Bill Text: CA AB2033 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public postsecondary education: electronic benefits transfer cards: basic needs services and resources.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-05-22 - In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. [AB2033 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB2033-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2033

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Introduced by Assembly Member Reyes

February 01, 2024

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An act to add Section 66027.2 to the Education Code, relating to community colleges.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2033, as introduced, Reyes. Community colleges: electronic benefits transfer cards.

Existing law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), administered in California as CalFresh, under which each county distributes nutrition assistance benefits provided by the federal government to eligible households for the purchase of certain eligible foods at approved retail food stores. Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Existing law, administered by the State Department of Social Services, provides for the establishment of a statewide electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system for the purpose of providing financial and food assistance benefits, and authorizes a county to deliver CalFresh and CalWORKs benefits through the use of the EBT system.

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 postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires each campus of the California Community Colleges to provide, as a part of campus orientation, educational information to all incoming students about certain public benefit programs, including, among others, CalFresh and the student eligibility requirements for CalFresh.

This bill would require, on or before September 1, 2025, at least one convenience or grocery store located on each campus of the California Community Colleges to accept the use of EBT cards, as specified. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on community college districts, 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.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 66027.2 is added to the Education Code, to read:

66027.2.

 On or before September 1, 2025, at least one convenience or grocery store located on each campus of the California Community Colleges shall accept the use of electronic benefits transfer cards issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10065) of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which includes a requirement to become an authorized retail food store under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

SEC. 2.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.