CA AB1229

Student Aid Commission shall report to Legislature by July 1, 2020 on funding and authority needed to establish a Transition Age Foster Youth Meal Plan Program covering 10 meals per week for eligible transition age foster youth at public postsecondary institutions.

State Department of Social Services shall provide state-funded cash benefits equal to maximum CalFresh benefit for a single household to nonminor dependents in supervised independent living placements who directly receive AFDC-FC payments, paid via same method as their foster care payment.

Department shall establish approval process by January 1, 2021 to allow paid or unpaid internship hours worked by foster youth students to qualify them for CalFresh eligibility exemptions, and shall seek necessary federal waivers from USDA.

Department shall issue guidance to county human services agencies requiring practices to increase CalFresh applications and participation among exiting foster youth, including designating subject matter experts, colocation of workers, and establishing self-initiated workfare programs for former foster youth up to age 26.

Receipt of CalFresh benefits shall not make nonminor dependents ineligible for the state-funded food assistance cash benefit; counties implementing required practices constitute a state-mandated local program subject to reimbursement under Government Code Section 17500.