CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and CalFresh: suspension of benefits.

(1) 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. Under existing law, the county is required to periodically redetermine eligibility for CalWORKs benefits. Under existing law, a CalWORKs recipient is required to report to the county, orally or in writing, specified changes that could affect the amount of aid to which the recipient is entitled. This bill, commencing the later of January 1, 2015, or the date that any necessary federal approvals are obtained, would require that a person who is an inmate of a public institution be suspended as a member of the CalWORKs assistance unit for the duration of his or her incarceration, but would return the person to the assistance unit without reapplying, if he or she is still eligible for CalWORKs benefits upon release. To the extent that the bill would expand eligibility for CalWORKs benefits, the bill would create 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 provide instead that no appropriation would be made for the purpose of implementing the bill (2) Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, and under which qualified low-income persons receive health care benefits. The Medi-Cal program is governed, in part, by federal Medicaid provisions. Existing law suspends the Medi-Cal benefits of an individual under 21 years of age who is an inmate of a public institution for the duration of his or her stay in the public institution or one year, whichever is less. This bill, commencing the later of January 1, 2015, or the date that any necessary federal approvals are obtained, would make the suspension of benefits provisions applicable to individuals who are 21 years of age or older. By expanding the duties of county welfare departments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , under which each county distributes nutrition assistance benefits provided by the federal government to eligible households. In California, federal nutrition assistance benefits are administered through CalFresh. This bill, commencing the later of January 1, 2015, or the date that any necessary federal approvals are obtained, would require that a person who is an inmate of a public institution be suspended from receiving CalFresh benefits for the duration of his or her incarceration, but would reinstate the benefits without the person reapplying, if he or she is still eligible for CalFresh benefits upon release. To the extent that the bill would expand eligibility for CalFresh benefits, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. (4) 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.