Bill Text: CA SB947 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Bill 947 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Public assistance: personal interviews.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2016-09-29 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 798, Statutes of 2016. [SB947 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB947-Chaptered.html

BILL NUMBER: SB 947	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  798
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 29, 2016
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 24, 2016
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 22, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 18, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 2, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 31, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 31, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Pan

                        FEBRUARY 3, 2016

   An act to amend Section 11052.5 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to public social services.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 947, Pan. Public assistance: personal interviews.
   Existing law provides for protection, care, and assistance for
people of the state by providing appropriate aid and services to the
needy and distressed. Programs established for this purpose include
the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program
(CalWORKs), which provides cash assistance and other social services
to needy families, using federal Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) block grant program, state, and county funds.
Existing law prohibits an applicant from being granted public
assistance under CalWORKs until he or she is personally interviewed
by the county human services agency or state hospital staff. Existing
law also requires the county department to verify if an applicant is
incapable of acting on his or her own behalf by personal contact
with the applicant before aid is authorized.
   This bill would authorize the county human services agency to
conduct this personal interview telephonically or through electronic
means, as specified. The bill would require a county, if that county
elects to conduct the personal interview telephonically or through
other electronic means, to conduct an in-person personal interview if
requested by an applicant.


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

  SECTION 1.  This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the
County Option of Efficient Interviewing of CalWORKs Applicants Act of
2016.
  SEC. 2.  Section 11052.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is
amended to read:
   11052.5.  (a) An applicant shall not be granted public assistance
under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) and Chapter 5.1
(commencing with Section 13000) until he or she is first personally
interviewed by the office of the county human services agency or
state staff for patients in state hospitals.
   (b) (1) In determining eligibility for public assistance under
Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200), in lieu of an in-person
personal interview as required under subdivision (a), the county may
elect to conduct the interview required by this section
telephonically or through other electronic means.
   (2) A county that elects to conduct the interview telephonically
or through other electronic means shall include a set of procedures
in its county plan for conducting interviews in that manner that
ensure that clients whose interviews are conducted telephonically or
through other electronic means are provided with the same information
that is provided to individuals who have their interviews conducted
in person.
   (c) If an applicant is incapable of acting on his or her own
behalf, the county department shall verify this fact by personal
contact with the applicant before aid is authorized.
   (d) The interview conducted pursuant to this section shall occur
within seven days after the time of application unless there are
extenuating circumstances that justify further delay.
   (e) If a county elects to conduct the personal interview to
determine eligibility for public assistance under Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 11200) required under subdivision (a)
telephonically or through other electronic means, pursuant to
subdivision (b), the county shall conduct an in-person personal
interview in lieu of an interview through telephonic or other
electronic means if requested by an applicant.
   (f) For purposes of this section, "public assistance" does not
include health care as provided pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing
with Section 14000).