AB 1957: Social services: communications: computer-generated text messages.

Existing law provides for various public social services programs for purposes of providing on behalf of the general public, and within the limits of public resources, reasonable support and maintenance for needy and dependent families and persons, including, among others, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals, CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county, and the Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants (CAPI), which provides cash benefits to aged, blind, and disabled legal immigrants who meet specified criteria.

This bill would authorize, if it is within its capacity, a county to communicate with applicants for, or recipients of, benefits under those programs via computer-generated text message. The bill would authorize a notice of action to be sent via computer-generated text message only using a link to a secure online portal, but would not require any other communications sent via computer-generated text message to be sent in this manner unless required by federal law or guidance. The bill would require all electronic technology used pursuant to these provisions to be in compliance with state information technology policy and related state and federal law.

The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to implement these provisions through an all-county letter or similar instruction no later than July 1, 2019, as specified.