Bill Text: CA SB596 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: In-home supportive services: additional higher energy allowance.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-08-29 - Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4439.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. [SB596 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB596-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Senate  January 15, 2020
Amended  IN  Senate  January 06, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 596


Introduced by Senator Stern

February 22, 2019


An act to add Section 12301.18 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to in-home supportive services.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 596, as amended, Stern. In-home supportive services: additional higher energy allowance.
Existing law establishes the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, administered by the State Department of Social Services and counties, under which qualified aged, blind, and disabled persons are provided with services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes.
Existing law, the Public Utilities Act, requires the Public Utilities Commission to designate a baseline quantity of electricity and gas necessary for a significant portion of the reasonable energy needs of the average residential customer, and to establish a higher energy allowance above the baseline for residential customers with specified medical needs, including those residential customers dependent on life-support equipment.
This bill would require a county human services agency to inform each applicant for benefits under the IHSS program that the applicant may be eligible to receive that higher energy allowance and any advanced notifications that may be provided by a public utility when the public utility plans to deenergize portions of the electrical distribution system or in an emergency. By creating additional duties for counties, 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 the statutory provisions noted above.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 12301.18 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

12301.18.
 A county human services agency shall inform each applicant for benefits under this chapter that the applicant may be eligible to receive the additional higher energy allowance described in subdivision (c) of Section 739 of the Public Utilities Code and any advanced notifications that may be provided by a public utility when the public utility plans to deenergize portions of the electrical distribution system or in an emergency.

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.
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