As introduced, SB 167 (Skinner) would require the Secretary of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to establish a Memorandum of Understanding with the federal Social Security Administration to allow a person incarcerated in a correctional institution to apply for and receive a replacement social security card and to allow the administration to provide SSI claims under the pre-release program. In addition, this bill would require the Department of Social Services to request a waiver to allow for the pre-enrollment of otherwise eligible applicants to the CalFresh program up to one month prior to the applicant's reentry into the community from county jail or state prison.
Status: Introduced on 1/23/17.
This bill is sponsored by the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) and Western Center on Law and Poverty. SB 167 was referred to the Senate Committees on Human Services and Public Safety. Senator Steve Glazer is on the Human Services Committee. The text of bill is included in Attachment A.
Urban Counties of California (UCC) Position: Pending.
California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Position: Pending
The Legislation Committee of the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Feb. 13, 2017 to recommend a position of "Support" to the Board for SB 167.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 167, as introduced, Skinner. Supplemental Security Income and CalFresh: preenrollment.
Existing federal law establishes various disability benefits programs, including the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, under which cash assistance is provided to qualified low-income aged, blind, and disabled persons. Existing federal law requires the federal Commissioner of Social Security to develop a system under which an individual can apply for SSI benefits prior to the discharge or release of the individual from a public institution.
This bill would require the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish memoranda of understanding with the federal Social Security Administration to allow a person incarcerated in a correctional institution to apply for and receive a replacement social security card and to allow the administration to process SSI claims under the prerelease program.
Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing federal law generally prohibits a resident of an institution from receiving supplemental nutrition assistance benefits.
This bill would require the State Department of Social Services, on or before March 31, 2018, to request a waiver to allow for the preenrollment of otherwise eligible applicants to the CalFresh program up to one month prior to the applicant’s reentry into the community from county jail or state prison.
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO