AB 1579 Summary

• Extends CalWORKs assistance for pregnant women without qualifying children from 4 months (month of birth plus 3 prior months) to 7 months (month of birth plus 6 prior months), effective July 1, 2015.

• Requires verification of pregnancy as a condition of eligibility for the extended assistance period.

• Authorizes the Department of Social Services to implement the pregnancy assistance provisions through all-county letters or similar instructions until formal regulations are adopted.

• Excludes any appropriation from the General Fund continuous appropriation provision typically used to defray county CalWORKs program costs for implementing this bill's requirements.

• Establishes the "Healthy Babies Act of 2014," citing evidence that pregnant women experiencing poverty, homelessness, and stress have higher rates of premature births, low birth weight, and infant mortality.