(1) Existing federal law provides for the 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. Under existing law, households are eligible to receive CalFresh benefits to the extent permitted by federal law. Existing federal law provides that students who are enrolled in college or other institutions of higher education at least half time are not eligible for SNAP benefits unless they meet one of several specified exemptions, including participating in specified employment training programs.
Existing state law provides that, for the purposes of determining eligibility, certain postsecondary educational programs, as determined by the State Department of Social Services, are considered employment training programs, thereby qualifying a student participating in one of those programs for an exemption, unless prohibited by federal law. Existing law expresses legislative intent to clarify educational policies for purposes of improving access for low-income students to the CalFresh program. Existing law also requires the Student Aid Commission to provide written notice to recipients of Cal Grant awards who qualify for participation in the CalFresh program under the federal regulation.
This bill would additionally require the commission, to the extent that it possesses pertinent information, to provide written notice to students who qualify for a waiver of the community college enrollment fee that they qualify, or may qualify, for benefits under the CalFresh program. The bill would also require the commission to confer with legislative staff and advocates for students and for the CalFresh program on at least a quarterly basis to implement this provision and to continuously improve the process of securing CalFresh benefits for eligible students.
(2) Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law requires community college districts to charge students an enrollment fee of $46 per unit per semester, but provides that students meeting certain requirements qualify for a waiver of this fee.
This bill would require the board of governors to adopt regulations so that a student who qualifies for this fee waiver, and whose household income is below 200% of the federal poverty level, may also qualify for CalFresh benefits to the maximum extent permitted by federal law.
To the extent that this provision would impose new duties on community college districts to administer new regulations regarding waiver of the enrollment fee, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.
(3) The bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation, through the annual Budget Act or another measure, to provide allocations to community college districts to provide incentives for their students to apply for, and receive, benefits under the CalFresh program.
(4) 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Statutes affected:
SB1082: 69519.3 EDC, 76300 EDC
02/19/20 - Introduced: 69519.3 EDC, 76300 EDC
SB 1082: 69519.3 EDC, 76300 EDC