California Food Assistance Program: sponsor deeming rules., the official text

An act to amend Section 18932 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to food assistance.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing federal law establishes the 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 state law establishes, in addition to CalFresh, the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to provide nutrition benefits to households that are ineligible for CalFresh benefits solely due to their immigration status, as specified. Existing law sets forth provisions relating to state funding for CFAP.
Under existing federal and state law, in determining the eligibility and amount of aid for a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States under certain public social services programs, the income and resources of the person are deemed to include the income and resources of any person who has executed an affidavit of support on behalf of the person and the spouse of that person, with certain exemptions.
Existing state law requires that federal deeming rules and exemptions governing SNAP also govern CFAP, with certain exceptions.
Under this bill, federal deeming rules and exemptions governing SNAP would instead not apply to CFAP. By creating new duties for counties relating to CFAP eligibility, the bill would impose 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
Section 18932 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
18932.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the federal and state laws and regulations governing the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program shall also govern the program provided for under this chapter.
(b) Federal deeming rules and exemptions governing the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program shall not apply to the program established under this chapter.

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.