Refugee social services.

Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, after setting aside state administrative funds, to allocate social services funds derived from appropriated federal funds and federally targeted assistance to eligible counties, to be used by the county, pursuant to a plan developed by the county, to provide services to refugees that lead to successful self-sufficiency and social integration for the refugees. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the Budget Act and until January 1, 2026, require an additional 8 months of refugee cash assistance payments to a refugee after the payment of federally funded cash aid benefits has been exhausted. The bill would require the transition from federally funded refugee cash assistance payments to state-funded cash assistance payments to be seamless and would prohibit a refugee from being required to reapply for state cash assistance if the refugee is otherwise eligible. By imposing additional duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.