CalFresh eligibility.

Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which nutrition assistance benefits, formerly referred to as food stamps, are allocated to each state by the federal government. That program, as administered in California, is known as CalFresh. Under existing state law, pursuant to CalFresh, California's federal allocation is distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law establishes eligibility and benefit level requirements for receipt of CalFresh benefits. Existing law authorizes counties to participate in the CalFresh Employment and Training (CalFresh E&T) program, established by federal law with the purpose of assisting members of CalFresh households to obtain regular employment, 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 years of age or over 60 years of age. This bill would require participating counties to defer from the CalFresh E&T program a person who is a veteran who has been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces. The bill would require, in a county that elects to participate in the program, that a veteran applying for CalFresh benefits who is required to register to work, but who is exempt from mandatory placement in the CalFresh E&T program, be provided with a referral to the local county veterans service office and a referral to local veterans' assistance and job training agencies, if those agencies are known to the county, and given the opportunity to participate as a volunteer in the CalFresh E&T program.