BILL NUMBER: AB 643	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Skinner

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to add Section 18901.11 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to food stamps.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 643, as introduced, Skinner. Food stamps: benefits transfers.
   Existing law establishes a statewide program to enable eligible
low-income persons to receive food stamps under the federal Food
Stamp Program. Existing law requires counties to implement the
program, including determining eligibility and distributing food
stamps.
   This bill would provide, to the extent permitted by federal law,
that the food stamp benefits of a recipient who moves from one county
to another be transferred from the former county to the new county,
without the recipient having to file a new application and in a
manner that provides uninterrupted continued benefits to the
recipient.
   By expanding the duties of county officials that administer the
federal Food Stamp Program, this bill 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 these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 18901.11 is added to the Welfare and
Institutions Code, to read:
   18901.11.  To the extent permitted by federal law, a food stamp
recipient who moves from one county in this state to another county
in this state shall have his or her benefits transferred from the
former county to the new county without the recipient having to file
a new application. The transfer shall occur in a manner that provides
uninterrupted continued benefits to the recipient under the Food
Stamp 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.