California Assembly Bill AB2057 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2057INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Mark Stone FEBRUARY 17, 2016 An act to amend Section 18911 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to CalFresh. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2057, as introduced, Mark Stone. CalFresh: application information. Existing law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to develop specified written information relating to application for CalFresh, and requires a county welfare department to make this information available to an applicant and, upon request, to emergency food programs, among other entities, as specified. Existing law also requires a county welfare department to compile a list of emergency food providers, and to make other information available to applicants, as specified. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes in these provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 18911 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 18911. (a) An application and an authorization for participation in CalFresh shall be processed within a period of not more than 30 days from the date of application. (b) The department shall develop written information that describes the eligibility and verification requirements for expedited service, the process for applying for those benefits, and the availability of assistance in filling out the forms and gathering needed documentation. (c)  Each   A  county welfare department shall make the material developed pursuant to subdivision (b) available to  each   an  applicant at the time the applicant initially seeks CalFresh benefits. (d)  Each   A  county welfare department shall, upon request, make available the information developed pursuant to subdivision (b) to community action agencies, legal services offices, emergency food programs, and other programs. (e)  Each   A  county welfare department shall compile a list of emergency food providers in the area served by the local CalFresh office. The list shall be updated, based on information from the food providers. The list shall be made available upon request, and, where needed, may be used to refer individuals to emergency food sites that may be able to provide assistance. (f)  Each   A  county welfare department shall make available to CalFresh applicants, upon request, nonpromotional information that contains addresses and phone numbers of local legal services and welfare rights organizations.