Disaster CalFresh: county resources: status.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not mention providing free technology and equipment to affected counties, only that the department maintains such resources.

Disaster CalFresh: County Resources and Status

This law requires California counties to report their ability to provide timely and adequate Disaster CalFresh services during disasters, and sets rules for state reimbursement of local costs if new duties are added.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the State Department of Social Services to ask each county about its capacity to provide timely and adequate Disaster CalFresh assistance after a disaster.
• Makes counties report their plans and resources related to Disaster CalFresh during disasters.
• Sets rules for state reimbursement if new duties are added by this law.

Who It Names or Affects

• California counties that handle CalFresh benefits
• People who need Disaster CalFresh after a disaster

Terms To Know

Disaster CalFresh

A program that gives food assistance to people affected by disasters.

EBT cards

Electronic benefit transfer cards used for buying groceries with government aid money.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify when it will start or if the state will actually pay back local costs.
• It is unclear how much extra work this law might create for counties.

Official Summary Text

SB 739, as introduced, Arreguín.
Disaster CalFresh: county resources: status.
Existing federal law provides for 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 federal law, through Disaster SNAP, provides for short-term food assistance benefits to eligible households who are victims of a disaster that disrupts commercial channels of food distribution. Existing state law requires the State Department of Social Services to identify the necessary elements of a county disaster plan, to issue guidance to county human services agencies, and to offer training on Disaster CalFresh, as specified.
Existing law requires the department to provide to an affected county, upon request,
support necessary for out-stationed application intake locations to support timely, adequate, and safe access to Disaster CalFresh during or following a disaster. Existing law also requires the department to maintain and make available to affected counties, free of charge, technology and equipment to support the mobile issuance of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to recipients of Disaster CalFresh or replacement benefits.
This bill would additionally require the department to inquire of the ability of each county facility that serves CalFresh participants in the impacted area to provide timely and adequate service. To the extent that the bill would create new duties for counties to provide Disaster CalFresh-related information to the department, 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.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF