Social services.

Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals. Existing law generally provides for the recovery of an overpayment of benefits. Existing law requires a county, beginning when the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) has the capability to produce a specified report identifying overpayments, to deem an overpayment uncollectible and expunge that overpayment if the individual responsible for the overpayment has not received aid under CalWORKs for 36 consecutive months or longer, except as specified. This bill would instead impose that requirement relating to overpayments beginning when SAWS can automate those provisions. Existing law generally requires a recipient of CalWORKs benefits to participate in welfare-to-work activities as a condition of eligibility for aid. Existing law requires that necessary supportive services be available to participants in welfare-to-work activities, including childcare, which is provided pursuant to the Child Care and Development Services Act. The act establishes 3 stages of childcare services. Existing law requires county welfare departments to manage the first stage of childcare, and authorizes first-stage childcare for 1 year, or until the participant is transferred to the 2nd stage of childcare. This bill would instead provide that, upon establishing initial or ongoing eligibility for first-stage childcare services, a family is considered to meet all eligibility and need requirements and be authorized for not less than 12 months, or until the participant is transferred to the 2nd stage of childcare. Existing law requires an applicant for, or a recipient of, CalWORKs benefits to be provided written notice, both at the time of application and when they sign an original or amended welfare-to-work plan, informing them of, among other things, the availability of paid childcare to allow them to be employed or participate in welfare-to-work activities and of assistance in finding and choosing a childcare provider. Existing law, commencing January 1, 2021, or the date that automation changes occur in the Statewide Automated Welfare System, whichever date is later, requires the notice to additionally inform applicants and recipients of the name and contact information for the local childcare resource and referral program, and requires the notice to be provided at additional times, including at the time of orientation and when the recipient is assigned to a program activity. This bill would instead make the requirement that the notice inform applicants and recipients of the name and contact information for the local childcare resource and referral program to be effective immediately, and would, at the above-described later date, also require the notice to be provided when the recipient reports new or increased participation in a program activity. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to work with counties and other stakeholders to modify applicable CalWORKs notices and forms about childcare to include that new information required to be in the notice and to make the modified notices and forms available at times in addition to the time of application and when an original or amended welfare-to-work plan is signed, such as at the time of orientation, when and where possible and appropriate. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions by all-county letter or similar directive until regulations are adopted. By imposing additional duties on county welfare departments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The Budget Act of 2017 appropriated $43,461,000 to the State Department of Social Services for the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program to increase participation among homeless persons with disabilities who may be eligible for disability benefits programs, as specified, and made those funds available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2020. This bill would reappropriate the balance of that appropriation to the State Department of Social Services for the same purpose, and would make those funds available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2021. 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 the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.