RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D)
• Revise Resolution No. 97/212 Standards for Administration of the GA Program, Part 7, Section 706 Program Compliance, Paragraph (d), to require submitting a timely and complete quarterly status report (GA-7);
• Revise various sections within Resolution No. 97/212 Standards for Administration of the GA Program to replace “Social Services” with “Employment and Human Services.”
• Revise various sections within Resolution No. 97/212 Standards for Administration of the GA Program to replace “Social Services Director” with “Employment and Human Services Director.”
FISCAL IMPACT:
None – administrative changes only.
BACKGROUND:
On February 25, 1997, the Board of Supervisors approved Resolution No. 1997/212. This Resolution adopted the standards of aid and care for the indigent and dependent poor of the County under the General Assistance Program. On September 22, 2009, the Board of Supervisors approved Resolution No. 2009/459 which added standards to those standards of administration contained in Resolution No. 97/212. The Employment and Human Services Department (“Department”) is requesting revisions to Resolution No. 1997/212.
GA recipients are required to submit a Monthly Eligibility Report in order for the Department to determine the recipients’ eligibility to continue to receive aid. The Department is requesting that GA recipients be required to submit a Quarterly Eligibility Report instead of a Monthly Eligibility Report. This change would align GA with other cash assistance/benefit programs (such as CalWORKS and CalFresh) in which recipients are required to submit income/eligibility status reports on a quarterly basis. The Department conducted a review of the rate of monthly reporting by the GA population as well as staff time spent on processing Monthly Eligibility Reports. Based upon this review, the Department is projecting that by moving from monthly to quarterly reporting the GA staff will save time on processing. The requirement for GA recipients to report any change in income, household, or resources at the time these changes occur still remains in effect under quarterly reporting.
All other portions of Resolution No. 97/212, and all portions of Resolution No. 2009/459 will remain in full force and effect.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this programmatic change is not adopted the Department may need additional GA case management staff in order to process the Monthly Eligibility Reports. The Department expects that the cost associated with the rising increase in the GA caseload will be, in part, offset by the decrease in the time spent by GA staff in processing eligibility/income reports on a quarterly rather than monthly basis.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not applicable.