a patient in a public or private hospital for medical or surgical care be considered temporarily absent from the home for the duration of the hospital stay. To the extent that this bill would expand CalWORKs eligibility and thereby increase the duties of counties administering the program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) 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. (3) 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.