California Assembly Bill AB493 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 493AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 21, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Perea FEBRUARY 15, 2011 An act to add Section 10072.5 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 493, as amended, Perea. Electronic benefits transfer cards: use restrictions. Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Existing law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which nutrition assistance benefits are provided to the state by the federal government and are distributed to eligible households by each county. California's SNAP program is known as CalFresh. Existing law permits a county to elect to deliver CalWORKs and SNAP benefits through the use of an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system. Existing law specifies criteria for the development and administration of the EBT system, including issuance to a recipient of an EBT card. This bill would require the EBT system to prevent use of EBT cards by recipients to access cash benefits outside of California,  to purchase alcohol or tobacco products, or to access automated teller machines located in gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments,  except to the extent prohibited by federal law. The bill would specify that it would not be construed to prohibit the use of an EBT card to access SNAP benefits, as authorized by federal law.  To the extent that it   This bill  would impose additional duties on counties administering the CalWORKs  program. This bill would impose   program with respect to EBT care insurance and use, thereby imposing  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 10072.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 10072.5. (a) Except to the extent prohibited by federal law, the electronic benefits transfer system designed and implemented pursuant to this chapter shall prevent a recipient from using the  electronic benefits transfer card to access cash benefits outside of California.   electronic benefits transfer card to do any of the following:   (1) Access cash benefits outside of California.   (2) Purchase alcohol or tobacco products.   (3) Access automated teller machines located in gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments.  (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use of an electronic benefits transfer card to access federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in any manner authorized by federal law. 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.