CalFresh: employment social enterprises.

Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, under which food assistance benefits are distributed to eligible individuals by the counties. Existing law authorizes counties to participate in the CalFresh Employment and Training Program (CalFresh E&T) , established by federal law, 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. This bill would authorize the State Department of Social Services, to the extent permitted by federal law, to contract directly with an entity that provides services on a regional or statewide basis and that has expertise in, and secures funds for, CalFresh E&T program services. The bill would authorize the department to act as the state entity for receipt of federal reimbursement on behalf of the entity in certain circumstances and would require the department to seek any county consultation necessary to implement the contract. The bill would authorize a county to contract with an employment social enterprise or designated intermediary to provide services to its CalFresh E&T program participants and would require the department to issue guidance instructing counties that elect to participate in CalFresh E&T program services of any special considerations for partnering with employment social enterprises in the development or implementation of their county CalFresh E&T programs. The bill would also make legislative findings and declarations relating to California's employment social enterprises.