Existing federal law provides for the 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 limits a participant who is an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) to 3 months of CalFresh benefits in a 3-year period unless that participant has met specified work participation requirements. Existing law also exempts certain adults from the ABAWD time limit, including persons determined to be medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment, which are persons who receive temporary or permanent disability benefits issued by governmental or private sources, who are obviously mentally or physically unfit for employment, or who provide a statement from specified appropriate medical personnel stating that the person is physically or mentally unfit for employment. This bill would require the department, in consultation with public health officials and CalFresh advocates, among others, by July 1, 2019, to define "food insecurity" for purposes of the bill, develop a tool that would screen for food insecurity and other basic needs deprivation, and to issue guidance that includes a copy of the screening tool and instructions for verifying when a person is "unfit for employment" following a screening that has determined that he or she is food insecure or deprived of their basic needs. To the extent that the bill would expand eligibility for CalFresh, it 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.
Sponsored bills
This measure would urge the Congress and the President of the United States to support the retention of, and investment in, the Amtrak National Network of passenger trains, specifically the California Zephyr, the Coast Starlight, the Southwest Chief, and the Sunset Limited, as vital components of the state's rail program and would also urge Congress to reject President Trump's proposed Fiscal Year 2019 federal budget cuts to Amtrak and restore full funding for the Amtrak National Network through the appropriations process.
This measure would urge the federal government and the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission to take immediate action to adequately address cross-border pollution in the Tijuana River Valley.
This measure would, among other things, call upon stakeholders in the health professions to foster the well-being of children born with variations of sex characteristics through the enactment of policies and procedures that ensure individualized, multidisciplinary care, as provided.
This measure would urge the Congress and the President of the United States to rename any federal buildings, parks, roadways, highway markers, landmarks, or other federally owned property, such as United States military bases, that bear the names of elected or military leaders of the Confederate States of America and would urge the Congress that statues or busts of elected or military leaders of the Confederate States of America in the United States Capitol be removed and placed in museums where they can be viewed in proper historic context.
This measure would express the support of the Legislature for the 23 Asilomar AI Principles as guiding values for the development of artificial intelligence and of related public policy.
This measure would designate specified exits on State Route 15 in the County of San Diego for reaching the cultural landmark, the "Little Saigon Cultural and Commercial District." The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate cultural landmark signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
This measure would proclaim the week of September 9, 2018, through September 15, 2018, as Suicide Prevention Week in California.
This measure would proclaim November 2018 as Epilepsy Awareness Month and call for a recommitment to increasing awareness and understanding of those living with epilepsy.
This measure would urge President Trump, United States Attorney General Sessions, the United States Department of Justice, the United States Department of Homeland Security, and all other relevant federal departments to immediately cease the implementation of the "zero tolerance" federal immigration policy and to not propose any additional inhumane immigration policies in the future. The measure would further call for compassion and decency for all individuals, families, and children who arrive at our borders seeking a better life.