California Senate Bill SB206 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 206AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 13, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Senator Emmerson  (   Coauthor:   Senator   Berryhill   )  FEBRUARY 8, 2013  An act to amend Section 16004 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster care.   An act to add Section 10072.6 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services.  LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 206, as amended, Emmerson.  Foster care.   Electronic benefits transfer cards: prohibition of use for alcohol and tobacco purchases.   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 food stamps are allocated to the state by the federal government and are distributed to eligible households by each county. Federal law prohibits the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products.   Existing law authorizes 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 be designed to prevent use of EBT cards by recipients for the purchase of alcohol or tobacco products. The bill would require that its provisions not be construed to prohibit the use of an EBT card to access SNAP benefits, as authorized by federal law.   Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to develop recommendations for the Legislature, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers' Association and the County Welfare Directors Association, regarding, among other things procedures for placing siblings together when one or more siblings are in the juvenile dependency system and one or more siblings are in the juvenile delinquency systems, when those placements are appropriate.   This bill would make nonsubstantive, technical changes to those provisions.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 10072.6 is added to the   Welfare and Institutions Code   , to read:   10072.6. (a) The electronic benefits transfer system designed pursuant to this chapter shall be designed to prevent a recipient from using an electronic benefits transfer card for the purchase of alcohol or tobacco products. (b) This section shall not 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.   SECTION 1.   Section 16004 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 16004. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that there is an urgent need to develop placement resources to permit sibling groups to remain together in out-of-home care when removed from the custody of their parents due to child abuse or neglect. Multiple barriers exist, including local ordinances and community care licensing standards, that limit or prevent the county placement agency from fulfilling its obligation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 16002 to place siblings together. Therefore, the Legislature declares its intent to develop specific placement resources to accommodate sibling groups. (b) The State Department of Social Services shall, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, the Judicial Council, organizations representing foster youth, and other similar, interested organizations, make recommendations to increase the available sibling placement resources. The possible policy changes to be addressed shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (1) The creation of a special licensing category for sibling care, including sibling group foster homes. (2) Development of children's villages with separate cottages to provide a home for each sibling group. (3) Funding for targeted recruitment of foster parents for large sibling groups. (4) Establishment of a higher foster care payment rate for caretakers who accept sibling groups. (5) Funding for one-time capital improvement costs to remodel homes to accommodate placement of siblings and provide for other upfront costs, including, but not limited to, vans, car seats, and other items. (6) Establishment of guidelines for placing siblings, who cannot be placed in the same home, within geographic proximity to each other and exploration of the possibility of permitting these siblings to have the option of enrolling in the same school district even when the siblings reside in different school districts. (c) The department shall develop recommendations for the Legislature, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers Association and the County Welfare Directors Association, regarding procedures for doing both of the following: (1) Placing siblings together when one or more siblings are in the juvenile dependency system and one or more siblings are in the juvenile delinquency systems, when those placements are appropriate. (2) Maintaining contact and sharing information between siblings who are placed separately in out-of-home care under the juvenile dependency and the juvenile delinquency systems. (d) The department shall submit the recommendations described in subdivisions (b) and (c) to the Legislature by November 1, 2001.