Bill Text: CA SB970 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Health Care Reform Eligibility, Enrollment, and
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2012-09-30 - In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending. [SB970 Detail]
Download: California-2011-SB970-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Health Care Reform Eligibility, Enrollment, and
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2012-09-30 - In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending. [SB970 Detail]
Download: California-2011-SB970-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 970 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator De León JANUARY 17, 2012 An act to add Sections 15927 and 15928 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to health and human services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 970, as introduced, De León. Health Care Reform Eligibility, Enrollment, and Retention Planning Act: coordination with other programs. Existing law, the Health Care Reform Eligibility, Enrollment, and Retention Planning Act, requires the California Health and Human Services Agency, in consultation with specified entities, to establish standardized single, accessible application forms and related renewal procedures for state health subsidy programs, as defined, in accordance with specified requirements. This bill would require a county human services department to allow an applicant initially applying for, or renewing, health care coverage using the single state application developed pursuant to the act, with the applicant's consent, to have his or her application information used to simultaneously initiate applications for CalWORKs and CalFresh, and would similarly require the county to assess CalFresh recipients for potential state health subsidy program eligibility, as specified. The bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to convene a workgroup of human services and health care advocates, legislative staff, and other specified representatives, to identify other human services and work support programs that might be integrated into this cross-application process. Implementation of the process created by the bill would be required by December 31, 2015, except as specified. By imposing new duties on 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 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 15927 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 15927. (a) At the time of initial application for, or renewal of, health care coverage using the single state application described in subdivision (c) of Section 15926, an individual may consent to have his or her application information used by the appropriate county human services department to initiate a simultaneous application for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and CalFresh programs, and by other state or local departments, as appropriate, for other human services or work support programs identified by the workgroup established in subdivision (c). (b) (1) If information a beneficiary submits is sufficient to meet the requirements for a CalWORKs or CalFresh report or recertification, as specified in Sections 11265, 11265.1, 11265.2, and 18925, the county human services department, with the beneficiary' s consent, shall use that information to continue or recertify CalWORKs or CalFresh benefits for all eligible household members. (2) CalWORKs or CalFresh eligibility renewed or recertified pursuant to this subdivision shall continue for the maximum time allowed or required by state and federal law or guidance. All scheduled renewal, recertification, or reporting dates required under these programs, as applicable, shall be revised accordingly, to be calculated from the date of redetermination as established pursuant to this section. (c) The California Health and Human Services Agency shall convene a workgroup of human services and health care advocates, legislative staff, representatives of county human services departments and county eligibility workers, and staff from appropriate state and local departments, to consider and develop a plan for the integration of additional human services and work support programs into the process described in subdivision (a). (d) This section shall be implemented by December 31, 2015. SEC. 2. Section 15928 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 15928. (a) By October 1, 2013, a county human services agency shall do all of the following, using data to which the agency has access: (1) Identify nonassistance CalFresh recipients who are not currently enrolled in a state health subsidy program. (2) Inform the recipients identified in paragraph (1) of the requirement to be enrolled in health coverage under the PPACA, and of their right to, and likely eligibility for, free or low-cost health coverage. With a recipient's consent, and if information in his or her CalFresh case file is sufficient to establish eligibility for health care coverage, the recipient shall be enrolled into the state health subsidy program for which he or she is eligible, beginning on the earliest date that the recipient is eligible. (b) For a CalFresh recipient identified pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) who cannot be enrolled into a state health subsidy program based upon the information available within the case file, the county shall make every reasonable effort to contact the CalFresh recipient to obtain the information needed to enroll the recipient in a state health subsidy program. (c) The information shared pursuant to this section shall be used exclusively for the purposes specified in this section. (d) The department, in conjunction with counties, the State Department of Social Services, and representatives of the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) consortia, consumers, and other affected stakeholder groups, shall conduct a planning process and develop administrative enrollment and renewal policies and procedures, which the department shall implement by means of all-county letters or similar instructions from the director. SEC. 3. 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.