AB 607 Summary

• Allows CalWORKs recipients to maintain eligibility if prevented from returning to California due to a state or federally declared disaster, in addition to existing good cause exemptions for illness or other circumstances.

• Requires county human services agencies to coordinate with disaster response organizations to identify and inform CalWORKs recipients of their eligibility for temporary and permanent homeless assistance following declared disasters.

• Establishes requirements for county disaster planning, including annual submission of disaster plans to the Department of Social Services and creation of mutual aid regions between counties to ensure adequate benefit access during disasters.

• Requires the department and counties to request operation of federal Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) when the President declares a major disaster for individual assistance, and mandates training on Disaster CalFresh for county agencies.

• Continuously appropriates up to $300,000 per disaster declaration from the General Fund to cover administrative costs for disaster assistance services related to CalFresh and disaster preparedness.