"News About Jobs, Food Stamps, and Bills"
News About Jobs, Food Stamps, and Bills
WELFARE BILLS FACE SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
On Wednesday afternoon, April 2, the Committee will hear:
SB 540 (Johnston), TANF funds to county probation departments for
youth
SB 646 (Wright), Public assistance, Ventura County
On Wednesday afternoon, April 9, the Committee is planning to
examine the four general welfare reform plans that are now in
print and hear other welfare-related bills as well:
SB 118 (Haynes), AFDC truancy
SB 403 (Thompson), General assistance
SB 505 (Johnston), AFDC: employment and training
SB 528 (Watson), SSI/SSP
SB 604 (Watson), Food assistance program
SB 933 (Thompson), The counties' welfare plan
SB 1149 (Brulte), The governor's welfare plan
SB 1232 (Watson), The plan from children's advocates
SB 1276 (Senate Health and Human Services Committee), The plan
from the legislative analyst
On Wednesday afternoon, April 16, the Committee will hear:
SB 309 (Watson), Child care providers
SB 341 (Watson), TANF, domestic violence
SB 374 (Leslie), Public social services, liens on lottery
winnings
SB 616 (Sher), Foster care and adoption
SB 685 (Monteith), Fraud investigations
The text of bills and other information can be found by visiting
the Senate Health and Welfare home page and clicking on "1997-98
... Legislation." From there you can link to the Legislative
Information Service.
WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
The California Budget Project has a new "quick hit" looking
county by county-a- jobs: "Are There Jobs For Those Who Face
Time Limits?" You can find this material at:
http://www.cbp.org/qhits/qh970317.html
FOOD STAMP BENEFITS EXTENDED
State and federal officials Thursday agreed to extend food stamp
benefits to noncitizen legal immigrants until August 22, drawing
out their aid for nearly four more months. Under federal welfare
laws, about 220,000 such food stamp recipients in California were
to begin losing their food stamp benefits on May 1. The
agreement between the Wilson administration and the U.S.
Department of Food and Agriculture officials gives aid until
August 22 for all cases, even if recipients are deemed ineligible
at a review before then.
The move comes a few days after immigrants marched on the state
Capitol in protest. Sean Walsh said the Governor acted at the
request of counties, which wanted more time to find ways to deal
with people who remain ineligible and will require relief from
family members or charitable organizations. "The Governor does
feel compassion on this issue," Walsh said.
While the reviews of eligibility will continue, counties can
maintain benefits through August 22. Immigrants will remain
eligible for food stamps if they can show they have become
citizens since their last eligibility review, having worked 40
quarters during their stay in the U.S., served in the military,
or have refugee status and have been in the country for less than
five years since their last review.
Sacramento Bee story, March 21, 1997, by Dan Smith; summary
courtesy of the Senate Republican Caucus.
OTHER WWW SITES
The Center for the Future of Children, which is part of the David
and Lucile Packard Foundation, has a web page:
http://www.futureofchildren.org/
The most recent six issues of the Center's journal, THE FUTURE OF
CHILDREN, are on line, including issues devoted to financing
child care and to the long-term outcomes of early childhood
programs.
March 21, 1997
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