CalWORKs: welfare-to-work requirements.

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. As part of the CalWORKs program, participants, unless specifically exempted, are required to participate in welfare-to-work activities. Existing law exempts from the welfare-to-work requirements a woman who is pregnant and for whom it has been medically verified that the pregnancy impairs her ability to be regularly employed or participate in welfare-to-work activities. Existing law also requires that a recipient be excused for good cause when the county has determined there is a condition or circumstance that temporarily prevents or significantly impairs the recipient's ability to be regularly employed or participate in welfare-to-work activities. This bill would specify that a pregnant woman who is unable to obtain that medical verification but is otherwise eligible for the good cause exemption shall be exempt from participation in welfare-to-work activities. The bill would authorize a pregnant woman to satisfy welfare-to-work participation requirements, as specified, by participating in a voluntary maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting program or another home visiting program for low-income Californians that is approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, subject to the receipt of a federal waiver, as provided. Under existing law, a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, except the private home or residence of another, where the mother and the child are otherwise authorized to be present. This bill would state that, pursuant to the above-described provision, an applicant or recipient of CalWORKs is entitled to breastfeed her child in any public area, or area where the mother and the child are authorized to be present, in a county welfare department or other county office. The bill would make related legislative findings and declarations.