CalFresh: student 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 supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Under existing law, households are eligible to receive CalFresh benefits to the extent permitted by federal law. Existing federal law provides that a student who is enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher learning is not eligible to receive supplemental nutrition assistance benefits, unless he or she meets one of several specified exemptions. This bill would require the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the Department of Social Services, to examine and interpret those exemptions and establish clear and detailed guidelines identifying the categories of students that may qualify for an exemption and the programs in which enrollment may qualify a student for an exemption. The bill would state the Legislature's recommendation that the office of the Chancellor of the California State University and the Office of the President of the University of California, in conjunction with the department, similarly examine and interpret those exemptions and establish guidelines. The bill would also require a community college to provide documentation, as specified, to each student identified as qualifying for an exemption. By imposing additional duties on community colleges, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law authorizes counties to participate in the CalFresh Employment and Training program (CalFresh E&T) , established by federal law with the purpose of assisting members of CalFresh households in gaining skills, training, work, or experience that will increase their ability to obtain regular employment. Existing law requires participating counties to screen CalFresh work registrants to determine whether the registrants will participate in, or be deferred from, the CalFresh E&T program. Existing law requires a county that elects to participate in CalFresh E&T to demonstrate how it is successfully using CalFresh E&T funds for each component that it offers, which may include, among others, work experience and training. This bill would authorize a county that elects to participate in the CalFresh E&T program to enter into an agreement with a community college or a California State University to establish an employment and training program, financed using federal funds or federally matched funds, for students attending those postsecondary institutions, if the agreement is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture as part of the CalFresh E&T program plan. The bill would similarly authorize the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the department to enter into an agreement with a community college for those purposes. 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.