California Senate Bill SB312 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: SB 312AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 23, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Senator Pan FEBRUARY 23, 2015 An act to amend Section 11052.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to public social services. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 312, as amended, Pan. Public assistance: personal interviews. Existing law provides for protection, care, and assistance for people of the state by providing appropriate aid and services to the needy and distressed. Programs established for this purpose include the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program (CalWORKs), which provides cash assistance and other social services to needy families, using federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program, state, and county funds. Existing law prohibits an applicant from being granted public assistance under CalWORKs until he or she is personally interviewed by the county  welfare department   human services agency  or state hospital staff. This bill would authorize the county  welfare department   human services agency or state hospital staff  to conduct this personal interview telephonically or through electronic  means if the county welfare department determines that a personal interview by telephone or electronic means would be more efficient.   means. The bill would require a face-to-face interview to be conducted if requested by an applicant or recipient. By imposing a higher level of service on county human services agencies administering the CalWORKs program, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.  The bill would authorize the State Department of Social Services to implement the bill by means of all-county letters or similar instructions. The bill would also delete an obsolete cross-reference.  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:  no   yes  . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the County Option of Efficient Interviewing of CalWORKs Applicants Act of 2015. SEC. 2. Section 11052.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read: 11052.5. (a) An applicant shall not be granted public assistance under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11200) until he or she is first personally interviewed by the office of the county  welfare department   human services agency  or state staff for patients in state hospitals. The personal interview shall be conducted promptly following the application for  assistance. The county welfare department   assistance and  may  conduct the personal interview   be conducted  by telephone or through electronic  means if the county welfare department determines that a personal interview by telephone or electronic means will be more efficient.   means.  If an applicant is incapable of acting in his or her own behalf, the county  welfare department   human services agency  shall verify this fact by personal contact with the applicant before aid is authorized. As used in this section, the term public assistance does not include health care as provided by Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000). (b) The interview conducted pursuant to this section shall occur within seven days after the time of application unless there are extenuating circumstances that justify further delay.  (c) A face-to-face interview shall be conducted if requested by an applicant or recipient.  SEC. 3. 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 State Department of Social Services may implement this act through an all-county letter or similar instruction from the director. The all-county letter or similar instruction shall be issued no later than April 1, 2016.  SEC. 4.   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.