NOTE: * denotes urgency legislation
SB 47 (Haynes-R) - State Supplemental Payments Limits the number of Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP) recipients for whom an individual can become the representative payee and SSP payments made to persons whose eligibility for the SSI program is based solely on addiction to controlled substances. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 180 (Ayala-D) - Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Requires persons receiving AFDC aid payments to participate in the Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) program or in another approved training program. Provides for the reduction in the maximum aid payment made under the program, as specified. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 201 (Costa-D) - AFDC Requires an unmarried, under 18, AFDC-eligible parent and infant to live with a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative or in a supportive living arrangement, as a condition of receiving AFDC payment grants. Allows exceptions in specified cases. Provides that the grandparent's income would be considered available to the teen parent, but not the grandchild. Requires an evaluation and implementation is subject to availability of federal funds and appropriate federal waivers. Sunsets October 1, 1999. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) SB 278 (Killea-I) - In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Extends the current county authority to enter into capitated rate contracts to include all IHSS recipients, as well as personal care services recipients, to the extent federal financial participation can be obtained. Subjects this authority to the requirement that persons receiving services under these contracts would be permitted to select any qualified individual to provide their care. Also extends the operative date of this authority to July 1, 1999, and the repeal date of these provisions until January 1, 2000. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) SB 404 (Haynes-R) - AFDC Authorizes private entities to submit bids for the performance of public social services eligibility determinations. Also entitles every AFDC recipient to receive a job assistance voucher. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 476 (Haynes-R) - AFDC Recipients: Job Search Requires the Department of Social Services to implement a pilot program to postpone applications for AFDC benefits for 45 days during which time the applicant is required to participate in the newly established AFDC Job Search Program. Provides for regular AFDC benefits to applicants unemployable after participating in the program for 60 days. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 597 (Wright-R) - Children's Services Enacts the Children's Interagency Services Act of 1995 to require all state and county agencies serving children to collaborate at the policy, management and service levels to provide a coordinated, goal-oriented system of care. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 598 (Rosenthal-D) - Children's Health Requires the Department of Health Services to implement the California Children's Health Program to provide comprehensive health care service to children up to 18 years of age with family incomes under a certain amount. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 681 (Hurtt-R) - General Assistance Allows counties various options to reduce their general assistance cash grant costs. Chapter 6, Statutes of 1996 SB 853 (Lewis-R) - Aid Payments: Bail Posting Prohibits the acceptance of any portion of any payments received under the AFDC program or general assistance for purposes of posting bail. (Failed passage in Senate Criminal Procedures Committee) SB 965 (Watson-D) - Children and Families Requires child care providers subject to trustline registration to secure at least 6 hours of training and education in basic child development, which they would be required to secure through local education agencies, county offices of education, community colleges or any other organization identified by the Department of Education, in order to continue participation in the program. Also specifies that completion of the required hours of training and education shall be considered in lieu of requirements to attend an orientation. (Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee) SB 971 (Watson-D) - Human Services Requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to apply for any federal demonstration funds appropriated to implement a pilot program on child support assurance which would guarantee a child support payment to families with established support orders under certain conditions. Provides that the director of DSS would apply only if it is determined that the program would be cost neutral to the state and participating counties. In addition, requires DSS to report annually to the Legislature on the status of all demonstration projects. (Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee) SB 973 (Watson-D) - AFDC Eligibility: Small Businesses Provides that, for the purposes of computing an AFDC grant, a county shall deduct valid business-related expenses from business income. Requires the Employment Development Department to convene a Micro-Enterprise Coordinating Council. Requires the Department of Social Services, if federal approval is obtained, to establish 3-year demonstration projects to provide entrepreneurial training and technical assistance to AFDC recipients participating in GAIN. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) SB 1044 (Hughes-D) - Family Preservation Services Provides for the establishment in up to 4 counties of a 2-year pilot project designed to link family preservation and support funds with child care and development funds. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 1144 (Watson-D) - California Children's Health Program Requires the Department of Health Services to establish a comprehensive children's health program to children from birth to 18 years of age with family incomes up to 250% of the poverty level. States intent to address the needs of the uninsured who do not have Medi-Cal and to ensure access to health services. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 1240 (Watson-D) - Children's Services Requires the Health and Welfare Agency to convene a California Children's Commission to determine measurable indicators of the health and well-being of children and establish a process whereby the indicators can be measured and results can be reported annually to the Legislature. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) SB 1446 (Mello-D) - Traumatic Brain Injury Demonstration Project Extends the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Demonstration Project to 4 new sites if additional funding is available, makes substantial programmatic changes, requires that TBI funds be matched by vocational rehabilitation services funds to the extent permitted by federal law, and removes the $500,000 annual cap on the TBI Fund from the State Penalty Fund, beginning in 1997-98. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) SB 1465 (Johannessen-R) - General Assistance Programs: Preclusion Enables counties to preclude from their general assistance programs and county health care anyone who becomes eligible due to the discontinuance of public assistance under state and federal legislation enacted on or after January 1, 1996. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 1472* (Solis-D) - Social Services: County Administration Extends by 1 year, until June 30, 1997, existing state law that prevents the reduction of state reimbursement when a county fails to fully fund the county share of nonfederal administrative costs for public social service programs as a result of county- imposed funding reductions. Also prohibits reduction of state reimbursement when an application for relief for the 1995-96 fiscal year was approved and the level of relief of county match available was at least the amount specified in the application for the 1995-96 fiscal year. Chapter 188, Statutes of 1996 SB 1482 (Mello-D) - Health Insurance Counseling Makes changes regarding the support for and the responsibilities of the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, which is administered by the Department of Aging. Chapter 797, Statutes of 1996 SB 1534 (Calderon-D) - AFDC: Volunteer Work Requires parents receiving AFDC benefits--and who have children attending public schools--to attend at least 2 specified school functions per child per calendar year. Provides that failure to meet the requirement would result in financial penalties of loss of up $20 per month per child. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 1556* (Johnston-D) - Public Benefits: Incarcerated Individuals Establishes a statewide reporting system to identify jail inmates who are receiving public benefits for which they are ineligible while in jail. Provides that identifying information be sent to the Department of Social Services (DSS), which would forward the information to affected agencies of the state, federal and local governments which administer public benefits. Appropriates $230,000 from the General Fund to DSS for purposes of the bill in the 1996-97 fiscal year. Chapter 205, Statutes of 1996 SB 1575 (Monteith-R) - County General Assistance Programs Permits each county to establish a standard of general assistance for applicants and recipients who share housing with 1 or more unrelated persons or with 1 or more persons who are not legally responsible for the applicant or recipient, under specified circumstances. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 1584 (Wright-R) - Welfare Dependency Reduction Pilot Allows Ventura County to develop and implement an inter-agency public assistance system, to be known as the Partnerships to Restore Independence and Dignity through Employment (PRIDE). Vetoed by the Governor SB 1606 (Leslie-R) - Foster Care Facilities Requires a federal law change to permit "child care facilities" to be for-profit for purposes of AFDC-FC reimbursement, and allows children placed in community treatment facilities and group homes to receive AFDC-FC reimbursement irrespective of their tax status. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 1622 (Leslie-R) - Incarcerated Individuals Requires county sheriffs to report individuals incarcerated in county jails for more than 30 days to county welfare departments, in order to terminate county social services benefits they may be receiving improperly. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 1709 (Alquist-D) - In-Home Supportive Services Allows any agency in Santa Clara County which contracts with In-Home Supportive Services to include the cost of operating a registry in contract costs. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) SB 1728 (Alquist-D) - Alquist Electronic Benefits Transfer Act Enacts the "Alquist Electronic Benefits Transfer Act," under which a 2-county pilot project for the electronic transfer of AFDC, Food Stamp and Women, Infants and Children Program benefits would be implemented. Allows the Department of Social Services to use individual identification numbers to insure the integrity of the system. Makes implementation contingent on departmental determination that the system would be cost-effective and specified protections are in place. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) SB 1780* (Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee) - 1996 Budget Trailer Bill: Social Services Contains the omnibus social services trailer bill which makes changes to the following programs: (1) Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), (2) the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP), (3) Foster Care, (4) In-home Supportive Services, (5) Child Support, (6) General Assistance, and (7) Rehabilitation. Chapter 206, Statutes of 1996 SB 1846 (Leslie-R) - Human Services: Placer County Pilot (1) Directs Placer County to implement an integrated health and human services pilot program that does not jeopardize or reduce federal funding; (2) specifies that cooperating state agencies shall have the authority to waive regulations regarding the method of reporting and providing services; (3) requires Placer County to use private funding to evaluate the pilot project and to submit the final evaluation not later than 6 months following the 3rd year of implementation. Chapter 899, Statutes of 1996 SB 1973 (Watson-D) - Social Services 1. Requires that county eligibility workers discuss with AFDC applicants the availability of the earned income tax credit (for those who find employment). 2. Establishes legislative intent that any additional funds provided for the GAIN program in FY 96-97 and in subsequent years, shall be allocated such that counties with the lowest allocations per adult AFDC recipient shall receive priority for funding. 3. Requires the Department of Health Services to report on requests for dental procedures performed under Medi-Cal when such procedures are requested to assist the patient in obtaining employment. 4. Establishes legislative intent that planning grants shall be provided to several counties to enable the development of community-based, integrated services approaches to social services reform. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) SB 1974 (Watson-D) - Foster Care Children Details a list of foster care rights and responsibilities. Vetoed by the Governor Similar legislation is AB 3440 (Bates-D), which died on the Senate Floor. SB 1975 (Watson-D) - Family Support Services Requires the Department of Social Services to establish, no later than June 30, 1997, in Los Angeles County and one other county, a 5-year pilot project to provide community-based family support services to grandparent caregivers and the children placed in their homes by the juvenile court, also known as kinship care families. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) SB 2067 (Haynes-R) - Children: Adoptive Parents Prohibits the Department of Social Services or a county adoption agency from: 1. Requiring a prospective adoptive parent to hold a foster care license for purposes of adoption. 2. Considering, when evaluating a prospective adoptive parent, whether or not the parent administers corporal punishment on his or her own children. 3. Requiring the prospective adoptive parent to sign any statement that corporal punishment would not be used on his or her own children. Also requires a state-level appeals process for the denial of an adoption application. (Senate refuses to concur in Assembly amendments) SB 2085 (Haynes-R) - Public Social Services Requires the Department of Social Services to permit private entities to submit bids to perform various public social services programs eligibility determinations. Repeals the GAIN program and, instead, provides for a job voucher program. Requires any AFDC recipient who has received aid for at least 3 years and who has not received a voucher to participate in community service work. Requires social workers involved with child protective services to undergo psychological testing. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 2129 (Russell-R) - AFDC: Benefit Restrictions Prohibits the increase of AFDC benefits to a family budget unit with respect to the birth of a 2nd child and subsequent children when the mother has been determined twice by the courts to be guilty of child abuse or neglect as a result of substance abuse by the mother and the mother refuses to undergo a non-reversible sterilization procedure. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) SB 2132 (Johannessen-R) - Human Services: Exchange of Information Creates a 4-year pilot program in Solano, Napa, Sutter and Yuba Counties to give human services staff the ability to share information pertaining to clients. Chapter 573, Statutes of 1996 SB 22XX (Leonard-R) - County General Assistance Programs Makes the general assistance program discretionary for each county. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 9 (Goldsmith-R) - AFDC: Restricted Payments Requires the Department of Social Services to provide a copy of the initial data report on the implementation of legislation pertaining to restricted payments under AFDC to the appropriate committees of the Legislature. Chapter 452, Statutes of 1996 AB 14 (W. Murray-D) - AFDC: Eligibility: School Attendance Establishes a 5-year demonstration program in Los Angeles County for families in the Compton School District in which children on AFDC, grade 6 or higher but under age 16, may face reductions in payments if they fail to attend school at least 80 percent of the time or are habitually truant. The sanction would reduce AFDC payments by excluding the truant child from the family grant calculation and could be avoided by the child's parent taking parenting classes. Also provides a $100 clothing and school supply allowance each September for each child enrolled in school. Requires an evaluation and cannot be implemented without federal approval. Requires a report by January 1, 1999 and sunsets January 1, 2002. (Died in Senate Appropriations Committee) AB 18 (Thompson-R) - Aid Payments and Benefits: Limitations Imposes a 2-year limit on the eligibility of any able-bodied adult to receive AFDC aid and other benefits. Also imposes a requirement that a child attend school or a job training program except as specified. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 45 (Burton-D) - Orphan Asylums Authorizes the Governor to establish a system of state orphan asylums, as specified, and requires the Department of Social services to provide direct gruel services in the orphan asylums. (Failed passage in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 48 (W. Murray-D) - AFDC: Grant Amount: Child Support Requires the district attorney to pay AFDC families any amount collected as current child support; retroactively eliminate the 70% cap on the cost-of-living allotment (COLA) in the Minimum Basic Standard of Adequate Care; requires the Department of Social Services to re-evaluate the adequacy of the needs standards every 3 years; and deletes the automatic reduction to COLAs in years when General Fund appropriations for AFDC are reduced. (Failed passage in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 98 (Olberg-R) - AFDC Limits the maximum AFDC grant to the amount of income an individual would earn working 40-hours a week at minimum wage. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 103 (W. Murray-D) - AFDC: Prenatal Care Requires the Department of Social Services to implement a pilot program in Los Angeles County to require additional specified services and benefits to a pregnant recipient of AFDC. (Failed passage in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 109 (Bowler-R) - Food Stamps Decreases the threshold amount from $400 to $100 for felony Food Stamp Program violations and modifies sentencing requirements. (Failed passage on Assembly Floor) AB 154 (Richter-R) - County General Assistance Programs Repeals all recently enacted general assistance grant reductions and, instead, permits the board of supervisors of counties or authorized agencies to have complete discretion to determine eligibility standards and financial assistance levels, not to be below $150 or the monthly support provided by the county on July 1, 1996, whichever is less. Relieves counties of the requirement to provide general assistance for anyone rendered ineligible for a state or federally funded assistance program or for a state or federally funded public social services program, due to changes after July 1, 1995 in the eligibility or programmatic requirements of the program, unless the county chooses otherwise. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 159 (W. Murray-D) - AFDC: Benefits Requires the Department of Social Services to implement a pilot program in Los Angeles County to require additional services and benefits to a pregnant recipient of AFDC, if the pilot program is approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. (Failed passage in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 199 (K. Murray-D) - Public Social Services Authorizes persons receiving aid under AFDC, general assistance and the Food Stamp Program to be fingerprinted, as specified. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 209 (Granlund-R) - AFDC: Homeless Assistance Allows counties, at their option, to elect to provide restricted payments of homeless assistance benefits as a condition of the rental agreement, if the landlord so requires. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 261 (Kuehl-D) - AFDC: Child Support Actions Authorizes a custodial parent to become a participant in any action for child support in which the custodial parent is not a party. Also authorizes a custodial parent to become a participant in any action brought by the district attorney or child support for children receiving AFDC benefits. (Died in Senate Judiciary Committee) AB 275 (Baca-D) - AFDC: Fingerprinting Allows Orange and San Bernardino Counties to establish pilot projects which would test the effectiveness of fingerprinting or fingerimaging in eliminating multiple enrollments by public assistance applicants and recipients. (Died in Conference Committee) AB 388 (Granlund-R) - AFDC: Job Search Allows Riverside and up to 4 other counties to test the impact of requiring 5 days of job club or job search activities, or both, to be completed by adults applying for aid under the AFDC program, as a condition of aid. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 416 (Escutia-D) - Food Stamps Requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to consult with a maximum of 5 nonsectarian nonprofit organizations which would make applications for food stamps available through existing unemployment offices, homeless shelters, and emergency food distribution sites. Requires DSS to make the applications available to the organizations at cost. (Failed passage in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 489* (Allen-R) - California REACH Program Enacts the California Reaching for Early Access for Children's Health (REACH) Program to provide supplementary primary and preventive health care services to children under 6 years of age. Authorizes the transfer of up to $782,000 from local assistance to state operations for administrative expenses. (Died at Senate Desk) AB 528 (Setencich-R) - State Supplemental Payments Prohibits State Supplemental Payment benefits to any recipient whose eligibility for benefits is based upon his/her addiction to one or more controlled substances or alcohol. Takes effect only upon passage of federal welfare reform legislation. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) Similar legislation is AB 746 (Kuykendall-R), which failed passage in Assembly Human Services Committee. AB 535 (Archie-Hudson-D) - Public Social Services Benefits Requires reimbursement of public social services benefits when ability to support is found in a support action. Sets forth certain notice requirements. (Died in Assembly Judiciary Committee) AB 707 (Goldsmith-R) - AFDC and Food Stamp Recipients: Drug and Alcohol Testing Authorizes counties to require applicants or recipients of AFDC or food stamps to submit to substance abuse screening and, if determined to be addicted, participate in treatment as a condition of aid. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 769 (Conroy-R) - IHSS: Provider Standards Requires the Department of Social Services to recommend minimum service delivery standards for all modes of IHSS. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 804 (Villaraigosa-D) - Pregnant Women and Children Establishes a comprehensive program for perinatal services to pregnant women and child health care to children 18 years and under for those ineligible for the Medi-Cal program. (Died in Assembly Health Committee) AB 857 (Woods-R) - IHSS: Providers: Criminal Record Checks Allows recipients of IHSS to request criminal background checks of individual providers that they engage under the program. The providers' fingerprints would be submitted to the Department of Justice, which would notify the recipient of any felony convictions in the last 10 years. Requires counties to notify recipients of the availability of these background checks. Chapter 911, Statutes of 1996 AB 905 (Poochigian-R) - Social Services Program Establishes the fiscal mechanism for a new Partnership Demonstration Program, which would realign the state and county sharing ratios for child welfare services, foster care, adoptions and child abuse prevention programs. Allows an unlimited number of counties to opt to fund 100% of the nonfederal costs of these programs with up to 0.2234 cents of sales tax revenues that would be deposited in a new Family and Children Services Subaccount. Provides that enactment is contingent upon the passage of AB 906, the local government mandate relief and county fiscal flexibility legislation. (Died in Conference Committee) AB 906* (Aguiar-R) - Local Government Trailer Bill Among others, allows counties various options to reduce their general assistance cash grant costs, including: shared housing provisions, “employable” work requirements, time-limited aid, use of voucher in lieu of cash grants, health care offset, alcohol/drug treatment sanctions and extends the Commission on State Mandates timelines for review of county applications to reduce general assistance based on significant financial distress. (Died in Conference Committee) AB 1126 (Hannigan-D) - General Assistance: Jail Inmates Specifies that county jail inmates are not eligible for general assistance benefits. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 1127 (Friedman-D) - Foster Youth Requires a foster care provider, in consultation with the county case manager, to ensure to the extent state and county resources are provided that (1) adolescents who remain in long-term foster care receive age-appropriate pregnancy prevention information and (2) foster youth are provided with referrals to health services when the foster youth reaches the age of 18 or is emancipated. Chapter 216, Statutes of 1996 AB 1128 (Friedman-D) - Child Welfare Services Requires counties to provide family maintenance services for 12 rather than 6 months. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 1157 (Bates-D) - Children's Services Establishes a 5-county pilot program through which “wrap- around” services, as defined, would be provided to children in, or at risk of, out-of-home placement. Requires the Department of Social Services in consultation with other prescribed entities to implement and oversee the program. (Died in Senate Appropriations Committee) AB 1261 (Hawkins-R) - State Supplementary Payments (SSP) Requires that any lump-sum SSP payment for prior eligibility shall not exceed 150% of the monthly benefit amount. Also states that no person shall be eligible to any SSP benefits while incarcerated, and requires any representative payee of a SSP recipient to inform the federal Social Security Administration of the incarceration. Sets strict guidelines of eligibility to become a representative payee to an SSI/SSP recipient whose disability is derived from alcohol or drug dependency. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 1275 (McDonald-D) - Public Assistance: Restructuring Requires the Department of Education and the Department of Social Services to develop and adopt a single standard application form that may be used in applying for benefits under all child care programs. (Died in Senate Education Committee) AB 1322 (Hawkins-R) - Aid Payments: Limitations Imposes a 2-year limit on eligibility for AFDC aid and other benefits under the program. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 1380 (Hawkins-R) - AFDC: Benefits Gives a cash reduction to those recipients of AFDC whose children have not been immunized, or attend school regularly. Also requires participation in community service for adults whose children are above 6 years of age. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 1495 (Morrissey-R) - AFDC: Eligibility: School Attendance Requires the county welfare department, subject to federal waivers, to stop payment of AFDC benefits to families whose child is truant and not exempt from compulsory school attendance. Provides that payments are stopped only with respect to the portion of the grant attributable to the truant child. (Failed passage on Assembly Floor) AB 1559 (Burton-D) - AFDC: Eligibility Extends the eligibility for AFDC to families whose children have been removed from the home, but where the family is participating in a family reunification program. (Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 1680 (Granlund-R) - AFDC: Benefits Provides that, except under specified circumstances, pregnant and parenting teens must reside with their own parents, or guardian as a condition of eligibility for AFDC grants. (Failed passage in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 1786* (Burton-D) - IHSS Extends for an additional year authorization for San Francisco County to increase wages paid to IHSS providers if the county pays the non-federal share of the increase. Also permits, to the extent appropriated in the budget act, the state to assume a portion of the cost of computer system development and installation for county child support enforcement. Appropriates $9,978,000 from the General Fund for the current year deficiency from the loss of enhanced federal funding for child support computer system development and installation. Chapter 68, Statutes of 1996 AB 1940 (Woods-R) - Public Social Services Relieves counties' maintenance-of-effort requirements established in 1991 in connection with realignment, amounting to approximately $177 million for local indigent health care and $25 million for mental health services. Also makes changes in the minimum levels of support under general assistance. (Placed on Second Reading File pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8; referred to Senate Rules Committee and died in Senate Rules Committee) AB 1960 (Friedman-D) - Pregnant Women and Children Requires the Department of Health Services to provide a comprehensive program to provide perinatal services to pregnant women and child health care to children under 18 and all women and children ineligible for Medi-Cal. Also requires specified service plans to provide group and individual coverage for perinatal and child health care services by January 1, 1997. (Died in Assembly Health Committee) AB 1993 (McDonald-D) - Children's Immunizations Requires the Department of Social Services to develop a pamphlet that identifies the need for children to be immunized before they are 2 years of age, and lists alternative places where children may be immunized. Also requires the department to distribute the pamphlet, along with other information about the program, to persons who apply for, or are receiving, aid under the program for any child who is under the age of 2 years. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 2034 (Frusetta-R) - AFDC To the extent permitted by federal law, eliminates all current federally-required exemptions to the GAIN program and, instead, requires all able-bodied and mentally competent recipients to register for GAIN participation as a condition of AFDC eligibility. In addition, limits aid to able-bodied and mentally competent individuals to a period of 2 years. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 2036 (Cortese-RFM) - Public Assistance: Cost-of-living Adjustments Provides cost-of-living adjustments (COLA's) for the 1996-97 fiscal year only, effective January 1, 1997, should any bill enacted in 1996 eliminate the COLA for the maximum aid payment in the AFDC program and the payment standards in the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 2076 (Burton-D) - State Supplemental Payments Increases State Supplemental Payment (SSP) rates by the dollar amounts of the SSP reductions that occurred in 1993 and 1994 and by the dollar amounts of the 6 SSP cost-of-living adjustments that were suspended by the Legislature. (Failed passage in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 2078 (K. Murray-D) - AFDC-FC Deletes the requirements that, in order to be eligible for Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC), (1) the legal guardian of a foster child be unrelated to that child and (2) the child be federally eligible to ensure federal financial participation. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 2101 (Miller-R) - AFDC: Termination of Aid Requires termination of cash assistance to all AFDC recipients who, without good cause, quit 3 jobs, refuse 3 job offers or have a combined total of 3 job quits/job refusals. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 2156 (Woods-R) - Cal-Learn Program Authorizes pilot projects in Sutter and San Diego Counties, and up to 3 additional counties, allowing these counties to not provide Cal-Learn bonuses to participants making satisfactory progress in or graduating from high school. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 2168 (Machado-D) - AFDC: Group Homes Requires that in order to have a reimbursement rate established, a foster care group home provider must submit a letter of recommendation to the Department of Social Services from both the host county (where the group home program will be located) and the primary placing county or a regional consortium of counties. Requires, for those facilities planning primarily to serve children adjudicated under Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code (i.e., probation placements), the host county to make a finding as to whether the number of beds in the county to serve the client population is reasonably proportionate to the number of beds located in other counties and used by the host county. Requires, in determining whether to support a group home program or the addition of a new facility, the host county to ensure that there is an adequate number of beds available to the host county to serve its clients. (Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 2297* (Cunneen-R) - Children: Santa Clara County Pilot Gives Santa Clara County authority to continue a pilot project, until July 1, 2001, for 125 children which uses the state share of nonfederal reimbursement for foster care group home funds for in home services for children who would have been in group homes without the services. Prohibits program costs from exceeding costs which would have been incurred had the child been placed in a group home. Directs Santa Clara County to submit a report assessing the effectiveness of the pilot project to the appropriate committees of the Legislature on or before July 1, 2001. Chapter 274, Statutes of 1996 AB 2358 (House-R) - Social Services Authorizes the head of a county welfare department, in connection with welfare fraud investigations, to obtain specified employment and income information and require landlords to provide rent payment information. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 2365 (Baugh-R) - Cost Reduction Incentives Allows counties which reduce the cost of administering public social services programs to receive 50% of any resulting state General Fund savings. Directs the Department of Social Services to establish a "Public Social Services Cost Reduction Incentive Program," and to compute the amount of savings counties achieve. Also specifies that funds received by counties pursuant to this program can be used for "program improvements" but cannot be used to supplant county matching funds. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 2375 (Margett-R) - General Assistance: Criminal Offenders Allows counties to deny financial assistance, not health care, under the general assistance program for people convicted of a variety of controlled substance related offenses related to sales and use, for a period of 2 to 5 years, to be determined by a court at the time of sentencing for the violation, unless the person agrees to enter and complete a substance abuse program. Provides that if the person refuses without good cause to participate in the program, fails to complete the program, or discontinues participation at any time, he/she may be barred from general assistance for 5 years. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 2475* (Bates-D) - Youth Pilot Program Creates the Youth Pilot Program Fund in the State Treasury and provides for the continuous appropriation of monies in the fund to the Department of Social Services for the operation of the Youth Pilot Program regardless of fiscal year. Requires money in the Youth Pilot Program Fund to be used for the pilot program only and to be available for encumbrance until July 1, 2004 at which point, all unencumbered monies will be returned to the General Fund. Chapter 1011, Statutes of 1996 AB 2529 (Miller-R) - Children: Placement Specifies that both the host county and primary placing county must approve a new group home program or new facility before the Department of Social Services establishes a rate for them. Requires the host county, when determining whether to approve or deny a letter of support by facilities that will primarily serve children adjudicated under Section 602, to make a finding regarding whether the number of beds in the county to serve the client population is reasonably proportionate to the number of beds located in other counties and used by the host county. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 2577 (Bordonaro-R) - County Health Services Allows San Luis Obispo County to close its county hospital emergency room, and to contract with non-county hospitals for emergency room services without risk of losing state funding for indigent health care. Chapter 1012, Statutes of 1996 AB 2632 (Firestone-R) - Social Services: Hearings: Award of Interest Prohibits the Director of Social Services or his or her designee from awarding interest to either party as part of an administrative hearing judgment in cases concerning either the over- or under-payment of public social service benefits. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 2807 (Bordonaro-R) - Foster Children: Adoption Provides that once an adoption placement agreement has been signed, the prospective adoptive parents may use any reasonable form of discipline on the adoptive child placed in their care. Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 2814 (Assembly Human Services Committee) - AFDC: School Attendance To the extent permitted by federal law, requires county welfare departments to reduce payments to an AFDC recipient whose child is not attending school, by a minimum of $100 per month and a maximum of $300 per month. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 2816 (Assembly Human Services Committee) - Public Social Services Recipients Requires any parent in a family unit that receives aid based upon parental unemployment and in which the children are at least 6 years of age to participate in at least 10 to 15 hours per week of community services work if the parent remains unemployed after participation in job search or education and training activities under the GAIN program. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 2856 (Lee-D) - SSP: Food Stamps Repeals an SSP Food Stamp-related law that was never implemented because of federal restrictions. Also adds a new section wherein SSI/SSP recipients who either live alone (as defined by Food Stamp law) or who live only with other SSI/SSP recipients would receive an SSP rate increase that would represent an increase in their "Food Stamp bonus value." (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 2889 (Caldera-D) - Pregnant Teenagers and Teen Mothers: Group Homes Authorizes custodial parents or pregnant women 20 years of age who were participating in the Cal-Learn Program prior to becoming 19 years of age to continue to participate in the program or choose to participate in GAIN, and authorizes those participants to receive the same benefits as those individuals who are required to participate in the Cal-Learn Program. Requires the Department of Social Services to conduct a study of existing group home programs for pregnant teenagers and teen mothers and their children, according to specified criteria. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 2985 (Woods-R) - AFDC: Foster Care Deems reasonable costs of affiliated leases for shelter care for foster children to be allowable costs. Prohibits reimbursement exceeding 12% of the fair market value of owned, leased or rented buildings. Chapter 1015, Statutes of 1996 AB 2991 (Bowen-D) - AFDC: Fraud Detection Requires the Health and Welfare Data Center to hire a consultant to determine the most appropriate biometric identifier (Fingerprint, palm print, iris or retinal scan, voice dynamics, etc.) to be used to reduce AFDC multiple case fraud. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 3043* (Takasugi-R) - Foster Care Providers Makes various changes to the rate setting, auditing and cost claiming processes for group homes which would make it easier for high-level group homes to maintain their rate classifications and make the audit process more uniform. Requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to report to the Legislature by December 31, 1996 on its progress in implementing the level of care assessment protocol. Makes technical changes to clarify the juvenile court's role in removing children from inappropriate high-level group home placement. Requires DSS to advise the Legislature on creating an incentive system for foster care group homes to encourage them to conduct self-assessments and to seek accreditation and certification by a 3rd party. Chapter 671, Statutes of 1996 AB 3062 (Friedman-D) - Foster Family Homes: Training Requirements Requires every licensed foster parent to complete a minimum of 12 hours of training as a condition to the placement of any foster children with the foster parent, and an additional minimum of 8 hours of training annually. Provides that no child shall be placed in a foster family home unless the foster parents in the home meet the training requirements. Chapter 1016, Statutes of 1996 AB 3069 (Hawkins-R) - AFDC: Aliens Provides that AFDC payments for an eligible child will not be made in the form of cash payments to a caretaker relative who is ineligible for AFDC benefits due to his/her undocumented alien status. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 3100 (Machado-D) - Children's Programs Allows counties that receive advances of state funds for children's services programs to retain any savings resulting from expenditures coming in at a level lower than the amounts advanced. Provides that any such savings would have to be used for prevention and early intervention services. (Died in Assembly Appropriations Committee) AB 3140* (Bordonaro-R) - Family and Child Assistance Programs Contains the Governor's welfare reform or "redesign" plan, which would make the following major changes to current law: 1. Makes inoperative the existing AFDC programs, in counties operating programs under this bill, including (a) AFDC-FG (1- parent families) and AFDC-U (2-parent families), (b) GAIN, Cal-Learn and Transitional Child Care, (c) Homeless Assistance and Nonrecurring Special Needs, (d) Pregnancy Supplemental Payments and state-only pregnancy benefits, (e) AFDC-Foster Care, (f) Child Support Enforcement, and (g) Fraud Prevention programs. 2. Eliminates (a) entitlement to AFDC aid or services for needy children and their families under the above programs; (b) all state statutes pertaining to grant levels, eligibility, and the services or benefits to be provided to needy children and families; and (c) state statutes allocating funding to each county for certain costs of both direct services and county administration. 3. Replaces the basic AFDC-FG and AFDC-U programs with 4 new programs, 1 with 2 sub-programs; and establishes a 5th program similar, in part, to the existing Cal-Learn program. 4. Establishes a cumulative, life-time limit for receipt of aid of 2 years for most families (a 2nd 2-year "spell" on aid may be allowed if the family is off aid for 2 full years). Applies a 5-year lifetime limit to all families except for non-needy caretaker relatives. Requires grant levels to be determined by the Department of Social Services. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 3197 (Vasconcellos-D) - Orientation Centers for the Blind: Funding Establishes the Orientation Center for the Blind Trust Fund within the State Centralized Treasury System for appropriation by the Legislature to the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) for allocation to orientation centers for the blind. Requires DOR, in cooperation with an advisory committee created by the bill, to establish guidelines for the proper investment and expenditure of the fund. Vetoed by the Governor AB 3284 (Davis-D) - General Assistance Programs 1. Removes the sunset provisions concerning conditions that counties may impose upon general assistance recipients. 2. Extends the allowable residency requirement from 15 days to 30 days. 3. Authorizes counties to adopt legal residency requirements for purposes of determining eligibility. 4. Grandfathers in a 36-month total allowable grant reduction for counties receiving approval from the State Mandates Commission which have had applications or reapplications approved between August 31, 1995 and December 31, 1996. 5. Requires the tolling of a period of financial distress during any delay caused by court action. 6. Specifies that if the decision process is forestalled because of another pending county application, the current period of financial distress of the applicant county shall be extended for the same period. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 3321 (Tucker-D) - AFDC Provides an income exclusion under AFDC for working families by prohibiting the consideration of earned income which is less than 105% of the poverty level; provides for a maximum family grant when a child is born after the family has received aid for 10 consecutive months; and requires that the payment for services including, but not limited to, housing, transportation and child care be paid in the form of a voucher for minor parents. (Died in Assembly Human Services Committee) AB 3359 (Ackerman-R) - AFDC: Married Persons Requires that the Department of Social Services (DSS) establish in regulation a "work equivalency" benchmark which would govern the eligibility for benefits under AFDC and the amount of the AFDC grant. Requires that the grant devised by DSS shall not vary by the number of persons in the home. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 3432 (House-R) - AFDC: School Attendance Requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to develop a pilot project for the purpose of increasing school attendance among children from households receiving AFDC. Further provides that, in developing the pilot, DSS shall consider reductions in grant levels for recipients as "incentives" to be tested. Also provides that DSS shall provide a complete description of the school attendance pilot to committees of the Legislature by May 1, 1997. (Died in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 3483* (Friedman-D) - AFDC: 1996 Budget Trailer Bill Provides that, during any period for which federal financial participation is obtained, a family receiving AFDC benefits in at least 3 of the 6 months immediately preceding the month in which the family became ineligible for assistance shall remain eligible for Medi-Cal benefits during the 6-month period. Extends the state-funded perinatal services and medical services program indefinitely, and eliminates provision for outreach activities. Extends the program of benefits for persons with acquired traumatic brain injuries from January 1, 1997 to January 1, 2000. Establishes the Community Challenge Grant Program in the Department of Health Services for a period of 3 years to provide grants to reduce the number of teenage and unwed pregnancies. Chapter 197, Statutes of 1996 AB 3487* (Katz-D) - 1996 Budget Trailer Bill: Proposition 99 Funds Extends the following programs funded by Cigarette and Tobacco Products Surtax Fund monies: Comprehensive Perinatal Outreach, selected primary care clinics, Access for Infants and Mothers, County Medical Services Program, an emergency treatment of out-of-county indigent patients. Revises reporting and maintenance of effort requirements under the California Health Care for the Indigent Program. Chapter 199, Statutes of 1996 AJR 65 (Battin-R) - Electronic Funds Transfer Act Asks Congress and the President to exempt states from the liability that results from Regulation E when implementing electronic benefits transfer programs. (Failed passage in Senate Health and Human Services Committee) AB 8XX* (Brewer-R) - General Assistance Programs Authorizes counties to fund aid or services under the general assistance program at the level deemed possible by the board of supervisors. Also provides that the filing of a petition by a county under federal bankruptcy provisions shall constitute a presumption that meeting the required minimum general assistance levels would result in a significant financial distress to the county. (Urgency clause refused adoption on Assembly Floor) AB 11XX (Brewer-R) - State-Mandated Social Services Allows all counties to reduce or eliminate: Programs related to AFDC, including GAIN, the Cal-Learn program and Foster Care, IHSS and all Medi-Cal services in excess of minimum federal requirements. Sunsets July 1, 2000. (Died on Assembly Floor) AB 32XX (Goldsmith-R) - County General Assistance Programs Authorizes counties to discontinue aid under the general assistance program after able-bodied, mentally competent individuals have received aid for 3 months during a 12 month period. States intent to reverse the decision in Washington v Board of Supervisors of San Diego County (18 Cal. App. 4th 981). (Died in Assembly Rules Committee awaiting assignment) AB 33XX (Goldsmith-R) - General Assistance Authorizes counties to adopt standards of aid and care for the indigent and dependent poor. Also recasts the authorization for counties to establish policies with reference to the amount of property those persons are permitted to have to specifically include cash and other belongings. (Died in Assembly Rules Committee awaiting assignment) AB 37XX (Goldsmith-R) - Eligibility Pilot Project Establishes the Public Social Services Eligibility Pilot Project authorizing counties, if federal approval is obtained, to require that applicants and recipients of social services programs be fingerprinted and have photographic identification. (Died in Assembly Rules Committee awaiting assignment) AB 44XX (Goldsmith-R) - Drug and Alcohol Testing Mandates that counties require applicants and recipients of benefits under AFDC or the Food Stamp Program to undergo screening for substance abuse and participate in a drug or alcohol treatment program as a condition of eligibility. Disqualifies for 2 years anyone who fails or refuses to cooperate with treatment, testing or screening requirements. (Died in Assembly Rules awaiting assignment) A similar bill is AB 45XX (Goldsmith-R), which died in Assembly Rules Committee awaiting assignment. AB 47XX (Goldsmith-R) - Human Services Makes various revisions to the California Welfare Program Integrity Act of 1995. (Died in Assembly Rules Committee awaiting assignment)
