Nutrition assistance: Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children.

Existing law establishes the California Health and Human Services Agency. The agency includes various departments that administer social services in this state, including the State Department of Social Services. Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing state law authorizes a county to deliver CalFresh benefits through the use of an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system. This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to designate the appropriate agency or agencies to design and implement the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) to provide nutrition assistance benefits to eligible households. The bill would require that the system be compatible with the state's electronic benefits transfer system, comply with federal laws and regulations, and comply with privacy and confidentiality procedures consistent with all applicable state and federal law. The bill would require, among other things, the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency to designate the appropriate state agency which would be required to request or apply for federal approval or authorization necessary to implement and operate SEBTC. The bill would also require each agency to request or apply for all available federal funding to implement and operate SEBTC. The bill would require the secretary to notify in a timely manner the appropriate head of each agency that is required to request or apply for federal approval or authorization so as to permit the agency or agencies sufficient time to complete the process. The bill would provide that the provision of SEBTC benefits to eligible households is contingent upon federal funding for this purpose. The bill would also include a statement of legislative findings and declarations.