LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 7, as amended, Evans. Budget Act of 2009.
Public social services: statewide enrollment process.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact
statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of 2009.
Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds
through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
block grant program to eligible states, with California's version of
this program being known as the California Work Opportunity and
Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program.
Under the CalWORKs program each county provides cash assistance
and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals
who meet specified eligibility criteria.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, administered by the
State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified
low-income persons are provided with health care services.

Existing law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP; formerly the Food Stamp Program), a federal program
administered at the state level by the State Department of Social
Services, under which each county provides nutrition assistance
benefits to eligible households.
This bill, notwithstanding any other law, would authorize the
State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of
Social Services to implement a centralized statewide eligibility and
enrollment process for the CalWORKs program, the Medi-Cal program,
and SNAP. The bill would declare the intent of the Legislature that
the development of the process achieve specified outcomes.

This bill would designate the powers and duties of the departments
with respect to the development of the centralized eligibility and
enrollment process, including the development of a comprehensive
plan, which the bill would require the departments to submit to the
fiscal and applicable policy committees of the Legislature, at least
45 days prior to a request for an appropriation. The bill would
authorize the departments to implement the plan, subsequent to
receiving statutory authorization and an appropriation, as specified.

This bill would require the departments to convene a stakeholder
steering committee for consultation in the development of the
statewide eligibility and enrollment determination process and
comprehensive plan. Implementation of the bill would be contingent
upon the availability of federal financial participation for its
purposes.
This bill would provide that it would not change, or in any manner
modify, eligibility for the CalWORKS program, the Medi-Cal program,
or SNAP.
This bill would provide for the implementation of its provisions
through all-county letters or similar instructions, but would also
provide the departments emergency regulation authority, as specified.

The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a
fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for
that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal
emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on July 1,
2009.
This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency
declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on July 1, 2009,
pursuant to the California Constitution.

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Comments/questions on ABX4 7 (Evans): Public social services: statewide enrollment process.