Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. 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. Existing law, to the extent required by specified federal provisions, requires that a family who was receiving aid under the CalWORKs program in at least 3 of the 6 months immediately preceding the month in which that family became ineligible for that assistance due to income from employment, or other specified reasons, to remain eligible for health care services under the Medi-Cal program during the immediately succeeding 6-month period. Existing law, in conformance with federal law, requires the department to offer those beneficiaries the option of remaining eligible for health care services under the Medi-Cal program for an additional period of 6 months. Existing federal law authorizes a state to elect to treat any reference to the initial 6-month extension period as a reference to a 12-month period, in which case the federal provisions relating to the additional 6-month extension do not apply. This bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2019, to implement the option available under the above-described federal law to replace the initial 6-month extension period with a 12-month initial eligibility period, making the federal and state provisions relating to the additional 6-month extension inapplicable. The bill would also make conforming changes to related provisions. Because counties are responsible for making eligibility determinations under the Medi-Cal program, by revising eligibility requirements, 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.
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Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law requires the department to exercise its option under federal law to implement a program for aged and disabled persons, as described. Existing law requires an individual under these provisions to satisfy certain financial eligibility requirements, including, among other things, that his or her countable income does not exceed an income standard equal to 100% of the applicable federal poverty level, plus an income disregard of $230 for an individual, or $310 in the case of a couple, except that the income standard determined shall not be less than the SSI/SSP payment level for a disabled individual or couple, as applicable. Existing law authorizes the department to implement this program by means of all-county letters or similar instructions without taking regulatory action and thereafter requires the department to adopt regulations. This bill would instead require, upon receipt of federal approval, all countable income over 100% of the federal poverty level, up to 138% of the federal poverty level, to be disregarded, after taking all other disregards, deductions, and exclusions into account for those persons eligible under the program for aged and disabled persons. The bill would provide that the income level determined based on a countable income that does not exceed an income level equal to 100% of the applicable federal poverty level, plus an income disregard of $230 for an individual, or $310 in the case of a couple, shall not be less than the SSI/SSP payment level the individual or couple, as applicable, receives or would receive as a disabled or blind individual or couple. The bill would require a specified provision to be implemented after the Director of Health Care Services determines, and communicates that determination in writing to the Department of Finance, that systems have been programmed for implementation of that provision, but no sooner than January 1, 2019. The bill would authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific the above-described program for aged and disabled persons by means of all-county letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until regulations are adopted, and would require the department to adopt regulations no later than July 1, 2022. The bill would require the department to provide a status report on a semiannual basis to the Legislature until regulations have been adopted. The bill would provide that the program shall be implemented only if and to the extent that any necessary federal approvals have been obtained. Because counties are required to make Medi-Cal eligibility determinations, and this bill would expand Medi-Cal eligibility by increasing the income disregard amounts and would increase the responsibility of counties in determining Medi-Cal eligibility, the 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.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal Access Program, which provides health care services to a woman who is pregnant or in her postpartum period and whose household income is within specified thresholds of the federal poverty level, and to a child under 2 years of age who is delivered by a mother enrolled in the program, as specified. Existing federal law authorizes a state to provide in its Medicaid state plan that in determining eligibility under the federal Medicaid program for a child, the state is authorized to rely on a finding made within a reasonable period from an Express Lane agency, as defined, when it determines whether a child satisfies one or more components of eligibility for medical assistance under the federal Medicaid program. Existing law establishes the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program) , which is administered by the State Department of Public Health and counties and under which nutrition and other assistance are provided to eligible low-income pregnant women, low-income postpartum and lactating women, and low-income infants and children under 5 years of age, who have been determined to be at nutritional risk. Existing law requires the former Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and former State Department of Health Services, in collaboration with program offices for the WIC Program and other designated entities, to design, promulgate, and implement policies and procedures for an automated enrollment gateway system, subject to appropriation, allowing children applying to the WIC Program to obtain presumptive eligibility for, and to facilitate application for enrollment in, the Medi-Cal program or the former Healthy Families Program, to the extent federal financial participation is available, as specified. This bill would delete the above-described provisions relating to the automated enrollment gateway system and would instead require the State Department of Health Care Services, in collaboration with the same designated entities, to design, promulgate, and implement policies and procedures for an automated enrollment gateway system, operational no later than January 1, 2020, allowing children applying to the WIC Program to obtain express lane eligibility for, and to facilitate application for enrollment in, the Medi-Cal program, and allowing pregnant women applying to the WIC Program to obtain presumptive eligibility for the Medi-Cal program or the Medi-Cal Access Program, to the extent federal financial participation is available. The bill would also require the system to perform specified functions relating to the eligibility of those persons under the programs. The bill would require the department to seek approval of any amendments to the state plan necessary to implement these provisions, and would condition the implementation of the provisions on the department obtaining all necessary federal approvals. Because counties are responsible for making eligibility determinations under the Medi-Cal program, by revising eligibility requirements, 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.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law authorizes the establishment of community college districts under the administration of community college governing boards, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at community college campuses throughout the state. Existing law requires community college district governing boards to charge students an enrollment fee of $46 per unit per semester. Existing law requires the board of governors to waive this fee for students meeting prescribed requirements. Existing law also establishes the California College Promise, administered by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, which distributes funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each community college meeting prescribed requirements to be used to, among other things, accomplish specified policy goals and waive student fees for one academic year for first-time students who are enrolled in 12 or more semester units or the equivalent at the college and complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact later legislation to waive student fees for 2 academic years of attendance at any community college in California.
This measure would mark May 6, 2018, as the 136th anniversary of the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act in order to recognize the harm caused by racially discriminatory immigration measures, and to honor the contributions of all immigrants and refugees who have enriched our communities. The measure would also declare the opposition of the Legislature to executive orders and a presidential proclamation signed by President Trump relating to immigration, call upon the President to revoke those orders and that proclamation, condemn the expansion of deportations being undertaken under the current presidential administration, and reaffirm that the state is open and welcoming to immigrants and refugees who are integral to life in our state.
This measure would declare the intent of the Legislature to further support the housing needs of individuals with developmental disabilities by exploring models that facilitate the private donation of homes in perpetuity and would recognize the work of organizations that have developed a property donation program.
This measure would recognize the history and significance of the Eagle Staff to Native American tribes. The measure would express the Legislature's commitment to inclusiveness for all Native Americans and respect for the traditions and symbolism of the Eagle Staff and would urge state government departments to incorporate these principles into their policies and practices.
This measure would proclaim June 2018 as California Grown Flower Month to recognize and honor the people of the California grown flower industry for their dedication and productivity.