Bill Text: CA AB712 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 712

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

Bill Title: CalFresh: hot and prepared foods.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-07-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 121, Statutes of 2023. [AB712 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB712-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly March 16, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 712

Introduced by Assembly Member Wendy Carrillo

February 13, 2023

An act to ~~amend Section 10051 of~~ add Section 18919.1 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 712, as amended, Wendy Carrillo. ~~Public social services.~~ CalFresh: hot and prepared foods.

Existing law establishes various public social services programs, including, among others, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, CalFresh, and the Medi-Cal program. Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.
This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to seek all available federal waivers and approvals to maximize food choices for CalFresh recipients, including hot and prepared foods ready for immediate consumption.
Existing law establishes various public social services programs, including, among others, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, CalFresh, and the Medi-Cal program. Existing law defines “public social services” to mean activities and functions of state and local government administered or supervised by the State Department of Social Services or the State Department of Health Care Services and involved in providing aid or services, or both, to those people of the state who, because of their economic circumstances or social condition, are in need of and may benefit from the aid or services.
~~This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that provision.~~

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 18919.1 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

18919.1.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to maximize food access for all CalFresh recipients. Many of the hungriest Californians who rely on CalFresh to eat face the most significant barriers, including the lack of kitchen facilities or means of preparing and cooking meals with groceries, special dietary needs, or specific foods required for medications, among other factors that strain the ability of traditional groceries to meet their needs. It is further the intent of the Legislature to maximize the dignity and equitable treatment of Californians using CalFresh to purchase food by maximizing food choices.
(b) The State Department of Social Services shall seek all available federal waivers and approvals necessary to maximize food choices for CalFresh recipients under federal law and guidance, including to purchase hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption, pursuant to Section 3(k) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.

SECTION 1.Section 10051 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
10051.
“Public social services” means those activities and functions of state and local government administered or supervised by the department or the State Department of Health Care Services and involved in providing aid or services, or both, including health care services and medical assistance, to those people of the state who, because of their economic circumstances or social condition, are in need of and may benefit from the aid or services.