California Assembly Bill AB828 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: AB 828AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 13, 2012 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 8, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Swanson FEBRUARY 17, 2011 An act to repeal and add Section 18901.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to CalFresh. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 828, as amended, Swanson. CalFresh: eligibility: drug felonies. Existing law provides for the CalFresh program, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law provides that a person convicted of a drug-related felony, with certain  exemptions   exceptions  , is eligible for aid under CalFresh, if  any one of  specified  eligibility  requirements  are   is  met. This bill  would, instead,   instead would  provide that a person convicted of  a   any  drug felony shall be eligible for aid under CalFresh,  provided that 6 months have passed since the person has been convicted of any crime, and would  eliminate the above-referenced  eligibility requirements   exceptions, and   make related changes. The bill would authorize the State Department of Social Services to implement its provisions through an all-county letter or similar instruction from the dir   ector  . By changing the eligibility standards under CalFresh, this bill would increase the responsibilities of counties in the administration of the program, 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 Section 18901.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is repealed. SEC. 2. Section 18901.3 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read: 18901.3.  (a)    Pursuant to Section 115(d)(1) (A) of Public Law 104-193 (21 U.S.C. Sec. 862a(d)(1)(A)), California opts out of Section 115(a)(2) of Public Law 104-193 (21 U.S.C. Sec. 862a(a)(2)). A convicted drug felon shall be eligible to apply to receive CalFresh benefits under this  section, provided that the person has not been convicted of any crime during the six months immediately preceding his or her application   section  .  (b) As a condition of eligibility to receive CalFresh pursuant to subdivision (a), an applicant convicted of a felony drug offense shall be required to provide proof of one of the following:   (1) Completion of a government-recognized drug treatment program, subsequent to the most recent drug-related conviction.   (2) Participation in a government-recognized drug treatment program, subsequent to the most recent drug-related conviction.   (3) Enrollment in a government-recognized drug treatment program, subsequent to the most recent drug-related conviction.   (4) Placement on a waiting list for a government-recognized drug treatment program, subsequent to the most recent drug-related conviction.   (5) Other evidence that all illegal use, possession, or distribution of controlled substances has ceased, as established by regulations of the department.   (c) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement this section through an all-county letter or similar instruction from the director, no later than January 1, 2013.  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.