CA AB164

Adds Chapter 10.05 to the Welfare and Institutions Code requiring the State Department of Social Services to develop a mechanism to respond to changing food assistance needs, effective July 1, 2018.

Requires the mechanism to issue nutrition benefits using electronic benefits transfer (EBT) and be designed to target various populations depending on the purpose of specific benefits.

Authorizes California food assistance benefits when CalFresh benefits are unavailable or inadequate, including supplemental nutrition benefits and assistance for persons ineligible for federal nutrition assistance.

Specifies that state benefits shall not replace available federal funding and may include authorized federal, state, or private funds, with benefits contingent on legislative appropriation.

Establishes legislative findings that food insecurity affects 1.7 million Californians and that a flexible food assistance mechanism is needed to respond to state-specific challenges like drought emergencies.