AB 868: State milkshake: date shakes.
- Session Year: 2021-2022
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2022-05-09
Existing law establishes the state flag and the states emblems, including surfing as the official state sport.
This bill would establish the date shake as the official state milkshake.
Existing law establishes the state flag and the states emblems, including surfing as the official state sport.
This bill would establish the date shake as the official state milkshake.
The California Emergency Services Act authorizes the Governor to declare a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor or the appropriate local government to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency.This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to provide, to a person that applies for funeral expense assistance, for eligible funeral home contract costs, as defined, incurred by the person for a decedent who died due to COVID-19 on or after March 4, 2020, or who died as a result of an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor on or after January 1, 2022, as described. The bill would require a person seeking funeral expense assistance to contact a nonprofit organization selected by the department to complete an application for such assistance. The bill would require a nonprofit organization selected by the department to conduct intake for funeral expense assistance, and to process applications, developed by the department, on a first-come-first-served basis. The bill would require the application to include specified information, including a certification that eligible funeral home contract costs have not been fully paid for by other public or private sources and that, for eligible funeral home contract costs related to COVID-19 or to a state of emergency also declared by the federal government for which Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance is available, a certification that the applicant is ineligible for FEMA assistance due to immigration status. The bill would provide that any use, by an applicant, of false certification is punishable as a misdemeanor. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill would require the department to review and approve completed applications by regions designated by the department and in the order the nonprofit organization assisted and completed the application for the person seeking funeral expense assistance. The bill would require the department to award, upon receipt of a completed application that fulfills the bills requirements, $5,000 or the amount of the eligible funeral home contract costs for the decedent, whichever is less, for each decedent.This bill would create the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund for purposes of implementing the bills provisions. The bill would make moneys in the fund available only upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would also require the department to allocate moneys for each region designated by the department based on the percentage of low-income individuals in the region and to achieve equitable distribution of funds for underserved regions.This bill would require the department to recapture an award of funds to cover funeral home contract costs that were improperly awarded to a person due to the persons intentional or unintentional misrepresentation of information on their application for funds. The bill would also require a person to pay an administrative fine of $100 if the person intentionally and materially misrepresents information on an application for funds pursuant to the bills provisions. The bill would require recaptured moneys and fines to be deposited into the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund.This bill would make the operation of these provisions subject to appropriation by the Legislature.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.The California Emergency Services Act authorizes the Governor to declare a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor or the appropriate local government to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency.
This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to provide, to a person that applies for funeral expense assistance, for eligible funeral home contract costs, as defined, incurred by the person for a decedent who died due to COVID-19 on or after March 4, 2020, or who died as a result of an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor on or after January 1, 2022, as described. The bill would require a person seeking funeral expense assistance to contact a nonprofit organization selected by the department to complete an application for such assistance. The bill would require a nonprofit organization selected by the department to conduct intake for funeral expense assistance, and to process applications, developed by the department, on a first-come-first-served basis. The bill would require the application to include specified information, including an affidavit provided under penalty of perjury a certification that eligible funeral home contract costs have not been fully paid for by other public or private sources. sources and that, for eligible funeral home contract costs related to COVID-19 or to a state of emergency also declared by the federal government for which Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance is available, a certification that the applicant is ineligible for FEMA assistance due to immigration status. The bill would provide that any use, by an applicant, of false certification is punishable as a misdemeanor. By expanding the crime of perjury, creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would require the department to review and approve completed applications by regions designated by the department and in the order the nonprofit organization assisted and completed the application for the person seeking funeral expense assistance. The bill would require the department to award, upon receipt of a completed application that fulfills the bills requirements, $5,000 or the amount of the eligible funeral home contract costs for the decedent, whichever is less, for each decedent.
This bill would create the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund for purposes of implementing the bills provisions. The bill would make moneys in the fund available only upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would also require the department to allocate moneys for each region designated by the department based on the percentage of low-income individuals in the region and to achieve equitable distribution of funds for underserved regions.
This bill would require the department to recapture an award of funds to cover funeral home contract costs that were improperly awarded to a person due to the persons intentional or unintentional misrepresentation of information on their application for funds. The bill would also require a person to pay an administrative fine of $100 if the person intentionally and materially misrepresents information on an application for funds pursuant to the bills provisions. The bill would require recaptured moneys and fines to be deposited into the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund.
This bill would make the operation of these provisions subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The California Emergency Services Act authorizes the Governor to declare a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor or the appropriate local government to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency.
This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to provide, to a person that applies for funeral expense assistance, for eligible funeral home contract costs, as defined, incurred by the person for a decedent who died due to COVID-19 on or after March 4, 2020, or who died as a result of an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor on or after January 1, 2022. 2022, as described. The bill would require a person seeking funeral expense assistance to contact a nonprofit organization selected by the department to complete an application for such assistance. The bill would require a nonprofit organization selected by the department to conduct intake for funeral expense assistance, and to process applications, developed by the department, on a first-come-first-served basis. The bill would require the application to include specified information, including an affidavit provided under penalty of perjury that eligible funeral home contract costs have not been fully paid for by other public or private sources. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would require the department to review and approve completed applications by regions designated by the department and in the order the nonprofit organization assisted and completed the application for the person seeking funeral expense assistance. The bill would require the department to award, upon receipt of a completed application that fulfills the bills requirements, $5,000 or the amount of the eligible funeral home contract costs for the decedent, whichever is less, for each decedent.
This bill would create the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund for purposes of implementing the bills provisions. The bill would make moneys in the fund available only upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would also require the department to allocate moneys for each region designated by the department based on the percentage of low-income individuals in the region and to achieve equitable distribution of funds for underserved regions.
This bill would make the operation of these provisions subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The California Emergency Services Act authorizes the Governor to declare a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor or the appropriate local government to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency.
This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to provide, to a person that applies for funeral expense assistance, for eligible funeral home contract costs, as defined, incurred by the person for a decedent who died due to COVID-19 on or after March 4, 2020, or who died as a result of an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor on or after January 1, 2022. The bill would require a person seeking funeral expense assistance to contact a nonprofit organization selected by the department to complete an application for such assistance. The bill would require a nonprofit organization selected by the department to conduct intake for funeral expense assistance, and to process applications, developed by the department, on a first-come-first-served basis. The bill would require the application to include specified information, including an affidavit provided under penalty of perjury that eligible funeral home contract costs have not been fully paid for by other public or private sources. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would require the department to review and approve completed applications by regions designated by the department and in the order the nonprofit organization assisted and completed the application for the person seeking funeral expense assistance. The bill would require the department to award, upon receipt of a completed application that fulfills the bills requirements, $5,000 or the amount of the eligible funeral home contract costs for the decedent, whichever is less, for each decedent.
This bill would create the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund for purposes of implementing the bills provisions. The bill would make moneys in the fund available only upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would also require the department to allocate moneys for each region designated by the department based on the percentage of low-income individuals in the region and to achieve equitable distribution of funds for underserved regions.
This bill would make the operation of these provisions subject to appropriation by the Legislature.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The California Emergency Services Act authorizes the Governor to declare a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor or the appropriate local government to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create, in accordance with assistance that the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides, a statewide program to provide financial assistance to low-income individuals for the funeral expenses of an individual whose death is related to a state emergency.The California Emergency Services Act authorizes the Governor to declare a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor or the appropriate local government to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create, in accordance with assistance that the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides, a statewide program to provide financial assistance to low-income individuals for the funeral expenses of an individual whose death is related to a state emergency.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Date shakes are a type of milkshake made with dates and originated in the Coachella Valley in California.
(b)One particular method of making date shakes was invented in 1936 by Shields Date Garden located in the City of Indio. Indio, California in 1936. The method involves the use of date crystals, which are dried nubbins of dates that are sweetened with date sugar. The crystals are then mixed with water to create a paste before being blended with other ingredients.
(c)Throughout the Coachella Valley, there are numerous date shake shops, especially along Highway 111.
(d)Many small desert towns in the Coachella valley Valley rely on the date shakes for tourism and jobs.
(e)Date shakes are often referred to as the unofficial drink of the Coachella Valley. Valley and are a very popular drink at numerous fairs and festivals that take place within the County of Riverside.
(f)Date shakes are a popular drink at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, as well as during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which is colloquially known throughout the world as Coachella Fest.(g)(f)Date shakes are high in fiber, iron, potassium, and niacin.
SEC. 2.Section 424.8 is added to the Government Code, to read:424.8.The date shake is the official state milkshake.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)Date shakes are a type of milkshake made with dates and originated in the Coachella Valley in California.
(b)One particular method of making date shakes was invented in 1936 by Shields Date Garden located in the City of Indio. The method involves the use of date crystals, which are dried nubbins of dates that are sweetened with date sugar. The crystals are then mixed with water to create a paste before being blended with other ingredients.
(c)Throughout the Coachella Valley, there are numerous date shake shops, especially along Highway 111.
(d)Many small desert towns in the Coachella valley rely on the date shakes for tourism and jobs.
(e)Date shakes are often referred to as the unofficial drink of the Coachella Valley.
(f)Date shakes are a popular drink at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, as well as during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which is colloquially known throughout the world as Coachella Fest.
(g)Date shakes are high in fiber, iron, potassium, and niacin.
SEC. 2.Section 424.8 is added to the Government Code, to read:424.8.The date shake is the official state milkshake.
All matter omitted in this version of the bill appears in the bill as amended in the Senate, June 25, 2021. (JR11)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a)In 2020 and continuing into 2021, across the state, nation, and world, the COVID-19 pandemic has had drastic effects on the publics health and economy.
(b)As of May 4, 2021, COVID-19 has claimed over 60,000 lives in California.
(c)In addition to being a catastrophic public health crisis, COVID-19 has claimed over 20,000,000 jobs statewide.
(d)A 2017 study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which looks at how persons in poverty, with low incomes, and of low socioeconomic status (SES) experience disasters, states that people of low SES are more vulnerable in the face of disasters and are more likely to suffer more serious consequences during impact, from property damage to homelessness to physical and financial impacts.
(e)Additionally, the article states that the economic impact of disasters impacts people with lower income, Because people of low SES have fewer assets, they have less to lose, and when they experience financial loss in disasters, a given amount of loss has a greater financial impact on them than it will on people of higher SES, as the loss is proportionally greater relative to a poorer persons assets than it will be relative to the assets of someone of higher SES.
(f)A September 2020 Pew Research Center study looking at the effects of COVID-19 on Americans financial situations found that One-in-four adults have had trouble paying their bills since the coronavirus outbreak started, a third have dipped into savings or retirement accounts to make ends meet, and about one-in-six have borrowed money from friends or family or gotten food from a food bank.
(g)These types of experiences continue to be more common among adults with lower incomes.
(h)In recent written testimony provided to the United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, the Director of Emergency Services stated that the State of California arguably faces the most complex and severe disaster conditions in the nation and these challenges and complexities grow in magnitude each year. In the past decade, California has experienced every conceivable type of natural and manmade disaster including drought, earthquake, flood, catastrophic wildfire, mudslides, dam failure, cyber security attacks, oil spills, natural gas leak, civil unrest, terrorism, and tsunami. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has put our emergency management system to the test.
(i)In California, it is not a matter of if a major earthquake or wildfire occur, it is a matter of when.
(j)Scientific evidence strongly indicates that California will experience worsening wildfires due to climate change and that California is overdue for its next major earthquake.
(k)Increased residential development in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) has placed more residents in the potential path of destruction. In total, over 11,000,000 people (approximately 25 percent of the states population) live in high fire risk areas, including the WUI.
(l)In California, the 2020 Fire Siege claimed the lives of 28 civilians and three firefighters.
(m)The 2018 Camp Fire claimed the lives of 85 people.
(n)Since 2017, California wildfires have claimed the lives of over 140 people.
(o)The United States Geological Survey and other scientists estimate a 72-percent probability that at least one earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or greater, capable of causing widespread destruction, will strike the San Francisco Bay area before 2044. For the Los Angeles region, the same model forecasts a 60-percent probability that an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or greater will occur before 2044.
(p)The cost for funeral services can change from year to year.
(q)According to the National Funeral Directors Association, for 2019, the median cost of a funeral with viewing and burial was $7,640, and if a vault is includedsomething that is typically required by a cemeterythe median cost was $9,135. For many individuals, especially low-income individuals and those facing unemployment due to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the costs for funeral expenses for a deceased loved one may be exorbitant and may cause financial stress.
(r)This act differs from programs offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in that it would allow for the assistance of expenses yet to be paid to be sent to the service provider directly, relieving the applicant from struggling to come up with the money upfront.
(s)It is the intent of the Legislature that moneys be appropriated for purposes of the bills provisions following a declaration of a state of emergency.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2.Chapter 7.2 (commencing with Section 8670) is added to Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:7.2.Funeral Expense Assistance8670.For purposes of this chapter, all of the following definitions apply:
(a)Cemetery entity means either of the following:
(1)A public cemetery, as defined in Section 7612.1 of the Business and Professions Code.
(2)A cemetery run by a cemetery authority, as defined in Section 7018 of the Health and Safety Code.
(a)(b)Department means the State Department of Social Services.
(b)(c)Eligible funeral home contract costs means costs that are incurred by a person seeking funeral expense assistance pursuant to a contract with a funeral home or cemetery entity and that are for any of the following:
(1)Casket.
(2)Mortuary services.
(3)Transportation of the deceased.
(4)Identification of the deceased by up to two family members of the decedent who live within the state.
(5)Two death certificates.
(6)Burial plot.
(7)Interment or cremation.
(8)Reinterment of a disinterred coffin, if disinterment is caused by the emergency that is the basis for a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625 and occurs in a family cemetery on private property.
(c)(d)FEMA means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(d)(e)Funeral home means an establishment where the deceased are prepared for burial or cremation or that provide other burial or funeral services for the deceased and their families.
(e)(f)Nonprofit organization means any private, nonprofit organization that qualifies under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
8670.0.2.(a)(1)The department shall solicit nonprofit organizations to conduct intake, pursuant to Section 8670.0.3, for funeral expense assistance under this chapter and shall select one nonprofit organization to serve each region, as described in paragraph (2).
(2)The department shall create regions for purposes of conducting intake and allocating funds pursuant to this chapter.
(b)(1)(A)The department shall adopt guidelines for the creation of regions, the allocation of funds for each region, and the conducting of intake pursuant to this chapter, and shall develop an application for nonprofit organizations to conduct intake pursuant to Section 8670.0.3. The adoption department shall take into consideration geographical diversity when creating regions and ensure that at least one nonprofit organization conducting intake is designated for each county in the state.
(B)The adoption of guidelines by the department pursuant to this subdivision is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11370), Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3).
(2)The application shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(A)Date of completed application.
(B)Full name of applicant.
(C)Full name of decedent.
(D)Death certificate.
(E)Documentation from an attending physician, medical examiners office, coroners office, or other state or local entity that attributes the decedents death to COVID-19 or to an emergency that is the basis for a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625.
(F)Funeral home contract for the decedent that describes eligible funeral home contract costs and provides the total amount to be paid by the applicant. The applicant shall be a party to the contract.
(G)Explanation of whether the applicant is seeking reimbursement for eligible funeral home contract costs already paid pursuant to the contract in subparagraph (F), or for eligible funeral home contract costs yet to be paid under the contract in subparagraph (F). If the applicant is seeking a reimbursement, the applicant shall also attach proof of payment.
(H)Affidavit provided under penalty of perjury A certification that eligible funeral home contract costs have not been fully paid for by other public or private sources.
(I)For eligible funeral home contract costs related to COVID-19 or to a state of emergency also declared by the federal government for which FEMA assistance is available, an affidavit a certification that the applicant is ineligible for FEMA assistance due to immigration status.
8670.0.3.(a)The department shall provide, to a person that applies for assistance pursuant to subdivision (c), funeral expense assistance for either of the following:
(1)Eligible funeral home contract costs incurred by the person for a decedent who died due to COVID-19 on or after March 4, 2020.
(2)Eligible funeral home contract costs incurred by the person for a decedent who died as a result of an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor, pursuant to Section 8625, on or after January 1, 2022.
(b)A person is not eligible for funeral expense assistance under this chapter if any of the following apply:
(1)The decedents death is not attributed to an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625.
(2)Eligible funeral home contract costs have already been been, or will be, fully paid by another public or private source.
(3)The person provides incomplete or insufficient information or documentation on their application.
(4)The persons immigration status does not disqualify them from FEMA assistance to cover eligible funeral home contract costs incurred due to COVID-19 or to a state of emergency also declared by the federal government for which FEMA assistance is available.
(c)A person seeking funeral expense assistance pursuant to this chapter shall contact a nonprofit organization selected by the department to complete an application for such assistance.
(d)A nonprofit organization selected by the department to conduct intake for funeral expense assistance shall process an application, as developed by the department pursuant to Section 8670.0.2, for a person seeking funeral expense assistance on a first-come-first-served basis.
(e)(1)The department shall review and approve completed applications by region and in the order the nonprofit organization assisted and completed the application for the person seeking funeral expense assistance.
(2)The department shall award, upon receipt of a completed application that fulfills the requirements of this chapter, five thousand dollars ($5,000) or the amount of eligible funeral home contract costs for the decedent, whichever is less, for each decedent.
(3)If a successful applicant seeks reimbursement, the assistance shall be provided in the form of a check made out in the applicants name. If a successful applicant seeks assistance for expenses yet to be paid under the funeral home contract, the assistance shall be sent to the funeral home or cemetery entity directly in the form of a check made out to the funeral home.
8670.0.4.(a)An award of funds to cover funeral home contract costs shall be recaptured by the department, in whole or in part, if the department determines funds were improperly awarded to a person under this chapter due to the persons intentional or unintentional misrepresentation of information on their application for funds.
(b)In addition to any penalties provided under law, a person who intentionally and materially misrepresents information on an application for funds under this chapter and receives funds as a result of that misrepresentation shall pay an administrative fine to the department in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100).
(c)Recaptured moneys and fines shall be deposited into the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund.
(d)(1)The department shall adopt guidelines for purposes of implementing procedures to recover funds pursuant to subdivision (a).
(2)The adoption of guidelines by the department pursuant to this subdivision is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3).
(e)Any use, by an applicant, of false certification made pursuant to subparagraph (H) or (I) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8670.0.2 shall be punishable as a misdemeanor.
8670.0.4.8670.0.5.(a)There is hereby created the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund for purposes of implementing this chapter. Moneys in the fund shall be available to implement this chapter only upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(b)The department shall allocate moneys for each region, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 8670.0.2, based on the percentage of low-income individuals in the region and to achieve equitable distribution of funds for underserved regions.
8670.0.5.8670.0.6.This chapter shall become operative when an appropriation is made by the Legislature for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The department shall post notice of the appropriation on the home page of its internet website and send notice of the appropriation to the Legislative Counsel.
SEC. 2.SEC. 3.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
For purposes of this chapter, all of the following definitions apply:
(a)Department means the State Department of Social Services.
(b)Eligible funeral home contract costs means costs that are incurred by a person seeking funeral expense assistance pursuant to a contract with a funeral home and that are for any of the following:
(1)Casket.
(2)Mortuary services.
(3)Transportation of the deceased.
(4)Identification of the deceased by up to two family members of the decedent who live within the state.
(5)Two death certificates.
(6)Burial plot.
(7)Interment or cremation.
(8)Reinterment of a disinterred coffin, if disinterment is caused by the emergency that is the basis for a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625 and occurs in a family cemetery on private property.
(c)FEMA means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(c)(d)Funeral home means an establishment where the deceased are prepared for burial or cremation or that provide other burial or funeral services for the deceased and their families.
(d)(e)Nonprofit organization means any private, nonprofit organization that qualifies under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
8670.0.2.(a)(1)The department shall solicit nonprofit organizations to conduct intake, pursuant to Section 8670.0.3, for funeral expense assistance under this chapter and shall select one nonprofit organization to serve each region, as described in paragraph (2).
(2)The department shall create regions for purposes of conducting intake and allocating funds pursuant to this chapter.
(b)(1)The department shall adopt guidelines for the creation of regions, allocation of funds for each region, and conducting intake pursuant to this chapter, and shall develop an application for nonprofit organizations to conduct intake pursuant to Section 8670.0.3. The adoption of guidelines by the department pursuant to this subdivision is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11370), Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3).
(2)The application shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(A)Date of completed application.
(B)Full name of applicant.
(C)Full name of decedent.
(D)Death certificate.
(E)Documentation from an attending physician, medical examiners office, coroners office, or other state or local entity that attributes the decedents death to COVID-19 or to an emergency that is the basis for a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625.
(F)Funeral home contract for the decedent that describes eligible funeral home contract costs and provides the total amount to be paid by the applicant. The applicant shall be a party to the contract.
(G)Explanation of whether the applicant is seeking reimbursement for eligible funeral home contract costs already paid pursuant to the contract in subparagraph (F), or for eligible funeral home contract costs yet to be paid under the contract in subparagraph (F). If the applicant is seeking a reimbursement, the applicant shall also attach proof of payment.
(H)Affidavit provided under penalty of perjury that eligible funeral home contract costs have not been fully paid for by other public or private sources.
(I)For eligible funeral home contract costs related to COVID-19 or to a state of emergency also declared by the federal government for which FEMA assistance is available, an affidavit that the applicant is ineligible for FEMA assistance due to immigration status.
8670.0.3.(a)The department shall provide, to a person that applies for assistance pursuant to subdivision (c), funeral expense assistance for either of the following:
(1)Eligible funeral home contract costs incurred by the person for a decedent who died due to COVID-19 on or after March 4, 2020.
(2)Eligible funeral home contract costs incurred by the person for a decedent who died as a result of an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor, pursuant to Section 8625, on or after January 1, 2022.
(b)A person is not eligible for funeral expense assistance under this chapter if any of the following apply:
(1)The decedents death is not attributed to an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625.
(2)Eligible funeral home contract costs have already been fully paid by another public or private source.
(3)The person provides incomplete or insufficient information or documentation on their application.
(4)The persons immigration status does not disqualify them from FEMA assistance to cover eligible funeral home contract costs incurred due to COVID-19 or to a state of emergency also declared by the federal government for which FEMA assistance is available.
(c)A person seeking funeral expense assistance pursuant to this chapter shall contact a nonprofit organization selected by the department to complete an application for such assistance.
(d)A nonprofit organization selected by the department to conduct intake for funeral expense assistance shall process an application, as developed by the department pursuant to Section 8670.0.2, for a person seeking funeral expense assistance on a first-come-first-served basis.
(e)(1)The department shall review and approve completed applications by region and in the order the nonprofit organization assisted and completed the application for the person seeking funeral expense assistance.
(2)The department shall award, upon receipt of a completed application that fulfills the requirements of this chapter, five thousand dollars ($5,000) or the amount of eligible funeral home contract costs for the decedent, whichever is less, for each decedent.
(3)If a successful applicant seeks reimbursement, the assistance shall be provided in the form of a check made out in the applicants name. If a successful applicant seeks assistance for expenses yet to be paid under the funeral home contract, the assistance shall be sent to the funeral home directly in the form of a check made out to the funeral home.
8670.0.4.(a)There is hereby created the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund for purposes of implementing this chapter. Moneys in the fund shall be available to implement this chapter only upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(b)The department shall allocate moneys for each region, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 8670.0.2, based on the percentage of low-income individuals in the region and to achieve equitable distribution of funds for underserved regions.
8670.0.5.This chapter shall become operative when an appropriation is made by the Legislature for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The department shall post notice of the appropriation on the home page of its internet website and send notice of the appropriation to the Legislative Counsel.
SEC. 2.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
For purposes of this chapter, all of the following definitions apply:
(a)Department means the State Department of Social Services.
(b)Eligible funeral home contract costs means costs that are incurred by a person seeking funeral expense assistance pursuant to a contract with a funeral home and that are for any of the following:
(1)Casket.
(2)Mortuary services.
(3)Transportation of the deceased.
(4)Identification of the deceased by up to two family members of the decedent who live within the state.
(5)Two death certificates.
(6)Burial plot.
(7)Interment or cremation.
(8)Reinterment of a disinterred coffin, if disinterment is caused by the emergency that is the basis for a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625 and occurs in a family cemetery on private property.
(c)Funeral home means an establishment where the deceased are prepared for burial or cremation or that provide other burial or funeral services for the deceased and their families.
(d)Nonprofit organization means any private, nonprofit organization that qualifies under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
8670.0.2.(a)(1)The department shall solicit nonprofit organizations to conduct intake, pursuant to Section 8670.0.3, for funeral expense assistance under this chapter and shall select one nonprofit organization to serve each region, as described in paragraph (2).
(2)The department shall create regions for purposes of conducting intake and allocating funds pursuant to this chapter.
(b)(1)The department shall adopt guidelines for the creation of regions, allocation of funds for each region, and conducting intake pursuant to this chapter, and shall develop an application for nonprofit organizations to conduct intake pursuant to Section 8670.0.3. The adoption of guidelines by the department pursuant to this subdivision is exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11370), Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3).
(2)The application shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(A)Date of completed application.
(B)Full name of applicant.
(C)Full name of decedent.
(D)Death certificate.
(E)Documentation from an attending physician, medical examiners office, coroners office, or other state or local entity that attributes the decedents death to COVID-19 or to an emergency that is the basis for a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625.
(F)Funeral home contract for the decedent that describes eligible funeral home contract costs and provides the total amount to be paid by the applicant. The applicant shall be a party to the contract.
(G)Explanation of whether the applicant is seeking reimbursement for eligible funeral home contract costs already paid pursuant to the contract in subparagraph (F), or for eligible funeral home contract costs yet to be paid under the contract in subparagraph (F). If the applicant is seeking a reimbursement, the applicant shall also attach proof of payment.
(H)Affidavit provided under penalty of perjury that eligible funeral home contract costs have not been fully paid for by other public or private sources.
8670.0.3.(a)The department shall provide, to a person that applies for assistance pursuant to subdivision (c), funeral expense assistance for either of the following:
(1)Eligible funeral home contract costs incurred by the person for a decedent who died due to COVID-19 on or after March 4, 2020.
(2)Eligible funeral home contract costs incurred by the person for a decedent who died as a result of an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor, pursuant to Section 8625, on or after January 1, 2022.
(b)A person is not eligible for funeral expense assistance under this chapter if any of the following apply:
(1)The decedents death is not attributed to an emergency that is the basis of a state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625.
(2)Eligible funeral home contract costs have already been fully paid by another public or private source.
(3)The person provides incomplete or insufficient information or documentation on their application.
(c)A person seeking funeral expense assistance pursuant to this chapter shall contact a nonprofit organization selected by the department to complete an application for such assistance.
(d)A nonprofit organization selected by the department to conduct intake for funeral expense assistance shall process an application, as developed by the department pursuant to Section 8670.0.2, for a person seeking funeral expense assistance on a first-come-first-served basis.
(e)(1)The department shall review and approve completed applications by region and in the order the nonprofit organization assisted and completed the application for the person seeking funeral expense assistance.
(2)The department shall award, upon receipt of a completed application that fulfills the requirements of this chapter, five thousand dollars ($5,000) or the amount of eligible funeral home contract costs for the decedent, whichever is less, for each decedent.
(3)If a successful applicant seeks reimbursement, the assistance shall be provided in the form of a check made out in the applicants name. If a successful applicant seeks assistance for expenses yet to be paid under the funeral home contract, the assistance shall be sent to the funeral home directly in the form of a check made out to the funeral home.
8670.0.4.(a)There is hereby created the Emergency Funeral Expenses Fund for purposes of implementing this chapter. Moneys in the fund shall be available to implement this chapter only upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(b)The department shall allocate moneys for each region, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 8670.0.2, based on the percentage of low-income individuals in the region and to achieve equitable distribution of funds for underserved regions.
8670.0.5.This chapter shall become operative when an appropriation is made by the Legislature for purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
SEC. 2.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create, in accordance with assistance that the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides, a statewide program to provide financial assistance to low-income individuals for the funeral expenses of an individual whose death is related to a state emergency. REVISIONS: HeadingLine 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create, in accordance with assistance that the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides, a statewide program to provide financial assistance to low-income individuals for the funeral expenses of an individual whose death is related to a state emergency.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Jun 6, 2022 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| May 18, 2022 | Re-referred to Com. on G.O. |
| May 9, 2022 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Apr 5, 2022 | Withdrawn from committee. |
| Apr 4, 2022 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S. |
| Jun 30, 2021 | In committee: Hearing postponed by committee. |
| Jun 25, 2021 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S. |
| Jun 16, 2021 | Referred to Coms. on HUMAN S. and PUB. S. |
| Jun 2, 2021 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| Jun 1, 2021 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 1772.) |
| May 25, 2021 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May 24, 2021 | Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading. |
| May 20, 2021 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 20). |
| May 12, 2021 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 28, 2021 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 27). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 22, 2021 | Coauthors revised. |
| Mar 22, 2021 | Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S. |
| Mar 18, 2021 | Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and B. & P. |
| Feb 18, 2021 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 20. |
| Feb 17, 2021 | Read first time. To print. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2021 | AB 868 Eduardo Garcia Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
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Positions by individuals are not included.
Bill Co-Author(s):
