5.24.2013 AB 191 passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee today. Previously held in in the Assembly Appropriations suspense file, AB 191 is now heading to the Assembly Floor.
AB 191 Strengthening the Connection between CalFresh and Medi-Cal, seeks to improve alignment between CalFresh and Medi-Cal to ensure that low-income households with a Medi-Cal recipient are more likely to also receive CalFresh nutrition benefits.
In addition, amendments were taken in the Assembly Appropriations Committee to ensure that the original intent of the CalFresh Heat and Eat program is preserved. The amendments confirm that homeless CalFresh households will not be negatively impacted by the Heat and Eat program. The intent of the Heat and Eat program is to streamline verification and increase CalFresh benefits. An unintended consequence of the Heat and Eat program has been a decrease in monthly benefits for some homeless households. In addition to an All County Letter (ACL) already released by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) that provides this clarification, the amendments ensure that homeless households do not experience a decrease in monthly benefits and instead provides homeless households the option of participating in the Heat and Eat program if it is to their benefit. The Heat and Eat program will otherwise remain unaltered for all other CalFresh households.
AB 191 amended language. link
AB 191 needs your continued support to move off the Assembly Floor. We’ve prepared an AB 191 floor alert. Please email or fax a copy to your Assembly Member. In addition, you can use the talking points highlighted in the floor alert to make a phone call to your Assembly Member.
AB 191 Floor Alert. PDF
More information on AB 191. link
Questions? Contact Alexis Fernández at 510.433.1122 ext. 111
