More info on the implementation of SB 703 (to carry out new federal mandates). For all agency adoption applications or in the case of independent adoptions, Adoption Request forms, the adoption agency must ask all adults living in the home to identify other states or U.S. territories they have lived in within the preceding five years. The letter sets out the requirements on checking the non-fingerprint based registry and criminal background checks, and the grievance procedure available if the home cannot be approved after these checks. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACL 08-52: Child Welfare Services Disaster Response Plan Update (10/22/08)
Just a reminder to counties that it’s time to update the CWS Disaster Response Plan, plus a listing of some of the new requirements. [Download]
ACL 08-53: Report On The Number Of Children, Ages 5-17, In CalWORKs Families Above The Poverty Level (10/16/08)
Poor counties. Title I, Part A Of The Elementary And Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Of 1965 requires states to submit data on school-aged children in families receivingn cash aid that exceeds the the poverty level. (Huh?) The state’s data systems don’t keep this info, so this letter asks the counties to compile it themselves. The state chips in its effort by providing a form and compiling the local data. The letter clarifies (since no one gets actual cash aid in excess of the FPL) that what the feds meant was households getting more than the PFL level for a family of four, regardless of actual family size: $1,766.67. [Download].
ACWDL 08-47: Elimination of sunset date for the 250% Working Disabled Program (10/22/2008)
Elton John’s plea to not let the sun go down on the working disabled was answered by AB1183. The sunset date of January 1, 2009 was eliminated by AB 1183 (Chapter 758, Statutes of 2008). The 250% Working Disabled Program will now operate indefinitely as a permanent Medi-Cal program. The 250% WDP allows employed individuals with disabilities to earn up to 250 % of the FPL and receive full scope Medi-Cal benefits. [Download]
ACL 08-46: Federal Non-Exemptible And Federal Five Year Ban Criminal Convictions (10/23/08)
This letter implements the portions of Assembly Bill (AB) 2651 (effective October 1, 2008) relating to prospective foster and certified parents, relatives and Non-relative Extended Family Members (NREFM), and those adults who are not specifically exempted from the fingerprint requirements. (Look for a a separate ACL on AB 2651’s application to prospective adoptive parents.) The bill added new non-exemptible crime categories that would prohibit licensing foster home or placing a child. (Some offenses are non-exemptable for life; some for 5 years.
These changes do not apply to licenses or approvals wherein a caregiver was granted a criminal record exemption before October 1, 2008. Existing care providers will not be required to be live scanned again at the time of the annual visit/re-approval under these amendments, as they are already subject to subsequent arrest notification provisions. However, if a new adult moves into an existing care provider’s home, that adult will be subject to these amendments. Existing care providers who move will not be affected by these amendments because an existing license, certification, or
approval may now be transferred to a new location without triggering the reevaluation of a previously granted exemption for one of these new crimes. [Download]
ACL 08-41: CalWORKs Welfare-To-Work Transportation Services (9/28/08)
This ACL clarifies when counties’ must review and update CalWORKs transportation reimbursement rates, and other state transportation support services issues. For reimbursing participants for use of a vehicle, counties whether using an existing county rate or a rate it develops, must cover necessary transportation costs based on regional market rates and should include the cost of gas, oil, insurance, license and registration fees, as well as a provision for normal wear and tear and maintenance.
If a county chooses to develop its own rate, it can 1) Establish a flat mileage reimbursement rate that covers all necessary costs; 2) Establish a mileage rate that includes basic costs (i.e., gas, oil, insurance, license fees) and also provide separate payments or reimbursements for costs such as registration, and wear and tear and maintenance. (In combination, the basic mileage rate and separate payments or reimbursements must cover necessary costs.); 3) Establish a two-tiered rate that decreases after necessary fixed costs have been covered, such as vehicle license fees. The lowered rate would cover continuing expenses, such as gas and oil. Before a county implements a new transportation reimbursement rate or changes an existing rate, the county must submit an amendment to the CalWORKs County Plan for state review and certification. The letter ends with a reminder for counties to pay transportation as soon as administratively possible, and the requirement of advance pay. [Download]