Cash assistance programs: direct deposit.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services, which implements various public social service programs, including the Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKS) program, and general assistance aid, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals. Existing law requires counties to annually or periodically redetermine eligibility or benefits under public social service programs. Existing law provides for the establishment of a statewide electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system, administered by the department, for the purpose of providing financial and food assistance benefits and requires certain benefit payments, including payments under CalWORKs, that are directly deposited into an account of the recipient's choice to be deposited into a qualifying account. This bill would include general assistance benefits among the cash assistance benefits that may be delivered by direct deposit. The bill would also require the applications for programs providing cash assistance benefits to include information on the application regarding the applicant's right to choose to have their funds directly deposited or to be issued an EBT card. The bill would also require each county to inform the recipient of that right during their redetermination for eligibility. By increasing county duties, 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.