CalFresh: Restaurant Meals Program.

Existing federal law provides for the federal 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 federal law authorizes eligible counties to participate in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) , which allows eligible recipients to purchase meals at qualified restaurants. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to issue an annual all-county letter providing guidance that lists which counties or regions are eligible to participate in the RMP and the instructions for how a county may choose to participate in RMP or appeal a determination by the department that the county is not eligible. This bill, the Access to Safe Food Choices and Food Security Act of 2019, would require the department, to the extent permitted by federal law and in consultation with various stakeholders, to establish a statewide RMP. The bill would require the department to implement these provisions on or before September 1, 2020, and make other conforming changes. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 18919 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 612 to be operative only if this bill and AB 612 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.