Bill Text: CA AB480 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: CalWORKs: welfare-to-work: necessary supportive services.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)
Status: (Passed) 2017-10-12 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 690, Statutes of 2017. [AB480 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB480-Chaptered.html
| Assembly Bill No. 480 |
| CHAPTER 690 |
An act to amend Section 11323.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to CalWORKs.
[
Approved by
Governor
October 12, 2017.
Filed with
Secretary of State
October 12, 2017.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 480, Gonzalez Fletcher.
CalWORKs: welfare-to-work: necessary supportive services.
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 and individuals. Existing law generally requires a recipient of CalWORKs benefits to participate in welfare-to-work activities as a condition of eligibility for aid. Existing law requires that necessary supportive services be available to participants in welfare-to-work activities, including child care, personal counseling, transportation costs, and ancillary expenses.
This bill would, on and after April 1, 2018, require the above-described supportive services to additionally include the
costs of diapers. The bill would make a participant who is participating in a welfare-to-work plan eligible for $30 per month to assist with diaper costs for each child who is under 36 months of age. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to implement this provision through all-county letters until regulations are adopted by January 1, 2020. By increasing the duties of counties administering the CalWORKs program, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program.
This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill.
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: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 11323.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as amended by Section 71 of Chapter 15 of the Statutes of 2017, is amended to read:11323.2.
(a) Necessary supportive services shall be available to every participant in order to participate in the program activity that he or she is assigned to or to accept employment or the participant shall have good cause for not participating under subdivision (f) of Section 11320.3. As provided in the welfare-to-work plan entered into between the county and participant pursuant to this article, supportive services shall include all of the following:(1) Child
care.
(A) Paid child care shall be available to every participant with a dependent child in the assistance unit who needs paid child care if the child is 10 years of age or under, or requires child care or supervision due to a physical, mental, or developmental disability or other similar condition as verified by the county welfare department, or who is under court supervision.
(B) To the extent funds are available, paid child care shall be available to a participant with a dependent child in the assistance unit who needs paid child care if the child is 11 or 12 years of age.
(C) Necessary child care services shall be available to every former recipient for up to two years, pursuant to Article 15.5 (commencing with Section 8350) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.
(D) A child in foster care receiving benefits under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.) or a child who would become a dependent child except for the receipt of federal Supplemental Security Income benefits pursuant to Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1381 et seq.) shall be deemed to be a dependent child for the purposes of this paragraph.
(E) The provision of care and payment rates under this paragraph shall be governed by Article 15.5 (commencing with Section 8350) of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code. Parent fees shall be governed by Sections 8263 and 8273.1 of the Education Code.
(2) Diaper costs.
(A) On and after April 1, 2018, a participant who is participating in a welfare-to-work plan shall be eligible for thirty dollars ($30) per month to assist with diaper costs for each child who is under 36 months of age.
(B) The department shall adopt regulations by January 1, 2020, to implement this paragraph. Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department shall implement this paragraph through all-county letters until regulations are adopted.
(3) Transportation costs, which shall be governed by regional market rates as determined in accordance with regulations established by the department.
(4) Ancillary expenses, which shall include the cost of books, tools, clothing specifically required for the job, fees, and other necessary costs.
(5) Personal counseling.
A participant who has personal or family problems that would affect the outcome of the welfare-to-work plan entered into pursuant to this article shall, to the extent available, receive necessary counseling or therapy to help him or her and his or her family adjust to his or her job or training assignment.
(b) If provided in a county plan, the county may continue to provide case management and supportive services under this section to former participants who become employed. The county may provide these services for up to the first 12 months of employment to the extent they are not available from other sources and are needed for the individual to retain the employment.
