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.
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 $7,000
$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 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.