CalWORKs eligibility: income exemptions.

Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to eligible states. Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Under existing law, certain types of payments received by recipients of aid under the CalWORKs program, including, among others, specified amounts of disability-based unearned income and earned income and an award or scholarship provided by a public or private entity to, or on behalf of, a dependent child, are exempt from consideration as income for purposes of determining eligibility and aid amount. The bill would also exempt child support payments paid by a member of the assistance unit to or for an individual living outside of the assistance unit's home from being included as income for these purposes. This bill would require the department to implement the bill through an all-county letter or similar instruction until the regulations are adopted. By expanding the scope of eligibility for CalWORKs, the bill would impose 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 that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. 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.