LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1058, as amended, Beall. CalWORKs eligibility: asset
limits. 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.
Existing law provides for the CalWORKs program, under which each
county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified
low-income families and individuals who meet specified eligibility
criteria.
Existing law continually appropriates money from the General Fund
to pay for a share of aid grant costs under the CalWORKs program.
Existing law imposes limits on the amount of income and personal
and real property an individual or family may possess in order to be
eligible for aid under the CalWORKs program
including specifying
the allowable value of a licensed vehicle retained by an applicant
for, or recipient of that aid .
This bill would remove asset limitations with respect to a
recipient of CalWORKs benefits, except as required by federal law,
and would revise asset limitations applicable to CalWORKs applicants,
to allow an applicant to retain savings of $2,000, subject to annual
adjustment, as prescribed, in addition to any personal property and
resources otherwise permitted by existing law. By increasing the
duties of counties administering the CalWORKs program, the bill would
impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would delete existing requirements for assessing the
value of a motor vehicle for purposes of CalWORKs program
eligibility. The bill would, instead, would exclude the value of a
licensed motor vehicle from consideration when determining or
redetermining CalWORKs eligibility. By increasing the duties of
counties administering the CalWORKs program, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program. This bill would declare that no appropriation would be made for
purposes of the bill pursuant to the provision continuously
appropriating funds for the CalWORKs 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 these
statutory provisions.
