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].

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]

This letter implements, effective on January 1, 2008, changes to the Homeless Assistance Program (HAP). Recipients can now verify Domestic Violence (DV) with a sworn statement made by the victim, unless the agency documents in the case file, in writing, an independent, reasonable basis to find the recipient not credible. The DV may be verified by a sworn statement for up to two periods of temporary HA payments and two payments of permanent HA. Further, the CWD will be required to immediately inform HAP recipients, who verify DV with a sworn statement, of the availability of DV counseling and services and refer them to services upon request.

If the CWD requires a recipient, who verifies DV by a sworn statement, to participate in a homeless avoidance case plan, the plan shall include the provision of DV services, if appropriate. If a recipient, who is seeking an exemption to the once-in-a-lifetime provision of HA based on DV, has previously received homeless avoidance services based on DV, the county shall review whether services were offered to the recipient and consider what additional services would assist the recipient in
leaving the DV situation. [Download]

Oops. Here’s the corrected attachment of tribal reservations and rancherias that qualify for the time limit exemption. [Download]

Per ACL 08-27, the 2008-09 CalWORKs MAP COLA had been delayed by the state legislature from June until October of 2008. This year’s budget trailer bill further suspended the CalWORKs COLA for the rest of this fiscal year. [Download]