AB 164: Food assistance.

Existing law provides the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), administered in California as CalFresh, under which each county distributes nutrition assistance benefits provided by the federal government to eligible households. Existing state law authorizes a county to deliver CalFresh benefits through the use of an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system.

Existing law establishes the CalFood Program, formerly known as the State Emergency Food Assistance Program, administered by the State Department of Social Services, whose ongoing primary function is to facilitate the distribution of food to low-income households.

This bill would require require, on and after July 1, 2018, the department to develop a system mechanism to respond to changing needs for food assistance and to allow the department flexibility to provide nutrition benefits for specific needs. populations. The bill would set forth criteria for the system, mechanism, including requiring the system to be compatible with and utilize the EBT in accordance with federal law governing the use of EBT. mechanism to be designed to issue nutrition benefits using EBT and designed in a manner that can target various populations, depending on the purpose of the specific benefit. The bill would also require that benefits be provided under the system mechanism contingent upon the appropriation of funds for that purpose by the Legislature. The bill would also include a statement of legislative findings and declarations.